Do your ears perk up when you hear the crackle of a police scanner? Do you love breaking news? Are you an adrenaline junkie? If so, The Seattle Times may have the position for you.

The Seattle Times, the Pulitzer Prize-winning media company, is actively seeking an accomplished Assistant Metro Editor for our criminal justice team. In this vital position, you will be responsible for accurate, responsible coverage of criminal justice, including the Seattle Police Department and several other law enforcement agencies, as well as state and federal courts in a region growing in population and complexity. You will edit and lead of a team of reporters with extensive experience in watchdog reporting, who relentlessly hold police accountable for use of force, racial bias and often dig down into major criminal trends. Ideally, you are a skillful editor and writing coach, have a strong background in criminal justice journalism, will not only direct breaking news coverage but will also help reporters make the most of their enterprise skills.

Responsibilities

• Maintain continuous communication with fellow editors and reporters and other departments, taking full advantage of photos, video, graphics, illustrations and databases on all our digital platforms and in print.
• Ensure the Times is thinking about local news coverage with a digital-first mindset and is engaging readers through social media, chats, user-generated content tools and other means.
• Push staffers to keep their digital skills up-to-date, provide the necessary training, and lead by example in this regard. Initiate and oversee staff development.
• Help monitor and promote diverse hiring throughout the newsroom by guiding recruitment efforts and working with hiring managers to assure diverse candidate pools.
• Be willing to work unusual schedules when news coverage or staffing needs demand it.
• Have social media skills, including the ability to use Twitter, Facebook, Pinterest, LinkedIn and other emerging social networks to gather and disseminate news.
• Have reader engagement skills, including participation in chats, comments or use of engagement tools on sites such as Reddit.
• Analyze facts and make judgments about relevance, newsworthiness, libel, fairness, etc.  Ability to write clearly and accurately on multiple platforms.
• Have strong news judgment, including an ability to decide quickly and confidently a story’s potential and, later, its strength.  
• Lead fearlessly.
• Embrace change.

Qualifications

• Experience: At least five years’ experience at a metropolitan daily or other news organization, including supervisory experience.
• Education: Bachelor’s degree in journalism or related field or equivalent combination of education and experience.
• Must have the ability to find holes in a story, ask the right questions under pressure, and understand story organization and how to achieve it.
• Must have the ability to analyze facts and make judgments about relevance, newsworthiness, libel, fairness, etc.  Ability to write clearly and accurately on multiple platforms. 
• Understand and uphold the standards, ethics and mission of visual journalism at The Seattle Times, regardless of platform.  Must apply the Times’ standard for accuracy, fairness and professional conduct in online work as well as in print and in person.

Schedule

This position covers the Sunday through Thursday shift.

To apply, please visit us here.

Founded in 1896, The Seattle Times continues its tradition as a family-owned, independent newspaper that cuts through the clutter and provides readers with timely, relevant news. As the largest newsroom in the Pacific Northwest, we serve the region with thoughtful journalism that makes a real difference in our community. And as a media solutions company, we combine cutting-edge digital capabilities and service with the values and integrity of respected traditional media… with an established audience of 1.8 million. At The Seattle Times, you’ll find work that matters.

Resume and attachments over 10 MB per file cannot be accepted.