News & Audience Director

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The Detroit Free Press, part of the USA TODAY NETWORK, has an immediate opening for a full-time news & audience director to catapult this award-winning newsroom to new heights of audience growth and impactful journalism. The news & audience director is a senior leadership role that reports to the newspaper’s editor and works in tandem with the digital director. He/She will lead a team of news and enterprise reporters charged with breaking news and responding to major news events relevant to Free Press audiences in one of the most dynamic news markets in the country.
We are seeking a transformational leader who will help shape and implement the news vision for Detroit, while working with other newsroom leaders to set and execute coverage priorities, especially for major news events. This senior editor has a track record of winning in a competitive news environment and guiding revelatory news and enterprise work; this editor also knows how to retain loyal audiences and cultivate new ones.
This senior editor will help drive the tone and tenor of the digital report by working with both editors and reporters to make strategic decisions about daily coverage. The optimal candidate for this position is a dynamic leader with top-tier news judgement and advanced digital literacy. The news & audience director has a solid grasp of audience acquisition strategies and will work with other leaders to maintain a mix of content that elevates the Detroit Free Press in metro Detroit and the state of Michigan.

As the news & audience director, you will:

• Serve as a first responder to breaking news, editing a team of working reporters to deliver fast, accurate, relevant and audience-focused coverage.
• Edit stories for grammar, style, clarity, SEO, and engagement — ensuring every piece meets Free Press standards.
• Collaborate across teams to shape coverage on a wide range of topics, from politics and celebrity news to wellness and personal finance.
• Take the lead on developing stories and major news events, making smart editorial decisions and pivoting quickly as priorities shift.

Responsibilities:

• Manages the breaking news desk and facilitating and executing our strategy for major news events.
• Guides the news organization in covering topics and issues most important to key Free Press audiences. Works with senior leaders and digital optimization team members to adjust content direction to align with audience trends.
• Oversees content strategy, aggressively using data and leveraging audience analysts to make sure content decisions focus on the needs of the target audiences.
• Directs the content creation team and works collaboratively with the digital production team to ensure a steady flow of quality content to provide the right elements on the right platforms at the right time.
• Monitors real-time metrics to develop a clear picture of audience needs.
• Provides excellent customer service, helping readers find answers and solutions.
• Represents the newspaper to community leaders and members of the community.

Requirements:

• Bachelor's degree in communications, journalism or related field preferred or equivalent combination of education and experience.
• More than five years of frontline editing experience.
• Proven proficiency in applying analytics to content strategy.
• Strong communication and collaboration skills.
• Exposure to deadline-driven environment.
• Exceptional planning and organizational skills.
• Social media and SEO knowledge.
• Self-motivation and self-direction.
• Strong line-editing skills.
• Strong people-management skills.
• Strong problem-solving skills.
• Creativity and out-of-the-box thinking.

Application Instructions:
We are eager to learn more about you and how you fit this role. When you apply, don’t limit your upload to a resume; show us what you’ve done. To do so, put together a single document file that includes the following, in this order:

1. Your resume – one to two pages.
2. A cover letter that outlines how you would approach the job.
3. Links to 3-6 online samples of your work. Show us what you’ve produced or had a hand in that best reflects what you can do in your desired role.

It is important that these items be assembled into a single document and uploaded in PDF format. Completing these steps will ensure that your application receives the highest consideration.

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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 Recruit@usatodayco.com. Applicants must be authorized to work in the applicable location. Applications from outside these regions will be removed from our system after submission.