Editor, Newsday.com

Long Island

Steve Safran November 8th, 2006

The Long Island Editor for Newsday.com will help lead Newsday.com by setting the editorial direction of one of the largest news and information web sites.

Reporting directly to the Editor of Newsday Interactive, the Long Island Editor works to maximize the potential of the content created by Newsday and its sister newspaper and broadcast sites by extending the product online, providing high quality, accurate and credible news and incorporating interactive and multiple platform elements such as video, forums, polls, podcasts and blogs.

This editor is responsible for overseeing the nightly direction of daily web site coverage, the development of original multimedia content and planning of special online packages and sections. This person also streamlines all types of media gathered by reporters in the field and publishes them online in a timely manner. The Long Island Editor may, at times, be assigned to gather media.

Daily responsibilities include participation in daily news meetings, special project planning and weekend coordination. This person will also publish articles, photos, polls, audio/visual and interactive content to a database-driven Web site on deadline. In addition to the technical tasks, this editor must also have sharp copyediting skills. The Long Island Editor keeps fresh content flowing into the site by coordinating with reporters, editors, and others. You must also be able to take feeds from reporters in the field, do original reporting and be able to compile news reports from other sources (i.e. TV and radio).

The job is an opportunity to be among the elite group that will lead Newsday.com, the award winning site for Newsday, the area’s leading provider of local news, information, and entertainment vital to Long Island. In this role you will also work closely with the newspaper on integration plans that will help streamline of newsgathering and production.

Candidates should have previous web editing and management experience, intimate knowledge of content management systems, be well versed in current events, know Web production tools inside and out and a mixture of graphic design, web programming and traditional communications abilities.

Working evenings, including one weekend shift, as part of a team in the Melville, Long Island, office, this editor is an independent, self-reliant worker who is a natural at multitasking, is a problem-solver by nature and is capable of producing original work as well as preparing the work of others for the Web site. The Long Island Editor is also focused on the end-user experience, and is expected to review site usage and analysis regularly.

Primary Role & Responsibilities

• Leads nightly programming of the homepage and channel pages, adding fresh news and instilling local flavor
• Plans special project coverage and works on strategic planning for department
• Produces multimedia and value added content, including audio, video and Flash
• Coordinates with newsroom on daily flow of breaking news and builds special packages for major breaking news events
• Packages material from newspaper and other sources into compelling online content
• Helps develop and implement a strategy for improving site design and usability to increase traffic
• Works with newspaper staff to identify programming opportunities and content packages that are not part of the daily production process
• Takes advantage of opportunities to engage the reader via discussion boards, blogs, etc.
• Builds, edits and sends out email alerts when required
• Answers public feedback and assists in special requests

Experience and Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree and/or 5 years of web publishing experience
• 2 years of management experience preferred
• Strong HTML skills
• Experience working on a news Web site
• A successful candidate will have reliable transportation
• Experience working with video and audio for the Web
• Familiarity with Flash, JSP, XML, SoundForge, Studio DV, Final Cut Pro and PhotoShop
• Solid copyediting and writing skills

Contact: Jonathan McCarthy

Jonathan.mccarthy@newsday.com