Summary of the Coordinating Editor - Politics, MS NOW Digital (Weekends) job at Versant

Company Description

VERSANT (Nasdaq: VSNT) is an industry-changing media and entertainment business and home to trusted brands that shape culture, inform audiences, and build lasting connections. It operates across four core markets: political news and opinion, business news and personal finance, golf, and sports and genre entertainment. These markets are served through a powerful portfolio of iconic and innovative brands, including CNBC, MS NOW, USA Network, Golf Channel, Oxygen, E!, SYFY, and Versant's sports division USA Sports, along with complementary digital assets including Fandango, Rotten Tomatoes, GolfNow and GolfPass.

Job Description

We’re looking for an experienced editor with political knowledge to help lead MS NOW Digital’s breaking news efforts on nights and weekends. This role focuses primarily on breaking political news with additional coverage of select trending and other news topics. This editor will play a key role in MS NOW’s 2028 presidential campaign coverage, helping to identify key storylines, land scoops, elevate stories and coordinate with the breaking news and political teams for timely coverage. The ideal candidate will have excellent news judgment, a deep understanding of journalistic standards and the ability to consistently uphold MS NOW’s tone and editorial values in high-pressure situations.

You should have superb writing and editing skills, be willing to edit across media platforms,  a keen understanding of the MS NOW voice and brand, and a proven track record of thriving in a fast-tempo newsroom. 

The position is based in Washington, D.C., 2 p.m. to 11 p.m., Wednesday through Sunday (with the ability to adjust working hours in the event of breaking news.)

This position is represented by the Writers Guild of America East.

What you will do:

• Identify storylines and execute on timely coverage at night and on weekends 
• Coordinate with the D.C. bureau and breaking news teams, especially regarding campaign events and scoops
• Stay informed about the 2028 political campaign and its candidates, helping to keep track of reporter deployment, linear TV plans and reading widely
• Help lead live blog coverage on primary nights, and coordinate the reporting of election results
• Collaborate across editorial and platform teams to optimize reader engagement
• Work with platforms producers to keep the homepage looking updated and fresh, and help with headlines, push alerts and newsletter production 
• Edit and occasionally write breaking news and enterprise articles throughout the evenings and weekends on the top headlines 

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree or equivalent years of relevant working experience
• 8+ years working in a newsroom environment, 
• 8+ years working in a strictly digital shop
• Must be able to edit quickly and accurately
• Must have experience working in breaking news and political news
• Must have the desire to work in a creative, demanding and competitive environment

Additional Job Requirements:

• Must be willing to work in Washington, D.C.
• Must have unrestricted work authorization to work in the United States

This position is eligible for company sponsored benefits, including medical, dental and vision insurance, 401(k), paid leave, tuition reimbursement, and a variety of other discounts and perks.

Salary Range: $115,000 - $130,000

Additional Information

As part of our selection process, external candidates may be required to attend an in-person interview with a VERSANT Media employee at one of our locations prior to a hiring decision. VERSANT Media's policy is to provide equal employment opportunities to all applicants and employees without regard to race, color, religion, creed, gender, gender identity or expression, age, national origin or ancestry, citizenship, disability, sexual orientation, marital status, pregnancy, veteran status, membership in the uniformed services, genetic information, or any other basis protected by applicable law.

If you are a qualified individual with a disability or a disabled veteran and require support throughout the application and/or recruitment process as a result of your disability, you have the right to request a reasonable accommodation. You can submit your request to candidateaccessibility@versantmedia.com.

VERSANT Media is committed to fair and equitable compensation practices. We include a good faith pay range for each position to comply with applicable state and local pay transparency laws and to promote equity across our organization. Actual compensation will be based on factors such as the candidate's skills, qualifications, experience, and location and may include additional forms of compensation and benefits such as health insurance, retirement plans, paid time off, etc.

VERSANT Media is not accepting unsolicited assistance from search firms for this employment opportunity. All resumes submitted by search firms to any employee at VERSANT via-email, the Internet, or in any form and/or method without a valid written Statement of Work in place for this position from VERSANT's Talent Acquisition team will be deemed the sole property of VERSANT. No fee will be paid in the event the candidate is hired by VERSANT as a result of the referral or through other means.