Assistant Editor, Opinion

Job Description:

About the Team:

The Wall Street Journal is a global news organization that provides leading news, information, commentary and analysis. The Wall Street Journal engages readers across print, digital, mobile, social, podcast and video. Building on its heritage as the preeminent source of global business and financial news, the Journal includes coverage of U.S. & world news, politics, arts, culture, lifestyle, sports, and health. It holds 38 Pulitzer Prizes for outstanding journalism. The Wall Street Journal is published by Dow Jones, a division of News Corp (Nasdaq: NWS, NWSA; ASX: NWS, NWSLV).

The WSJ Opinion section has long served as a forum for intelligent, values-driven commentary, dedicated to advocating a consistent philosophy that can be summed up as ‘free markets, free people.’ While we aim to persuade, every word we publish is the product of rigorous reporting, research and debate. WSJ Opinion offers sharp, original analysis and strong points of view on the news of the day. This position will support the expansion and daily operation of the opinion section.

About the Role:

The Wall Street Journal’s Opinion section is looking for a skilled editor to join our growing editorial team in New York as an assistant editor. We’re seeking a high-energy, self-starter who is dedicated to high journalism standards, has excellent editing skills and is able to work under deadline pressure. This position requires an understanding of the needs of audiences across multiple platforms. This role will assist their team in executing the vision for a broadened opinion section in order to deepen reader engagement and expand the reach of opinion content. It is essential that candidates be familiar with the ideas, philosophy and principles for which The Wall Street Journal’s editorial page stands. 

In this role, you will support the expansion and daily operation of the opinion section, with a focus on broadening audience reach and experimenting with new formats, including newsletters, podcasts, and video. You would be responsible for evaluating dozens of unsolicited submissions weekly and either turning them down or recommending acceptance; supporting the team with nurturing new contributors from a broader content spectrum, including culture; maintaining relationships with past contributors and soliciting op-eds from them in response to breaking news; editing op-eds and preparing them for print, online, newsletters and social media; doing research to assist other editors; suggesting ideas for op-eds and occasionally contributing bylined articles to the pages. You would be expected to edit copy with an eye toward digital discovery, incorporating SEO and platform-specific tone to reach new audiences while maintaining editorial integrity. 

The assistant editor is responsible for supporting their team with communicating with external contributors and freelancers on their articles edits and to occassionally commission pieces. This person will be responsible for editing features and columns tailored for the global audience of the Journal’s print edition, website and newsletters, as well as ensuring that print headlines, RealTime data, and photo captions are in place prior to publication. This position will be based in our New York office.

You Will:

• Assist the team in executing the vision for a broadened opinion section in order to deepen reader engagement and expand the reach of opinion content.

• Support the team with the creation of additional content and introduction of new formats to deliver high-quality content 

• Evaluate unsolicited op-eds and either accept or reject the submissions

• Occasionally commission op-eds in response to breaking news

• Assist the team with nurturing new contributors from a broader content spectrum and maintaining relationships with past contributors

• Edit features and columns for publication, and write headlines, with an eye toward digital discovery

• Ensure that print headlines, RealTime data, and photo captions are in place prior to publication

• Pitch content ideas and occasionally contribute bylined articles 

• Participate in editorial board meetings

You Have:

• At least 2-4 years editing experience

• A deep knowledge of current events and public discourse across politics, economics, culture, and more, with a talent for developing ideas into powerful commentary.

• An understanding of the needs of audiences across multiple platforms.

• It is essential that candidates be familiar with the ideas, philosophy and principles for which The Wall Street Journal’s editorial page stands.

• Exceptional editing skills and sound editorial judgement

• High level of proficiency in writing, copy-editing and proofreading.

• The ability to work under deadline pressure.

• Familiarity with audience insights and newsroom analytics

• Flexible to do weekend/evening work as required.

Equal Opportunity Employer

All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, age, national origin, protected veteran status, disability status or any other protected characteristic under applicable law. EEO/Disabled/Vets

Reasonable Accommodation

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We’re committed to offering competitive and flexible compensation to attract top talent. This pay range reflects our good faith estimate for the role and may vary based on a candidate’s experience, skills, location, and other relevant factors.

For bonus-eligible roles, targets are determined based on multiple considerations, including market benchmarks and individual contributions.

For benefits-eligible roles, we offer a comprehensive and competitive benefits package covering health, retirement, wellbeing, and more, along with optional benefits to meet the diverse needs of our employees.