Assistant Editor, Opinion

About The Team

The Wall Street Journal is a global news organization providing leading news, information, commentary, and analysis. It engages readers across print, digital, mobile, social, podcast, and video, building on its heritage as the preeminent source of global business and financial news. The Journal covers U.S. & world news, politics, arts, culture, lifestyle, sports, and health, and holds 38 Pulitzer Prizes for outstanding journalism. The Wall Street Journal is published by Dow Jones, a division of News Corp.

The WSJ Opinion section serves as a forum for intelligent, values-driven commentary, dedicated to advocating 'free markets, free people.' It aims to persuade with rigorous reporting, research, and debate, offering sharp, original analysis and strong points of view on the news of the day. This position supports the expansion and daily operation of the opinion section.

About The Role

The Wall Street Journal's Opinion section seeks a skilled Assistant Editor to join its growing editorial team in New York. We are looking for a high-energy, self-starter dedicated to high journalism standards, possessing excellent editing skills, and able to work under deadline pressure. This role requires an understanding of diverse audience needs across multiple platforms. You will assist in executing the vision for a broadened opinion section to deepen reader engagement and expand the reach of opinion content. Familiarity with the ideas, philosophy, and principles of The Wall Street Journal's editorial page is essential.

In this role, you will support the expansion and daily operation of the opinion section, focusing on broadening audience reach and experimenting with new formats, including newsletters, podcasts, and video. Responsibilities include evaluating dozens of unsolicited submissions weekly for acceptance or rejection; nurturing new contributors from a broader content spectrum, including culture; maintaining relationships with past contributors and soliciting op-eds in response to breaking news; editing op-eds and preparing them for print, online, newsletters, and social media; conducting research to assist other editors; suggesting op-ed ideas; and occasionally contributing bylined articles. You will edit copy with an eye toward digital discovery, incorporating SEO and platform-specific tone to reach new audiences while maintaining editorial integrity.

The Assistant Editor supports the team in communicating with external contributors and freelancers on article edits and occasionally commissions pieces. You will be responsible for editing features and columns tailored for the global audience of the Journal's print edition, website, and newsletters, and ensuring print headlines, RealTime data, and photo captions are in place before publication. This position is based in our New York office, reporting to the Lead Editor.

Key Responsibilities

• Assist in executing the vision for a broadened opinion section to deepen reader engagement and expand the reach of opinion content.
• Support the team with the creation of additional content and introduction of new formats to deliver high-quality content.
• Evaluate unsolicited op-eds and either accept or reject the submissions.
• Occasionally commission op-eds in response to breaking news.
• Assist the team with nurturing new contributors from a broader content spectrum and maintaining relationships with past contributors.
• Edit features and columns for publication, and write headlines, with an eye toward digital discovery.
• Ensure that print headlines, RealTime data, and photo captions are in place prior to publication.
• Pitch content ideas and occasionally contribute bylined articles.
• Participate in editorial board meetings.

Required Qualifications

• At least 2-4 years of editing experience.
• Deep knowledge of current events and public discourse across politics, economics, culture, and more, with a talent for developing ideas into powerful commentary.
• An understanding of the needs of audiences across multiple platforms.
• Essential familiarity with the ideas, philosophy, and principles for which The Wall Street Journal's editorial page stands.
• Exceptional editing skills and sound editorial judgment.
• High level of proficiency in writing, copy-editing, and proofreading.
• Ability to work under deadline pressure.
• Familiarity with audience insights and newsroom analytics.
• Flexibility for weekend/evening work as required.

Key skills/competency

• Editorial Judgement
• Content Curation
• SEO Optimization
• Digital Publishing
• Audience Engagement
• Copy Editing
• Journalism Ethics
• Current Affairs Knowledge
• Communication Skills
• Deadline Management