Emerging News Editor (Night)

The Baltimore Sun; Baltimore (MD); On-site; USD 75,000 - 90,000; Full time

Job summary

A major news organization in Baltimore seeks a Night Emerging News Editor to lead evening news coverage. This role requires overseeing breaking stories, editing for accuracy, and ensuring timely publication across platforms. Candidates should have at least two years of editorial experience, excellent writing and editing skills, and a strong understanding of SEO strategies. The position offers a competitive salary range, working primarily from 2 p.m. to 11 p.m., including weekends and holidays as needed.

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree or equivalent experience required.
• Excellent writing, editing and headline‑writing skills are crucial.
• Minimum of two years of experience in a digital news environment.

Responsibilities

• Monitor breaking news during evening hours.
• Assign and publish breaking news and enterprise stories.
• Write SEO-optimized headlines for audience engagement.

Skills

Writing skills

Editing skills

SEO knowledge

Audience engagement

Editorial decision-making

Education

Bachelor’s degree or equivalent experience

Tools

Web-based content management system

Job description

The Baltimore Sun is seeking a sharp, decisive and audience-focused Night Emerging News Editor to lead our breaking and developing coverage during evening hours. This editor will play a critical role in ensuring readers are informed quickly, accurately and clearly as stories unfold late in the day and into the night — both digitally and in print.

The Night Emerging News Editor oversees coverage of breaking and trending news including crime, public safety, weather, government developments and other urgent events. This role requires strong news judgment, urgency and a keen sense of what our audience needs to know — and how they find it.

This editor will guide stories from initial alert through full digital publication, write clear and compelling headlines, optimize stories for search and ensure The Sun’s digital platforms remain timely and authoritative in the evening hours while also supporting the curation and accuracy of the next day’s print newspaper.

Essential Functions

• Monitor breaking and developing news during evening hours
• Assign, edit and publish breaking news, spot news and enterprise stories across formats
• Write and refine headlines with strong SEO and audience appeal
• Curate and update content on The Sun’s website and mobile platforms
• Manage and deploy audience engagement tools including newsletters, email alerts, push alerts and social media posts
• Guide reporters through fast‑paced story development while ensuring accuracy, fairness and clarity
• Use real‑time audience analytics and news judgment to inform coverage and presentation decisions
• Assist in curating the next day’s print newspaper including story selection and placement in coordination with print production team
• Proof and review print pages for accuracy, clarity, style and completeness before publication
• Plan and execute site strategies for anticipated news events
• Clearly communicate and hand off developing stories, news tips and unresolved issues to the morning editor to ensure continuity of coverage

This position works 2 p.m. to 11 p.m., including a weekend shift and some holidays as assigned. Overnight coverage would be required only in the event of major breaking news or emergencies.

Education and Experience Requirements

• Bachelor’s degree or equivalent experience.
• Excellent writing, editing and headline‑writing skills
• At least two years of experience as an editor or producer in a digital news environment
• Working knowledge of print production workflows AP style and page‑proofing standards
• Strong understanding of SEO, digital publishing and audience engagement strategies
• Interest in or experience using artificial intelligence tools responsibly to support reporting, editing, research, verification or audience engagement
• Proven ability to work quickly and accurately and independently using a web‑based content management system
• Demonstrated ability to make sound editorial decisions under deadline pressure

Salary Range: $75,000 - $90,000

Individual compensation may vary from the target range based on several factors including experience, internal pay equity, and other relevant business considerations.

Application Submission

With your submission, please include a cover letter to highlight your editorial leadership, and approach to guiding a breaking news team. Materials can be sent to [e-mail]