AddressReports to: Section Editor, Health or Science
Other Key Relationships: Editor, COS, Deputy COS
Salary: $65,000
Hours: Full time
About The Conversation
With headquarters in Melbourne, The Conversation Australia and New Zealand is the world's leading digital publisher of research-based news and analysis. Our model is a unique collaboration between academics and journalists. We produce easy-to-read articles based on proven expertise. It’s our mission to spread knowledge and inform decisions.
The Role
The Assistant Editor role is a 12-month position for an early career or graduate journalist. We are looking for two candidates, one who would report to the Health Editor and one to the Science Editor. Experience in these areas is not necessary, but the successful candidates will be passionate about developing ideas in one of these fields. The Assistant Editor will predominantly commission, edit and publish text-based articles on technology or health.
The Assistant Editor will need to be a voracious reader who has a keen interest in journalism, with either a journalism degree or some demonstrated experience in the field.
The Conversation is a trusted journalism brand. Assistant editors need to protect its hard won credibility. They must be thoughtful, calm, methodical, rigorous and possess a deep commitment to professional impartiality and high ethical standards.
Key responsibilities include:
Responsibility 1 - Develop story ideas and commission and edit articles based on developments, trends, research and breaking news in technology or health, reporting to the Science or Health Editor
Responsibility 2 - Respond to pitches from technology or health academics
Responsibility 3 - Promote your content on social media and other channels
Responsibility 4 - Represent The Conversation at events and promote the work of The Conversation to potential academic authors
Experience and skills
Essential experience
- Journalism experience - either industry or study
- Essential qualities
- Highly developed written and verbal communication skills
- Ability to develop interesting and relatable story ideas
- An interest in technology or health and ability to keep up with the latest developments in the round
- Diplomacy and the ability to create and manage positive relationships with internal and external stakeholders
- Courteous, kind and respectful
- Highly developed research and analytical skills
- Polished presentation
- Care and attention to detail
- Friendly and collegiate, in line with our newsroom culture.
Applications should be sent to ****@theconversation.edu.au by COB on Wednesday the 22nd of May.
Please include a copy of your CV and answers of no more than 200 words to each of these questions (no cover letter required).
- Tell us about your study, and any previous work experience or professional / academic accomplishments.
- Why are you applying for this role and why would you be a good fit for it?
- Tell us a little about you, your background and life experience, and the factors that make you who you are. We particularly value all kinds of diversity and would like to hear anything about you or your background that would enable you to bring something unique to the role and our team.
- Do you have the right to work in Australia?
