Role Title: Review/Deputy Opinion Editor

Reporting to: Group Head of Features

Department: Editorial

Role Purpose:

The Editor of Review & Deputy Opinion Editor leads the editorial team and contributors who produce the Irish Independent’s weekly Review supplement and works alongside the Opinion Editor to manage the weekly comment output.

The role holder will also play a key part in the Irish Independent features, opinion and news teams, contributing to the strategic development of content both in print and digital. The focus will be on high-quality and innovative features journalism, insightful news analysis, long-form reads and engaging, relevant and topical opinion pieces.

The successful candidate will be a champion for in-depth features journalism in the Irish Independent, for digital and in print. They will also contribute to the wider features, news analysis and comment strategy for digital – focusing on attracting subscriptions and increasing engagement through high-quality, signature journalism.

The role holder will be expected to work closely with newsroom reporters and journalists across the group to ensure we have the best news features, analysis and opinion for our audience.

Role Responsibilities

• Edit Review and deputise for the Opinion editor

• Work collaboratively with freelance and staff journalists, production journalists, video, audio and photography teams – ensuring a smooth workflow from commission to digital to print pages

• Play a key role in developing digital content strategy and positioning of stories

• Work closely with the Audience, Video and Audio teams

• Ensure that all content meet high standards in terms of tone and accuracy

• Develop an ongoing strategy for keeping features & opinion fresh, relevant and within budget

• Identify and nurture new writers, bringing new and original talent to the brands

• Liaise directly with PRs, publishers, agents, freelance journalists and other contacts for story generation

• Hold regular meetings to generate ideas and forward planning

• Effectively manage budgets

• Ensure published content is free of legal liability and meets the requisite ethical standards

• An eye for evolving a brand and ability to show commercial initiative when appropriate – dealing with the marketing team on new launches and initiatives

Experience/Qualifications:

• At least five years’ experience as a media professional, preferably with a recognised and demonstrated standard of excellence in the following areas:

• Written journalism

• Commissioning features

• News and lifestyle/features journalism

• Innovative online journalism

• Experience managing budgets effectively would be an advantage.

Skills:

• Strong management skills

• Ability to make quick, informed decisions under pressure and adapt to late breaking news

• A keen eye for detail and a passion for delivering high-quality journalism

• A commitment to journalistic integrity and ethical standards.

• Proficient in newsroom software and content management systems

• Expert knowledge of media law and ethical guidelines for journalism