Audience Engagement Specialist, Opinion– Arizona Republic/azcentral.com

Audience Engagement Specialist, Opinion– Arizona Republic/azcentral.com

Drive engagement and audience growth for opinion columns, letters to the editor, and video across Arizona

Opinion Producer & Social Media Specialist

The Arizona Republic/azcentral.com is seeking a dynamic, creative, and collaborative engagement specialist to join our Arizona team. In this role, you'll be at the front lines of producing compelling opinion columns, crafting impactful video content, and cultivating vibrant social media audiences for opinion journalism.

Role Overview:

• Work closely with columnists, editors, the audience team, and contributors to enrich and amplify opinion journalism and featured reader letters for Arizonans.
• Produce, edit, and publish original video segments that enhance opinion columns, guest columns and elevate letters to the editor as part of our engagement strategy.
• Design and execute innovative content for platforms such as TikTok, Instagram Reels, YouTube Shorts, and emerging social media channels to maximize reach and spark dialogue around opinion topics relevant to Arizona.
• Develop and implement audience growth strategies, using real-time analytics to expand and retain viewership and readership of opinion content.
• Serve as a visible brand ambassador for The Arizona Republic/azcentral.com, delivering video standups, interviews with columnists and behind-the-scenes insights from the newsroom or the community.
• Stay on top of social trends, platform developments, and new techniques to keep our opinion video content and reader engagement fresh, relevant, and impactful.

Responsibilities:

• Produce opinion columns, videos, and letters to the editor that engage Arizona audiences and spark conversation.
• Collaborate with contributors to create, edit, and deliver vertical video and multimedia stories that deepen public understanding and interaction with opinion content.
• Engage with readers both online and in-person, sourcing and elevating powerful letters and opinion pieces that reflect the diversity of Arizona's voices.
• Participate in editorial planning meetings, pitching new ideas that integrate opinion journalism, reader letters, and social storytelling.
• Promote The Arizona Republic/azcentral.com brand with strategic, shareable opinion content, driving loyalty and audience growth across Arizona.

Requirements:

• Bachelor’s or master’s degree in journalism, media production, communications, or related field; or equivalent professional experience.
• Demonstrated experience producing high-impact opinion columns, editing video, and growing opinion audiences on social platforms.
• Expertise with video creation tools, editing software (Adobe Premiere Pro, Photoshop, social platform apps), and opinion journalism best practices.
• Ability to work under deadline pressure and adapt to rapidly changing news situations while maintaining editorial integrity and creativity.
• Strong understanding of social media algorithms, audience analytics, and engagement strategies, with a passion for local Arizona stories and voices.
• Excellent communication and organizational skills; able to work collaboratively and independently in a high-paced editorial environment.
• Valid driver’s license and reliable transportation to cover stories and capture community perspectives throughout Arizona as needed.
• Flexible schedule including mornings, evenings, and weekends, as required by editorial needs and audience engagement opportunities.

• Your resume – one to two pages.

• A cover letter detailing your approach to producing opinion content and growing social media audiences in Arizona.

• Links to 15–20 recent examples of your work in opinion writing and social video.