Assistant Editor

Over the past year, Nieman Reports has been covering the urgent challenges and opportunities of the coronavirus pandemic, the movement for racial justice, and the volatile media environment present in newsrooms. We are now looking for our next Assistant Editor to help bring diverse voices and perspectives to our stories and take our coverage of thought leadership in journalism further.

Published by the Nieman Foundation for Journalism at Harvard University, Nieman Reports is a website and quarterly print magazine that produces deeply reported feature stories as well as opinion columns offering insight into and analysis of the crucial issues and innovations in journalism today. Reporting to Nieman Report’s editor, and working under the supervision of the senior editor, the Assistant Editor performs tasks associated with the website, print magazine and social media presence of Nieman Reports.

Position Description

Job-Specific Responsibilities:

Research and gather imagery to accompany stories, both online and in print, and liaise with magazine designer. Handle licensing, permissions, and copyright issues for digital and print.
Expand Nieman Reports roster of freelance photographers and graphic artists, and build a visual library
Facilitate digital and print editorial and production processes and prepare stories for publication, including proofreading, copyediting, and fact-checking
Publish content to Nieman Reports website using the WordPress CMS and produce newsletters in Mailchimp.
Work with the foundation’s digital and audience engagement editor to implement an audience-focused digital strategy across Nieman Reports’ social media channels.
Contribute reporting and writing to Nieman Reports.
Write sharp digital and print headlines and other display copy, while keeping SEO in mind.
Monitor Nieman alumni work and coordinate with them on news items for Nieman Reports.
Assist the editor and senior editor with research and other tasks and occasionally help proofread other foundation communications.
Additional tasks and some administrative duties required.

Basic Qualifications

Candidates MUST meet the following basic qualifications in order to be considered for this role:

A minimum of three years of journalism experience.
Knowledge of InDesign and Adobe Creative Suite is essential.

Additional Qualifications And Skills

Bachelor’s degree or equivalent,
Collaborative and collegial mindset, idea generator, adept at simultaneously managing multiple projects and meeting multiple deadlines.
Ability to work independently as well as a team member.
Excellent copyediting skills. Previous experience with proofreading, fact-checking and research preferred.
Proficiency with Word, Excel, Internet-based research skills, WordPress, Tweetdeck, and/or Buffer.
Excellent English grammar, spelling, and writing skills.
Excellent written communication and organizational skills and commitment to the highest standards of journalistic accuracy and ethics.