Live News Editor

The Independent has always thrived through innovation and change. It was the first British newspaper to add a Saturday magazine; the first to give photography the same prestige as a news copy; the first to challenge the Westminster lobby system of closed briefings; the first broadsheet to move to the more compact ‘tabloid’ format; the first to launch a concise quality compact paper; and the first – and only – major newspaper to pull off a successful transformation to fully digital publishing.

Through The Independent, Independent TV, eCommerce, indy100, subscriptions and other ‘reader revenues’, The Independent plans to continue the work of many decades, bringing much-needed independent journalism to over 100 million unique global visitors a month, make its voice ever louder and more insistent the world over.

We have an international editorial team with our main offices in London and New York.

Diversity, Equity and Inclusion

We champion diversity in our teams and in our reporting. As a growing and global brand, we must have a workforce that’s more representative of our readers, viewers, clients and partners, and a workplace that creates a sense of belonging for everyone.
We are committed to hiring and developing a diverse workforce regardless of background, and we support our people to thrive in their careers here.
The Independent is an equal opportunities employer, if you require any reasonable adjustments to complete your application, please do not hesitate to advise us accordingly.

Job purpose

The Independent is seeking an exceptional all-round news editor to help lead the day-to-day running of the title’s busy news desk. The right candidate will likely come from a strong news background, but have a firm grasp on all aspects of digital publishing.

The right person will be a decisive problem solver, with the ability and attitude to influence colleagues into positive and timely action. They will be excellent at crafting and editing copy and headlines, as well as guiding reporters and correspondents to deliver engaging exclusives on their specialist patches.

The successful candidate will be equally adept at commissioning and editing everything from the political story of the day, to coverage of reality TV shows and the Royal Family.

Experience in a similar role at an equivalent title is essential. This is a senior role, where the successful candidate will have regular dialogue with the editor and other senior colleagues. You will be expected to be comfortable managing multiple priorities in a calm and methodical manner.

Applicants must have the right to work in the UK.

Key responsibilities and accountabilities

Commissioning and editing news copy.
Running the news operation at evenings and weekends as required.
Understand digital analytics tools.
Have a proven track record as a news journalist.
Act swiftly and vocally when issues arise.
Be a problem solver with the ability to deal with issues calmly and decisively.
Be a team-player able to work well with others.

Skills

Experience of successfully working in a similar role at a similar title.
Demonstrable experience as a senior journalist.
Strong familiarity with the Independent and our coverage.
Excellent organisational and planning skills required to manage the daily/weekly/monthly publishing flow of an editorial team.
Experience collaborating with editors to grow and increase audience, both on site and across platforms.
Ability to interpret data and make insightful recommendations.
Skilled content creator.
Ability to clearly communicate best practices.
Experience of working in a dynamic fast-paced media environment.