Assistant Editor, Features

NEWS UK; Greater London; Hybrid; GBP 50,000 - 70,000; Full time

Job summary

A leading UK media company is seeking an Assistant Editor, Features, to oversee content creation across multiple platforms including print and digital. This role is pivotal in shaping engaging narratives and managing a talented team. Candidates should have experience in commissioning content and strong organisational skills. The position is based in London and offers dynamic responsibilities in a fast-paced environment. Benefits include generous leave, medical insurance, and professional development opportunities.

Benefits

Maternity leave up to 18 weeks full salary

Private medical insurance

Discounted gym memberships

Generous pension scheme

30 days holiday, plus bank holidays

Wide range of training available

Qualifications

• Experience managing or mentoring junior reporters.
• Ability to produce digital commissions and headlines.
• Familiarity with SEO, analytics, and social media strategy is a bonus.

Responsibilities

• Generate and commission features for print and digital platforms.
• Manage a team of in-house reporters and freelance writers.
• Collaborate with digital, design, social, and video teams effectively.

Skills

Proven experience as a Commissioning Editor or senior features writer

Exceptional organisational skills

Sharp eye for a story

Strong editorial judgement

Excellent writing and editing skills

Job description

Overview

Job Description

The Sun is the biggest news brand in the UK, publishing hundreds of stories a day and reaching over 170m unique users digitally every month. Its exclusives set the news agenda and its campaigns have changed the lives of many. Delivering news, entertainment, and sports coverage to millions of readers every day. With a rich history spanning decades, we are dedicated to providing accurate, insightful, and engaging content across print and digital platforms.

The Sun has a mass-market audience and aims to appeal to a diverse audience in the UK and beyond.

Your Role: The Assistant Editor, Features, is a key player in shaping the voice and content of the flagship platforms. This role is based in the fast-paced London Bridge newsroom.

This is a fantastic opportunity for a manager bursting with ideas to make their mark on a brand that reaches millions every day. You will be responsible for generating and commissioning a constant stream of compelling, on-brand, and agenda-setting content for print and online. The content covers exclusive celebrity interviews, shocking real-life stories, the latest must-have trends, and expert-led lifestyle advice.

The flagship platforms include: The Sun.co.uk and print features, Sun Club membership scheme, Fabulous Daily, the glossy Fabulous Magazine, and Fabulous Digital.

Your normal core working hours will be 40 hours per week within the operating hours/days as advised by your line manager. As per the News UK flexible working policy, this role is required to work from our London Bridge office for a minimum of 3 days a week. Any part-time working requests will be considered on an individual basis.

Key Responsibilities

• Generate and commission unmissable features, interviews, and real-life stories across The Sun and Fabulous’s print and digital platforms, ensuring a consistent and engaging tone of voice.
• Act as an ideas engine for the entire The Sun and Fabulous brand, consistently pitching innovative concepts for series, packages, and major projects.
• Perform 360 editing: Delivering stories across all platforms, particularly delivering for the video first strategy for the 24/7 newsroom.
• Respond quickly to data and come up with strong ideas which will work for Sun Club.
• Seamlessly manage the flow of content from conception to publication across .co.uk, the daily paper, weekly magazine and the 24/7 digital operation, understanding the unique demands of each platform.
• Help manage and mentor a team of in-house reporters, nurturing their talent, guiding their ideas, and ensuring they deliver first-class copy to tight deadlines.
• Cultivate and manage a brilliant network of freelance writers, experts, and contributors to ensure content is always fresh, authoritative, and ahead of the curve.
• Oversee junior team members, supporting their development and maintaining editorial standards.
• Collaborate with digital, design, social, and video teams to ensure content is packaged and promoted effectively for all platforms, including Sun Club.
• Help manage the production schedule and ensure deadlines are met.

Key Skills and Experience

• Proven experience as a Commissioning Editor or senior features writer within a fast-paced national newspaper, magazine, or major digital publisher.
• Proven experience as a features or lifestyle editor at a national publication or high-profile digital brand.
• A fantastic contacts book and a proven track record of securing exclusive content.
• Exceptional organisational skills, with the ability to juggle multiple commissions and deadlines effortlessly.
• Experience in managing or mentoring junior reporters or writers.
• Experience managing digital commissions, including producing brilliant comps and headlines.
• A sharp eye for a story and an intuitive understanding of the Fabulous brand and its audience.
• Ability to turn their hand to anything from investigations to celebrity stories.
• Strong editorial judgement, creative flair, and a nose for a great story.
• Deep understanding of news and women’s lifestyle content and current trends.
• Excellent writing and editing skills, with the ability to tailor content for different platforms.
• Ability to work in a fast-paced newsroom environment and juggle multiple priorities.
• Familiarity with SEO, analytics, and social media strategy is a bonus.

Life at News

Driven by passion, guided by principles and acting with purpose. We represent, reflect and reach the nation, telling the stories that matter. We inform our audiences so that they can make decisions based on trusted information.

We represent, reflect and reach the nation, telling the stories that matter most. To ensure these stories resonate with as broad an audience as possible, it is essential that our organisation reflects the diversity of the people we reach. Whether through age, gender, ethnicity, disability, social class or sexuality, we are committed to representing the rich variety of voices that make up our society. And we champion a culture where everyone has the opportunity to contribute and thrive as we continue to innovate and drive long term sustainable growth. This is done through our Diversity Strategy.

At News UK, we take pride in our exceptional employee-led networks that bring together individuals with shared interests and create a vibrant sense of community. We believe our networks play a vital role in fostering a collaborative and supportive work culture at News UK. Groups that we support include the African & Caribbean Network, Parents and Carers, and LGBTQ+ group News Is Out, and Next Gen.

Benefits

• Maternity leave up to 18 weeks full basic salary & paternity leave up to 2 weeks
• Wide range of training available, plus full LinkedIn Learning access
• Private medical insurance including coverage for pre-existing conditions
• Discounted gym memberships, free ClassPass at Home, weekly virtual yoga classes
• ‘Bikes for Work’ and ‘Electric Car’ scheme
• Up to 60% discount on Harper Collins books
• Access to exclusive events and competitions with exciting brands such as talkSPORT, Virgin Radio UK & The Times. Weekly virtual panel chats with top journalists and celebrities
• Access to wellbeing benefits such as EAP, physio/massage and counselling
• A generous pension scheme with employer contributions of up to 5%
• 30 days holiday, plus bank holidays and up to 4 volunteering days per year

We want to ensure that everyone has the opportunity to perform to their best when applying for a role. If you would like to receive any information in a different way or for us to do anything differently to support you apply for any of our roles please contact us on [email protected].