Phoenix New Times has an immediate opening for a full-time Music Editor. This editor will manage and lead our coverage of Phoenix’s vibrant music scene. We're looking for a visionary. An experienced editor with a passion for music who can bring their fresh ideas to life and transform our music section to reflect our city's interests, covering everything from what's happening locally to what touring artists are stopping through town.
Since its founding in 1970, Phoenix New Times has become a cultural touchstone in the Valley of the Sun. We’ve got a hard-earned reputation for publishing compelling stories ignored or overlooked by major media, while also covering trending news, in-depth profiles, breaking concert announcements and more.
The most successful candidate will combine a wide-ranging love of music, a fanaticism for detail and an aptitude for exploring audience data. We are not seeking a columnist or a critic, though you will find plenty of room to write. Foremost we want to see a passion for fact-finding and a knack for getting the best possible work out of freelancers.
We believe that a special kind of culture thrives in 115-degree heat, and we are looking for a music editor who wants to keep exploring it.
This management position is based in our Phoenix newsroom and reports to the editor-in-chief. Remote candidates will not be considered. Phoenix New Times is published daily online and weekly in print. Always free.
Key Responsibilities
- Hire and manage freelance writers and photographers to produce a range of stories. Our stories include breaking news and trending topics that need to be written quickly to enterprise and feature stories that could take a week or more to report.
- Efficiently edit stories for structure, line editing and copy editing so they read beautifully, clearly and concisely and are free of factual and grammatical errors and typos. Ensure that care has been given to the best possible use of headlines, photography and art. Make sure that stories adhere to our style and SEO best practices.
- Collaborate with the editor-in-chief on planning music coverage.
- Manage the editorial workflow for the music vertical, assigning stories to reporters and freelancers, monitoring deadlines, ensuring a regular cadence of story output and balance, and meeting goals for volume and traffic.
- Contribute your own stories on a weekly basis.
- Coach and manage freelancers through any part of the pitching, reporting, writing, editing or production process. Deliver feedback to them on their work and recruit new freelancers as needed.
- Build broad relationships with the music community so that sources, story ideas, research and reporting reflect the diverse communities of Phoenix.
- Participate in our annual Best of Phoenix issue and other special projects during the year.
- Work collaboratively with the audience development director on trending news and SEO best practices, as well as the membership director on our membership program.
- A seasoned journalist with at least two years of newsroom management experience and a working knowledge of — or eagerness to immerse yourself in — the character, people, and music of Phoenix.
- An adept editor who edits stories quickly and effectively.
- A competitive reporter and shrewd observer, eager to move fast and to surprise readers with your fact-finding and sourcing.
- A highly organized, resourceful self-starter committed to accuracy and meeting deadlines.
- A native of social media and digital journalism who’s comfortable using analytics to inform coverage and serve our audiences.
- Strong interpersonal and communication skills, both written and verbal.
Benefits
- Compensation range of $55,000 to $70,000, depending on experience
- 401(k) with company match
- Medical, dental, vision, life and disability insurance
- In the first year: 10 paid holidays, 10 paid vacation days, 5 paid sick days per year
- Hybrid work policy based in our Phoenix office.
Phoenix New Times believes our journalism will best serve our communities with culturally diverse staff and freelancers who offer a range of voices. We are committed to creating and sustaining an environment of inclusion, diversity, empowerment and equality. We are at our best when all our team members are respected and included regardless of race, age, ethnicity, religion, gender identity, disability, sexual orientation and national origin. Women, veterans, people with disabilities, people of color and gender-nonconforming candidates are highly encouraged to apply.
Think you’ve got what it takes? Please email a resume, cover letter detailing your editing and management experience as well as your proposed approach to leading our music section, and links to your best work to: [email protected]. Include “Phoenix New Times Music Editor” as the subject line.
Prefer to freelance? We've got some openings there, too.
