Weekend/Breaking News Editor

Nashville Public Radio; Columbus (OH); On-site; USD 65,000 - 110,000; Full time

Job summary

USA TODAY Co., Inc. is seeking a digitally fluent editor to lead weekend breaking news coverage and daily Newark-area media site operations. The role focuses on digital-first news gathering, rapid editing, and engaging audiences across mobile, web, and social platforms.

You will mentor reporters, drive multimedia storytelling, and coordinate with the USA TODAY Network to enhance coverage quality and reach in a fast-paced, cross-platform environment.

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s or Master’s degree in journalism, media production, or related field, or equivalent experience.
• Three or more years of newsroom editing experience, with a track record in digital and public safety journalism.
• Demonstrated ability to lead teams in a fast-paced, multi-platform environment.

Responsibilities

• Help lead a Digital-First Newsroom: Direct breaking and exclusive news coverage with a focus on speed, accuracy, and digital impact.
• Assign and edit coverage for all platforms, prioritizing mobile, web, and social distribution.
• Champion Video Storytelling: Collaborate with visual editors, reporters, and producers to create compelling video content for social platforms.
• Urgent Sourcing Across Channels: Develop and execute strategies for real-time sourcing and verification using social media and public sources.
• Audience Engagement: Identify top trending stories and use analytics to shape coverage, subscriptions, and engagement.

Skills

Digital-first

Video production

Social media sourcing

Public records

Data reporting

Data visualization

Analytics

News judgment

Editing

Audience development

Education

Bachelor’s or Master’s degree in journalism, media production, or related field, or equivalent experience

Job description

|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

The Columbus Dispatch/Dispatch.com, the leading news and information provider in the state capital of Columbus and part of the USA TODAY NETWORK, seeks a strategic, digitally fluent journalist to lead our weekend breaking news coverage and daily media site in nearby Newark. This editor will drive digital‑first news gathering, champion multimedia storytelling, and ensure our journalism reflects and serves diverse communities.

Responsibilities

• Help lead a Digital-First Newsroom: Direct breaking and exclusive news coverage with a focus on speed, accuracy, and digital impact. Assign and edit coverage for all platforms, prioritizing mobile, web, and social distribution.
• Champion Video Storytelling: Collaborate with visual editors, reporters, and producers to create compelling video content for social platforms (TikTok, Instagram Reels, YouTube) and dispatch.com.
• Urgent Sourcing Across Channels: Develop and execute strategies for real‑time sourcing and verification using social media, public agencies, and community sources. Monitor social platforms for breaking news, trending topics, and user‑generated content; verify and incorporate multimedia from public and official sources.
• Audience Engagement: Identify top trending stories of the day, based on analytics and audience potential, specific to attracting search and social audiences. Use analytics and audience insights to shape coverage, drive subscriptions, and deepen engagement. Foster a culture of innovation, accountability, and inclusivity.
• Mentorship and Collaboration: Mentor reporters in digital news gathering, compelling narratives, and diverse sources. Collaborate across the newsroom and USA TODAY Network to enhance story forms and audience reach.

Knowledge And Skills

• Expertise in digital-first news gathering, video production, and social media sourcing.
• Expertise with public records, data reporting, and data visualization.
• Strong news judgment, editing skills, and command of journalism ethics.
• Proficiency with analytics, audience funnel strategies, and digital content optimization.
• Ability to verify and curate user-generated content and multimedia from social platforms.

Requirements

• Bachelor’s or master’s degree in journalism, media production, or related field, or equivalent experience.
• Three or more years of newsroom editing experience, with a track record in digital and public safety journalism.
• Demonstrated ability to lead teams in a fast‑paced, multi‑platform environment.

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.