Messaging Specialist

USA TODAY; United States; Remote; USD 73,000 - 90,000; Full time

Job summary

USA TODAY is seeking a high-energy Messaging Specialist with journalism experience to oversee the evolution of our newsletter and messaging portfolio. You will monitor performance, guide strategy, and partner with newsroom teams to grow audience reach and engagement across multiple platforms.

The role emphasizes data analytics, platform insights, and collaboration across divisions to enhance revenue opportunities while coaching journalists on best practices for newsletters and audience

Qualifications

• 5+ years of experience in digital journalism or newsroom leadership.
• 3-5 years of experience in analytics, preferably content analytics.
• Experience curating newsletters and growing newsletter audiences.
• Strong knowledge of the digital media landscape and newsletter impact on engagement & revenue.
• Ability to independently manage priorities and collaborate across divisions.

Responsibilities

• Lead USA TODAY’s email newsletter and messaging strategy, developing audience journeys and driving innovation.
• Own flagship newsletter products, partnering with newsroom teams to increase discoverability, engagement, retention, and revenue.
• Support SMS, WhatsApp and other messaging initiatives within the newsroom and Network.
• Monitor performance, identify growth opportunities, and lead experiments with content strategy.
• Translate data points into actionable insights using analytics tools.
• Collaborate across divisions to improve newsletter revenue and retention.
• Coach journalists on best practices and lead training for newsletter hosts and editors.
• Balance editorial and business priorities with audience needs at the center.

Skills

Digital journalism

Analytics mindset

Collaborative leadership

Coaching others

Education

Bachelor's or master's in communications/journalism/marketing

Tools

Google Analytics

Parse.ly

Salesforce Marketing Cloud

Substack

Job description

USA TODAY is looking for talented journalists to join our newly reimagined audience team! If you apply, please do so directly at the link and not through LinkedIn. I am on the hiring committee for all, so happy to answer any questions you may have!

Posted by: Jennifer Hefty, Senior Director of Engagement Strategy

|Current USA TODAY Co. Employees- Please ensure you are using our abbreviated process on the internal Careers site by logging into Dayforce through MyApps|

USA TODAY Co., Inc. is a diversified media company with expansive reach at the national and local level dedicated to empowering and enriching communities. We seek to inspire, inform, and connect audiences as a sustainable, growth focused media and digital marketing solutions company. Through our trusted brands, including the USA TODAY NETWORK, comprised of the national publication, USA TODAY, and local media organizations, including our network of local properties, in the United States, and Newsquest, a wholly-owned subsidiary operating in the United Kingdom, we provide essential journalism, local content, and digital experiences to audiences and businesses. We deliver high-quality, trusted content with a commitment to balanced, unbiased journalism, where and when consumers want to engage. Our digital marketing solutions brand, LocaliQ, supports small and medium-sized businesses with innovative digital marketing products and solutions. USA TODAY Co. open roles are featured on various external job boards. When applying to a position at USA TODAY Co., you should be completing an application on USA TODAY Co. Careers via Dayforce. Job postings directing you to complete an application on other external sites may not be valid. If you are a California resident, you acknowledge that by applying for a job with us, this California Job Applicant Privacy Notice will apply to our collection, use, and disclosure of your personal information. To connect with us, visit www.usatodayco.com

USA TODAY is looking for a high-energy, audience-focused Messaging Specialist with journalism experience (required) to monitor and advise on the performance and innovation of USA TODAY’s messaging portfolio – focusing primarily on email newsletters.

The ideal candidate is passionate about preserving the future of news through innovative storytelling and engagement experiences. This role is right for you if you’re constantly monitoring the latest trends in messaging (including email newsletters, SMS, WhatsApp, Discord) and emerging platforms and love to experiment and innovate. As a key strategic leader on the new USA TODAY audience team, you will combine expertise in newsletter strategy, messaging, data analytics, and platform insights to grow audience and discoverability, deepen engagement, and support new revenue opportunities. You will take a portfolio-wide view of USA TODAY’s newsletter and messaging offerings, translating editorial and business priorities and audience needs into experiences that are timely, relevant, and engaging. You will also help strengthen audience engagement across the newsroom by coaching journalists on effective newsletter and messaging practices that build trust and loyalty. The successful candidate will be a collaborative, strategic thinker who can work across divisions and translate company-wide priorities into clear, actionable plans for the newsroom.

