Deputy First-Person and Opinion Editor (maternity cover)
Location: Metro Headquarter, Derry Street, HSK, London
Position: Maternity Cover
Job Introduction
Metro is looking for a Deputy First-Person and Opinion Editor (maternity cover) to help lead our desk, bring exciting voices to the section, and edit copy from new and existing writers.
The ideal candidate will have a strong track record of commissioning and editing, juggling short deadlines and very quick turnarounds with longer-term planning.
Metro is one of the nation’s largest news publishers, and as such we’d be looking for someone with years of newsroom experience with a particular focus on first-person pieces, who is able to adapt quickly to house style and hit the ground running full of ideas.
The First-Person and Opinion desk covers News, Politics, Entertainment, TV, Soaps, Lifestyle and Sport, working closely with other departments across the newsroom, and so good communication skills and the ability to work as part of a larger team, is crucial.
The section - formerly known as Platform - aims to give a platform to underheard and unrepresented voices and issues in the media, and we continue to prioritise this while reacting to the biggest news stories to the day and subjects that matter most to Metro readers.
The role would include regularly coming up with new ideas, searching for and commissioning writers, editing and working closely with authors, managing regular columnists, looking after invoicing, and taking on the section editor’s responsibilities when they are off desk.
Working out of our High Street Kensington office, we are a dynamic team, constantly looking for the best way to tell people’s stories, and add something new to the conversation with our op-eds.
Person Specification
- 5+ years working in a commissioning and editing role, with a focus on first-person pieces
- Ideally some experience managing others in a deputy or editor role
- A strong contact book of both big names and underhead voices in the media
- A good understanding of media law and the Editor’s Code of Conduct, especially in regards to opinion and first-person articles
- Knowledge of best SEO practice
- More happy to tell other people’s stories than have their own byline
- An awareness of third-party platforms such as Apple News, Upday, Drudge Report or others and an understanding of how to utilise them effectively to promote content
- A strong understanding of analytics and audience demographics
- Ability to spot a story and jump into action before we’re too late to it
- Keen eye for identifying subjects that would make for engaging talking points, beyond the obvious
The above list is not exhaustive and constantly evolving, based on the needs of the business.
About Metro
Metro is the nation’s most loved and fastest growing newsbrand. Under the banner of ‘Free to Read. Free to think’, Metro has the highest weekday circulation of any UK paper, and prides itself on being free and impartial.
Across print, website, socials, emails, Reddit and WhatsApp, Metro is the fifth most read newspaper in the UK, reaching a young and diverse audience of over 3.4 million Brits per day who come to the title to keep informed, updated and entertained. Recently relaunched for a user-friendly, mobile-first experience, Metro’s website offers a wide range of award-winning digital and video content.
www.metro.co.uk
Our Commitment
We are committed to increasing diversity and maintaining an inclusive workplace culture. We welcome applications from all qualified candidates regardless of their ethnicity, race, gender, religious beliefs, sexual orientation, age, marital status, or disability.
We are Disability Confident Committed. Please let us know if you require any recruitment documentation in other formats or if you require reasonable adjustments to be made during the recruitment process. Please be assured that any such information will be held separately to your recruitment application and will not be considered as part of the selection process.
