Job Description

Title: Breaking/Trending Editor, Austin American-Statesman

Join a best-in-class newsroom covering one of the most dynamic cities in the country.

The Breaking/Trending Editor will manage a team of reporters who produce a high volume of local, audience-centric stories each day. This team is the newsroom’s first line of defense for covering breaking news, viral moments and more. Qualified candidates will have a background in editing and a basic understanding of audience trends/data and use that information to drive their team’s success. They’ll be detail-oriented in their editing process and thrive in a fast-paced environment.

 What will you do?

• Oversee a team of reporters who write 4 to 8 stories daily, from the initial pitch to line editing to great headline writing.
• Capitalize on live, breaking and trending moments by creating quick turnaround content for SEO, social media and other digital platforms.
• Monitor website analytics and audience engagement metrics to inform content strategy and improve performance. Familiarity with Parse.ly, Chartbeat and other analytics products is a plus.
• Coach reporters on writing, reporting, pitching/honing story ideas and understanding audience trends.
• Find local audience-centric story ideas using tools like Google Trends, TikTok, Reddit and more social-listening tools.
• Collaborate with other editors, reporters and photographers on coverage as needed.
• This role will include night, weekend and occasional holiday work as needed by the news cycle.

What will it take to be successful?

 The successful Breaking/Trending Editor will have their finger on the pulse of what Austin is talking about on any given day. They’ll be hungry for their team to add to that conversation.

• Bachelor’s degree in journalism or related field and 3 years of experience managing employees in a newsroom setting.
• Strong understanding of digital publishing tools, CMS platforms (e.g., WordPress, MediaOS, or similar), and multimedia integration.
• Strong journalistic writing and editing skills, including story structure and AP style.
• Highly organized and strong time management – able to juggle multiple priorities at once.
• Sound news judgment, established through newsroom experience or journalistic training.
• Able to provide constructive, timely editorial feedback to reporters
• Solid grasp of audience trend data and able to use that information to drive content decisions.

About Business Unit: 

The Austin American-Statesman has been the leading source of news and information for Central Texas since 1871, serving a dynamic and fast-growing region anchored by the capital city of Texas. Austin is known for its vibrant tech industry, rich cultural heritage, influential government institutions and creative spirit.

The Statesman's award-winning journalists provide in-depth coverage of the issues that matter most to Austinites — from local government and business to education, the environment and Austin’s ever-evolving music and cultural scenes. With a strong focus on accountability journalism and investigative reporting, the Statesman plays a critical role in informing and engaging its community.

About Hearst Newspapers:

With 2,500 employees across the nation, HNP represents a network of 24 daily and 52 weekly publications, including the Austin American-Statesman, San Francisco Chronicle, Houston Chronicle, San Antonio Express-News and Albany Times Union, several top digital-only news and lifestyle sites, marketing services businesses, and entertainment businesses such as King Features Syndicate.

At HNP, we are investing in new and innovative ways to tell stories – growing newsrooms, diversifying tools, evolving platforms – to support the millions of people who trust us each month to help them make decisions, take action and be inspired. 

Be a part of something bigger – Your Headline Awaits.

Recognizing the diverse needs of our candidates, if you are interested in applying for employment and need assistance or an accommodation to use our website or regarding the application process, please contact us by email at [email protected].  Please do not use this email address to inquire about the status of applications. We will only respond to inquiries concerning requests for a reasonable accommodation through this email address.

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