Assistant Editor, Well

The Well desk is seeking a creative and ambitious editor to produce highly visual service and enterprise journalism that will help Times readers live healthier lives. This person will help shape the way the desk tells stories and engages with readers and will play a key role in editorial decisions around visual stories. 

Well offers best-in-class coverage of personal health, including mental and physical wellness, nutrition, fitness, family and relationships. The report includes a growing number of short visual stories, multimedia projects and videos.

As an assistant editor, you will conceive, commission and run story assignments in a variety of formats, including quick turn and longer lead articles. You are a capable editor of visuals and text, and fluent with the technical aspects of modern digital publishing. Your editing will focus on visual projects, but will include working with staff and freelance reporters. You should be collaborative and ready to work with editors on Well and across the newsroom.

Journalistic judgment, creativity, innovative thinking and attention to detail are critical aspects of this role. You’ll make frequent use of our CMS and adjacent tools. Candidates for this job should have a proven track-record of publishing ambitious work, collaborating across teams, translating story ideas into visual concepts, and vice-versa.  

This is a hybrid position based in New York City and includes regular attendance in the office each week per your departmental guidance. 

Responsibilities:

• Conceive, commission and edit story assignments in a variety of story forms.

• Initiate and actively manage special projects and recurring features.

• Steer the work of staff and freelance reporters, among other contributors.

• Work with Well’s visual team to shape editorial ideas into visual and multimedia story opportunities. 

• Act as a point person/project manager for multimedia projects, calling meetings, setting deadlines, providing feedback and supporting development.

• Collaborate closely with other Well editors, as well as video, photo and graphics editors, designers and art directors across the newsroom.

• Help drive the desk to create new digital experiences and story forms that become regular elements of our coverage. Help develop new approaches to news coverage.

• Guide Well editors and reporters toward greater fluency when it comes to conceptualizing, editing and executing new story forms.

• Show strong editorial judgment, working with Times editors, standards and legal department for ethical and legal questions.

• Demonstrate support and understanding of our value of journalistic independence and a strong commitment to our mission to seek the truth and help people understand the world.

• This role reports to Well’s Editorial Director.

Basic Requirements:

• 7+ years of editing experience in a newsroom environment, with a focus on visual journalism.

• Demonstrated experience creating compelling stories that incorporate video, photography, text and audio. Proven ability to lead multidisciplinary teams.

• Strong editorial judgment and proven ability to innovate, translating editorial priorities into multimedia storytelling. 

• Knowledge of Adobe Photoshop and Premiere.

Preferred Requirements:

• Management experience.

• Willingness to work a flexible schedule as news demands.

• A passion for journalism focused on health and wellness.

• Ability to meet deadlines and to adapt to change in a daily, unpredictable news production environment.