Assistant Editor, The Scottish Sun

News UK; Glasgow; On-site; GBP 65,000 - 90,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Private medical insurance

30 days holiday + bank holidays + day

Pension scheme with employer contr. up

LinkedIn Learning access

Volunteer days

Job summary

News UK is seeking a senior production lead to shape the daily newspaper layout for Scotland’s No. 1 newsbrand. You will bridge editorial ambition and print execution, building sparkling pages and guiding ad placements to avoid clashes.

You will oversee print/digital output, ensure legal and IPSO compliance, and contribute to the broader content agenda while thriving in a fast-paced seven-day operation.

Qualifications

• Senior production experience in fast-paced national or major regional press with digital publishing exposure.
• Expert knowledge of newspaper production software and layout systems.
• Strong ability to manage ad placements and avoid clashes under tight deadlines.

Responsibilities

• Collaborate with sub-editing and production desks to design striking pages and headlines.
• Revise and send pages for publication, ensuring accurate tone, layout and copy under deadlines.
• Control the daily flatplan and optimize flow of news, features and sport.
• Coordinate with commercial/advertising teams for ad placements.
• Liaise with Head of Content to maximize impact online and in video.
• Ensure layouts and headlines comply with IPSO standards and Editors’ Code.

Skills

InDesign

Methode

Flatplanning

Ad-clash management

Headline writing

Tools

InDesign

Job description

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.

Your role: As a senior member of the backbench within the integrated newsroom, you will play a crucial role in the daily production and visual architecture of Scotland’s No. 1 newsbrand. You will act as a key link between editorial ambition and print execution, managing the layout of the daily newspaper while also having input into the wider content agenda and digital output. This role requires a master of print production who can confidently build "sparkling" pages, strategically manage advertising placements to eliminate clashes, and ensure the brand's signature high-impact storytelling translates flawlessly from digital platforms to print.

Day to day you will:

• Collaborate with the sub-editing and production desks to design visually striking pages, craft snappy, agenda-setting headlines, and maintain flawless copy standards under tight deadlines.
• Revise and send pages for publication, meticulously checking the tone, layout and headlines on each story accurately reflects the strongest newsline, while always adhering to copyflow timings to keep print production on track.
• Control the daily flatplan, building the layout and pages of the newspaper to ensure a dynamic, high-impact flow of news, features, and sport.
• Work closely with the commercial and advertising teams to strategically position ad placements, ensuring compliance with placement guidelines.
• Liaise with the Head of Content to maximise the impact of stories online and in video.
• Serve as a final line of defense for media law and regulatory compliance, ensuring all visual layouts, headlines, and text strictly adhere to IPSO standards and the Editors’ Code of Practice.

What we're looking for from you:

• Experience in a senior production role (such as Chief Sub-Editor, Night Editor, or Assistant Editor) within a fast-paced national or major regional press environment with exposure to digital publishing and video production.
• Expert knowledge of newspaper production software (e.g., InDesign, Methode) and a deep, practical understanding of flatplanning, copy-fitting, and ad-clash management.
• Exceptional skills in headline writing, page design, and a sharp eye for identifying and legalling high-risk stories under intense deadline pressure.
• A comprehensive understanding of the Scottish media landscape, legal system, culture, and the distinct reading habits of The Scottish Sun audience.
• Authoritative knowledge of Scottish media law (including strict contempt and defamation risks) and the IPSO Editors' Code of Practice.
• Proven ability to make high-stakes layout decisions calmly, and thrive in a rolling, seven-day news operation.

News UK is one of the leading media businesses in the UK and Ireland. Our newsbrands include The Times, The Sunday Times, The Sun, The Sun on Sunday and The TLS. Our national broadcast brands include talkSPORT, Times Radio and Virgin Radio UK, and we have market-leading local stations across Ireland. Our world-famous brands provide news, analysis, opinion and entertainment to almost 40 million people each month. Spanning print and pixel, audio and video, events and experiences, our multi-format brands are home to a plurality of opinion, representing the diverse communities we serve. Driven by passion, guided by principles and acting with purpose, we exist to promote a fair society, freedom of speech and a little bit of fun. Rethinking continually the business of storytelling, we represent, reflect and reach the nation, telling the stories that matter.

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 the Apprentice Society.

Benefits

Some of our benefits include:

• Private medical insurance including coverage for pre-existing conditions
• Discounted gym memberships, free ClassPass at Home, weekly in person/ virtual exercise classes
• ‘Bikes for Work’ and ‘Electric Car’ scheme
• Up to 60% discount on Harper Collins books
• Maternity leave up to 18 weeks full basic salary & paternity leave up to 2 weeks
• 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%
• Wide range of training available, plus full LinkedIn Learning access
• 30 days holiday plus bank holidays, as well as an extra anniversary day off
• Up to 3 paid volunteering days per year to support causes you care about

We are committed to providing an inclusive recruitment process. If you require reasonable adjustments due to a disability or health condition at any stage of your application or interview, please let us know. You can contact us at [e-mail] to discuss how we can support you to perform at your best.