Deputy News Editor, Racing Post

Spotlight Sports Group

Greater London

On-site

GBP 65,000 - 90,000

Full time

14 days+

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Benefits offered by this job

Private medical

Parental leave

Cycle to Work

Season Ticket Loan

Pension scheme

Birthdays off

25 days holiday

Volunteer days

Job summary

Spotlight Sports Group in London is seeking a Deputy News Editor to lead the racing news operation across digital, print and social platforms.

You will work with the News Editor and commissioning editors to develop exclusive stories, manage reporters, and deliver a daily multi-platform news service.

The role offers a nine-day fortnight, hybrid work from Head Office two to three days a week, and opportunities to shape audience-led coverage.

Qualifications

Experience in commissioning and editing news in a fast-paced digital newsroom.
Excellent news judgement and ability to make rapid editorial decisions under pressure.
Strong understanding of digital formats that drive reach and subscriptions.
Ability to provide constructive feedback and raise reporting standards.

Responsibilities

Regularly act as duty news editor, running the reporting team and delivering high-quality stories and content packages.
Develop a creative environment to produce distinctive, varied and impactful stories.
Evolve the digital-first news strategy with live blogs, explainers and data-led formats.
Collaborate with audience, social, video and graphics teams to maximise reach and presentation.
Use audience data to assess performance and guide commissioning decisions.
Cover major breaking stories quickly with analysis and premium depth.
Line-manage reporters and support editorial planning and strategy.

Skills

News editing

Digital publishing

Audience data

Editorial decisions

Time management

Job description

Spotlight Sports Group is a global media and technology company with a clear purpose, to set the standard for trusted, customer-driven experiences across global racing and sports betting. Guided by our mission to create experiences that fans love, we combine more than 40 years of heritage with bold innovation to deliver award-winning content, data and digital products. With over 400 employees worldwide, our portfolio includes Racing Post, Pickswise, myracing and Free Super Tips, as well as the international marketing agency ICS-digital and ICS-translate. Together, we partner with leading operators, affiliates and media groups to power growth and engagement across the industry.

Job Purpose/summary:

Acting as deputy to the news editor, this key role within the Content (racing) team will suit someone with a passion for creating a digital-first, audience-led news service for the Racing Post's unrivalled digital, print and social media platforms. The ideal candidate will be bursting with ideas for news and innovative digital formats, will have a sharp eye for bringing exclusives to the boil, and a track record of commissioning agenda-setting news.

The deputy news editor will work with the news editor and other commissioning editors; their primary focus will be to assist in running the news-gathering operation and help manage a team of reporters with a view to creating exclusive, industry-leading stories, a daily news service for multiple platforms, and special news projects.

The position is based on a nine-day fortnight and is a hybrid role, with the successful candidate working from our Head Office two to three times a week.

Key responsibilities:

Regularly act as duty news editor, running the reporting team and delivering high-quality stories and content packages
Assist in developing and fostering a creative environment in which reporters are inspired to produce distinctive, varied and impactful stories
Help evolve and deliver the digital-first news strategy, including the use of live blogs, explainers, timelines, Q&As, data-led journalism, video and other formats appropriate to the story
Work closely with audience, social, video and graphics teams to maximise the reach, impact and presentation of news coverage
Use audience data and editorial judgement to assess performance, identify opportunities and improve future commissioning
Ensure major breaking stories are covered quickly and followed through with analysis, reaction, explainers and premium depth, in line with the Racing Post's free/premium strategy
Line manage members of the reporting team and play an active role in raising standards of excellence, embedding new formats and providing feedback
Represent the news desk at editorial conferences and contribute to wider content team planning and strategy
Support the planning of news coverage and special projects

Experience of commissioning and editing news in a fast-paced digital newsroom
Excellent news judgement and the confidence to make rapid editorial decisions under pressure
A strong understanding of digital publishing, audience behaviour and the formats that drive reach, engagement and subscriptions
Ability to provide clear, constructive feedback and raise standards across a reporting team
Confidence using audience data and analytics to inform commissioning and coverage decisions
Excellent time management skills and ability to work to and meet deadlines
Excellent communication skills at all levels with colleagues, contributors, contacts and stakeholders
Strong knowledge of media law, editorial compliance and journalistic ethics
Strong interest in horseracing and at least a working knowledge of the sport and the betting industry
Experience of managing, coaching or developing journalists is desirable

Benefits and perks: