Associate Ideas Editor

The Boston Globe opinion section is looking to hire an associate editor for its Ideas section. Ideas, which publishes pieces online throughout the week and then collects them in a standalone Sunday print edition, produces many of the department’s longest, best written, and most popular essays. We are looking for an editor whose interests span the world, from politics to culture to sports to religion to global affairs. Intellectual curiosity, creativity, and ideological open-mindedness are musts. So is an eagerness to engage in good faith debate over the thorniest, most pressing issues of the day. An appreciation of good writing, deft line editing hands, and solid copy-editing skills are required. We are also looking for people who are interested in exploring or actually skilled at implementing alternative formats, whether photography, graphics, data visualization, audio, or video.

Responsibilities:

This editor will be expected to handle all the basic responsibilities involved in producing the section. First and foremost, this will entail generating ideas, finding writers and commissioning pieces, then working closely with those writers through first drafts, revisions, and final production. Ambition will be encouraged: We hope this editor can regularly produce the kinds of thought provoking, needle-moving, surprising, and delightful 2,000-word pieces that can grace the section cover. This editor will also be expected to chip in with copy editing, handling digital and print production, and writing strong, catchy headlines.

Qualifications:

This is not work for someone new to the business. We will be looking for applicants who have had some editing experience, having worked with writers either in a newspaper or magazine newsroom, or an opinion section. They should also be able to demonstrate an ability to handle copy deftly, with an eye to following our style book and basic copy editing rules. We will also ask for evidence that the applicant can generate a plethora of ideas and work with viewpoints they do not necessarily endorse – a fundamental aspect of opinion journalism. Last but not least, we are a small but diverse department where teamwork and collegiality are essential. Applicants must show an adaptability to the ever-changing conditions of the news cycle, a willingness to help their colleagues, and a commitment to contributing to an inclusive work environment.

The BGMP office is located in downtown Boston, near Faneuil Hall and Quincy Market, and is easily accessible by MBTA and commuter rail lines. This position is based in Boston, and candidates should be based in the area or willing to move.