Planning/Assignments Editor

Nashville Ledger; Nashville (TN); Hybrid; USD 55,000 - 75,000; Full time

Job summary

Nashville Ledger in Nashville, TN is seeking a full-time Planning/Assignments Editor to lead story development, manage freelancers, and shape assignments across three markets. The role emphasizes strong editorial judgment, copy editing, and both print and digital collaboration.

The editor will coordinate with a multi-market desk, oversee brief and feature sections, and contribute to digital initiatives while maintaining AP style standards.

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in journalism, public relations, communications or related fields/equivalent experience.
• Strong news and editorial judgment.
• Ability to manage multiple assignments and deadlines.
• Experience drafting and editing copy across sections (news briefs, calendars, features).

Responsibilities

• Manage freelance writers and photographers from assignment to completion.
• Generate and edit copy for standing sections (News Briefs, Calendar, Newsmakers).
• Identify and recruit new contributors to expand the roster.
• Develop and shape story ideas from quick-turn coverage to long-form features.
• Maintain a forward-looking pipeline of ideas across markets.
• Line and copy edit per AP style and Ledger standards.
• Proof galley copies of editions.
• Write headlines, subheads, cutlines.
• Assist with digital products and social platforms.

Skills

News judgment

Copy editing

Editing

Story development

Multitasking

Independent & collaborative work

Education

Bachelors in journalism/communications

Tools

Adobe InDesign

Adobe InCopy

Adobe Photoshop

Dropbox & Google Workspace

Job description

Planning/Assignments Editor

Westview Publishing/The Ledger Newspapers is looking for a full-time planning/assignments editor based in its Nashville office.

The Ledger newspapers – Nashville/Middle Tennessee, Knoxville/East Tennessee and Chattanooga/Hamilton County – are general-interest publications with a business and business-adjacent focus, along with an emphasis on compelling human-interest features and profiles.

We’re looking for a multitool of an editor: someone who not only generates strong story ideas but can articulate those ideas to contributors, shape assignments and manage stories through to completion. We are print-first publications, but digital media skills and an interest in expanding our digital offerings are valuable.

The position is expected to be approximately 40% in-office and 60% remote, with adjustments as needed.

Duties include:

• Managing freelance contributors, including writers and photographers, from assignment through completion.
• Generating and editing copy for standing sections, including News Briefs, Calendar and Newsmakers.
• Identifying and recruiting new contributors to expand our freelance roster and areas of expertise.
• Generating, developing and shaping story ideas, from quick-turn news coverage to long-form cover features.
• Helping maintain a forward-looking pipeline of story ideas and assignments across all three markets.
• Line and copy editing in accordance with AP style and Ledger standards.
• Proofing galley copies of individual editions.
• Writing and editing headlines, subheads, cutlines and other display copy as needed.
• Assisting with digital products, including websites and social platforms, as needed.

Necessary skills:

• Strong news and editorial judgment.
• Excellent copy editing and writing skills.
• Excellent organizational and time-management skills.
• Creative story development across a range of formats, from long-form features to quick-hit briefs.
• Ability to manage multiple assignments and deadlines simultaneously.
• Ability to work independently and collaboratively.

Helpful skills and experience:

• Broad personal interests and curiosity about business, communities and people.
• Familiarity with the regions and communities we cover.
• Interest in or knowledge of regional sports.
• Familiarity with production tools such as Adobe InDesign, InCopy and Photoshop or equivalents.
• Familiarity with file-management and collaboration platforms such as Dropbox and Google Workspace.
• Experience creating content for social media and other digital platforms.
• Familiarity with public-facing AI tools and their appropriate use in an editorial environment.

Bachelor’s degree in journalism, public relations, communications or other related fields/equivalent experience required; graduate level degrees appreciated, but not a requirement.