The Executive Editor for State News is responsible for the creation of all content for the AARP Bulletin’s state and regional pages. This includes 12-13 state pages, 6 regional pages, and 7 enterprise-community articles per Bulletin issue. The job requires constant communication and partnership with state directors and communication managers, as well as with reporters in all regions we cover. The job also calls for strong, creative editorial skills and leadership. The Executive Editor also manages direct reports: editors who assign and edit stories for the state and regional pages.
- Serves as the chief liaison between the state offices and the AARP publications team.
- Establishes contacts with the state communications directors to determine stories for upcoming Bulletins.
- Coordinates with the state features editors, copy editors, researchers and photo staff the editorial content production of all full-page and regional state page stories for each issue of the Bulletin.
- Assigns and edits state news stories for the Bulletin, including writing headlines, decks and cutlines.
- Is responsible for the selection of Enterprise Community stories for the Bulletin and assigns and edits enterprise community stories.
- Sets editorial standards for state pages, pushing for innovative presentation, compelling writing and headlines, and powerful visuals, appropriate to one of the world’s most read publications.
- Responsible for posting Bulletin state and regional news stories on the state blog pages.
- Responsible for preparing Bulletin state news stories for use on tablets.
- Participates in Impact Team meetings throughout the association to help develop story ideas covering the broad range of AARP activities in the states.
- Coordinates with the En Espanol team to have stories they request translated into Spanish.
- Maintains a database of potential freelance writers around the country.
- Maintains archival lists of Bulletin state stories by state and topic.
- Helps produce a monthly memo to the states that highlights the mention of any person from that state in any Bulletin articles.
- Responsible for ensuring that proper payment is made for freelance articles.
- Carries out other duties for the Bulletin and AARP the Magazine as requested by the editor in chief and deputy editor
- Demonstrates AARP mission, purpose and values in all interactions.
- The preferred candidate should also have at least five years of experience managing staff and overseeing a large, complex content program.
- The editor must be proficient in the use of the Microsoft Office Suite of tools and have experience and competence in using social media. The editor must also have top-notch communication and people skills, as the role requires maintaining strong, positive relationships with a wide range of internal and external clients.
AARP offers competitive benefits with a 401K, 100% company funded pension plan, health, dental, vision and life insurance, STD/LTD, paid vacation and sick, and other benefits.