NPR’s Washington Desk produces sophisticated yet accessible coverage of the federal government and national politics. We aim to illuminate policy and legislation and to pull back the curtain on the political process. We draw connections between the places political leaders come from, the people they represent, the policies they embrace, and the rhetoric they use. We explain why policy and politics matter. Known for our work ethic, the Washington Desk aspires both to great story telling and to breaking news. The award winning desk covers the White House, Congress, the Supreme Court, the federal agencies, and national electoral politics.
This full-time Washington Desk Editor will help shape and execute digital coverage of policy and politics. Working closely with the desk's lead engagement editor and beat editors, this editor will help elevate our digital storytelling, ensuring our work serves and engages our audience with accuracy, purpose and clarity of voice. He or she will also shape radio two-ways based on that work. This editor will work evenings and one weekend day.
The job requires attention to detail, big picture thinking, and concern about craft. The editor must have excellent news judgment and the ability to work collaboratively. The editor should have experience and a passion for covering political and policy news.
- Collaboratively plan news and feature coverage of policy and politics for org and the NPR Politics social channels;
- Edit policy and political stories that will be featured on digital platforms;
- Work with beat editors and reporters to ensure stories are told in the voice and form best suited to the platform;
- Ensure quality control of our digital content, including fairness, balance and tone as well as fact checking and style conformity;
- Generate story ideas and review pitches for digital platforms;
- Edit engaging and conversational two-ways for shows;
- Assign, develop and edit original stories from other NPR staff;
- Provide feedback to supervisors for performance evaluations;
- Other duties as assigned.
- Strong oral and written communication skills;
- 5+ years of experience editing news stories at the national level;
- Experience in editorial decision-making, including assigning reporters/correspondents;
- Ability to handle multiple and complex projects simultaneously under stringent time frames and changing priorities/conditions;
- Ability to work quickly and efficiently under deadline pressure;
- Ability and willingness to work to work varied shifts;
- Demonstrated team collaboration and leadership skills;
- Experience in Digital Media, including editing copy.
- Familiarity with content management systems and collaboration tools such as Google Docs, Basecamp, etc.
Preferred Skills
- Demonstrated ability to generate and execute complex creative ideas, to assimilate and organize large amounts of information
- Experience writing or editing coverage of Washington policy news and politics
- Experience editing for radio;
- Familiarity with NPR member stations and public media system Expertise in writing, with excellence in news writing, copy-editing and headline writing
- Knowledge of audio production
NPR offers a competitive compensation and comprehensive benefits package including health and wellness benefits, retirement, and work/life balance programs, as well as opportunities for career growth and development.