Help us ensure the future of journalism is strong and that our newsroom continues to evolve to meet the needs of a growing digital audience. This position is remote and can be based anywhere in the US, except for Alaska, Hawaii and Wyoming. If you live near one of our local newsrooms, you may have the option to use that as a base of operations.

Responsibilities:

• Lead USA TODAY’s email newsletter and messaging strategy, working with USA TODAY leaders and the broader USA TODAY audience team to assess our portfolio and performance, develop audience journeys and drive innovation.
• Own flagship newsletter and messaging products, partnering with newsroom teams to increase discoverability, audience growth, engagement, retention, and revenue.
• Support SMS, WhatsApp and other messaging initiatives throughout the USA TODAY newsroom and broader USA TODAY Network.
• Monitor performance, identify growth opportunities, and lead experiments in partnership with content strategy.
• Adapt platform strategy in real time to deliver timely, relevant experiences during breaking news and major events.
• Translate data points into actionable insights. The right candidate deeply understands data tools and knows how to apply their analytical mindset to content.
• Partner across divisions to improve newsletter revenue and consumer retention.
• Collaborate with AI leads to test and implement tools that strengthen newsletter and messaging efficiency.
• Coach journalists on newsletter and messaging best practices and lead training for newsletter hosts, audience editors, and curators.
• Balance and execute editorial and business priorities while keeping audience needs and broader organizational goals at the center of every decision.

Requirements:

• Bachelor's or master's degree in communications, journalism, marketing or related field or equivalent combination of education and experience.
• 5+ years of experience in digital journalism or newsroom leadership, including experience in a digital, print, or television news organization. Journalism experience is mandatory.
• 3-5 years of experience in analytics, with a preference for content analytics.
• Experience curating newsletters, growing newsletter audiences, and developing innovative messaging strategies.
• Strong knowledge of the digital media landscape and the role newsletters and messaging plays in audience engagement, discoverability, retention, and revenue.
• Ability to independently manage priorities and execute across competing demands.
• A collaborative spirit, able to lead not only direct reports but peers across the organization and a passion for coaching others.
• Strong business judgment and the ability to align editorial work with audience and organizational goals.

Technical specifications:

• Experience using AI and automation to enhance journalism, newsletters, or messaging workflows.
• Proficiency with Google Analytics, Parse.ly, or similar analytics platforms.
• Experience with messaging and email platforms such as Salesforce Marketing Cloud/ExactTarget, Subtext, and Substack.
• Excellent communication skills, both written and verbal, to effectively convey findings and recommendations to diverse stakeholders.
• Familiarity with news products and journalism and understanding of media analytics and ethics.

The annualized base salary for this role will range between $73,000 and $90,000. Base compensation is reflective of many factors, including, but not limited to, the market in which one lives/works, individual education level, skills, certifications and experience. Note: variable compensation is not reflected in these figures and based on the role, may be applicable.

USA TODAY Co., Inc. is a proud equal opportunity employer committed to building and maintaining a diverse workforce. As such, we will consider all qualified applicants for employment and do not discriminate in connection with employment decisions on the basis of an applicant or employee’s race, color, national origin, ethnicity, ancestry, citizenship status, sex, gender, gender identity, gender expression, religion, age, marital status, personal appearance (including height and weight), sexual orientation, family responsibilities, physical or mental disability, medical condition, pregnancy status (including childbirth, breastfeeding or related medical conditions), education, genetic characteristics or information, political affiliation, military or veteran status or other classifications protected by applicable federal, state and local laws in the jurisdictions where USA TODAY Co. employs employees. In addition, USA TODAY Co., Inc. will provide applicants who require a reasonable accommodation, as a result of an applicant’s disability or religion, to complete this employment application and/or any other process in connection with an individuals’ application for employment with USA TODAY Co., Inc. Applicants who require such accommodation should contact USA TODAY Co., Inc.’s Recruitment Department at [e-mail]. Applicants must be authorized to work in the applicable location. Applications from outside these regions will be removed from our system after submission.