Ideas Editor

Job Description:

The Boston Globe’s Opinion section is looking for a new editor to lead one of its premier products, the Ideas section. Ideas is an 8-page standalone section in the Sunday paper that produces some of the Globe’s most ambitious, lyrical, and deeply reported essays. This editor will oversee the digital and print production of the section, provide the intellectual vision for its content, and directly manage a team of two editors, one writer, freelance copy editors, and a designer. We are looking for this person to start in April. Living in the Boston area is required. The editor reports to the Opinion editor.

Responsibilities:

• Conceive, commission, and edit essays, opinion features, reported arguments, and editorial cartoons from freelancers. The Ideas editor upholds the highest standards of opinion journalism by emphasizing original, provocative, and fact-based pieces that are written for curious, engaged general readers. The editor also ensures that the section is helping freelancers make their arguments as strong as they can be, without imposing the editor’s own views.
• Maintain a steady rhythm to the section, including by publishing at least one new Ideas piece online each day while also planning for future issues.
• Oversee production of a weekly 8-page Sunday print section, which includes editing the Sunday columns of two Opinion columnists.
• Guide more ambitious projects such as themed packages or takeovers of entire issues several times a year. The editor should also look to bring Ideas’ journalism to life by identifying compelling speakers for our Say More podcast and moderating panels at live events.
• Lead, coach, and support a multidisciplinary editorial team, overseeing staff writers and editors, collaborating closely with freelance copy editors, and guiding design to deliver cohesive, high-quality content.
• Identify outstanding freelance writers, graphic artists, cartoonists, and other multimedia journalists and recruit them to contribute to the section. Ensure that a wide range of voices, perspectives, and topics appears in the section. Be the final vetting voice on submissions from the public.
• Work closely with Opinion’s digital publishing team on social media presentation, headline choices and tests, multimedia presentations, and publication timing.

Qualifications:

• This is one of the section’s most important jobs, so we are looking for candidates with at least 10 years of journalism experience. That experience must include managing direct reports .Understanding the rigors and techniques of news reporting are also essential. Experience working with freelancers will be a plus.
• Candidates will be expected to demonstrate creativity in story ideation, deftness in line editing, and rigor in assessing the quality, fairness, and factualness of copy.
• Experience working in opinion or magazine journalism will be favored but is not required.
• Curiosity, openness to viewpoints outside one’s personal political or cultural bubble, and an abiding sense of fairness are essential to doing the job well.
• Experience working with video, audio, and graphic journalism will be favored.
• A willingness to adapt and be audience focused, with a curious mindset and a commitment to creating 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.

The annual salary for this role is $125,000 - $159,200.

It is unlawful in Massachusetts to require or administer a lie detector test as a condition of employment or continued employment. An employer who violates this law shall be subject to criminal penalties and civil liability.

EEO Statement: At Boston Globe Media, our mission is to empower, connect, and convene our communities with independent, trusted journalism and storytelling. We know a critical part of achieving this is by having a workforce that is representative of the communities we serve. Boston Globe Media is an equal opportunity employer that welcomes candidates and colleagues of all backgrounds, experiences, perspectives, and skills.