Voices Editor

JR United Kingdom; Slough; On-site; GBP 35,000 - 50,000; Full time

Job summary

The Independent seeks a Voices Editor to lead its comment desk, driving diverse opinions on major news stories. This role demands a passion for journalism, creativity in commissioning, and strong writing skills to engage audiences effectively. If you excel in fast-paced environments and value diversity, this could be your next opportunity.

Qualifications

• Experience in comment journalism or similar role.
• Strong contacts book of writers.
• Proven experience in building audiences.

Responsibilities

• Lead comment team to deliver diverse opinion pieces.
• Commission articles on important issues.
• Maintain relationships with regular columnists.

Skills

Digital journalism

SEO

Social media

Headline writing

Copy editing

Commissioning

Tools

CMS

Job description

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The Independent is an online news publisher that was established in 1986 as a national newspaper independent of party political affiliations or proprietorial influence. In 2016, The Independent became a fully digital publisher, moving away from print in pursuit of sustainability, and to safeguard its values and journalism for the future.

The Independent has always thrived through innovation and change. It was the first British newspaper to add a Saturday magazine; the first to give photography the same prestige as a news copy; the first to challenge the Westminster lobby system of closed briefings; the first broadsheet to move to the more compact ‘tabloid’ format; the first to launch a concise quality compact paper; and the first – and only – major newspaper to pull off a successful transformation to fully digital publishing.

Through The Independent, Independent TV, eCommerce, indy100, subscriptions and other ‘reader revenues’, The Independent plans to continue the work of many decades, bringing much-needed independent journalism to over 100 million unique global visitors a month, make its voice ever louder and more insistent the world over.

We have an international editorial team with our main offices in London and New York.

The role

The Independent is hiring a Voices Editor to lead its award-winning comment desk.

The successful candidate will be a team player with an excellent and diverse contacts book, a passion for representing varied opinions on the biggest news stories of the day, and a good knowledge of all aspects of digital journalism – including social media and SEO.

We are looking for someone who reads the news compulsively; who has an opinion on everything but also the ability to work fairly and diplomatically with people who might hold opposing views to their own; who prides themselves on snappy headline-writing and excellent copy-editing; who is able to think laterally and commission creatively; and who can engage audiences in innovative ways.

About you

• Experience of working in comment journalism, or for a mainstream publication in a related capacity.
• A stellar contacts book of writers to commission on topical ideas each day.
• Able to commission big names to write on important issues.
• Proven track record in building new audiences and introducing exciting writers to a digital space.
• Strong understanding of social media.
• Resilient and friendly in a busy newsroom with competing demands.
• Confident in writing and on the phone, checking facts with organisations and reaching out to prominent public figures.
• Experience using a CMS.
• Excellent writer with the ability to turn around an opinion piece at short notice.
• Happy to communicate across different desks and mindful of how an opinion story can collaborate with news, video, features and any other sections.
• Good timekeeping with ability to work quickly and accurately.

Key responsibilities:

• Lead our comment team to bring together a diverse list of opinion pieces each day.
• Delivering topical pieces on issues of the day at short notice across a range of subjects.
• Building and maintaining good relationships with regular columnists and guiding ideas for their pieces.
• Planning ahead to make sure our opinion section has first-rate, thought-provoking comment on big news events.
• Attend meetings to represent the desk.

Diversity, Equity and Inclusion

We champion diversity in our teams and in our reporting. As a growing and global brand, we must have a workforce that’s more representative of our readers, viewers, clients and partners, and a workplace that creates a sense of belonging for everyone.

We are committed to hiring and developing a diverse workforce regardless of background, and we support our people to thrive in their careers here.

The Independent is an equal opportunities employer, if you require any reasonable adjustments to complete your application, please do not hesitate to advise us accordingly.

Our values – you will deliver across all our values

Inclusive: We champion diversity in our teams and in our reporting. Working as a team, we put transparency and effective communication at the heart of everything we do.

Innovative: From the very beginning, The Independent has been breaking the mould. We take risks and are always looking to try new ideas in pursuit of excellence.

Independent: Nobody tells us what to think; we make up our own minds and aren’t afraid to do things differently. Like our readers, we value honesty and integrity above outside influences.