Role Title: Political Editor

Department: Editorial

Reporting to: Group Head News

Role Purpose

The Political Editor will be a key leader within the Mediahuis Ireland newsroom. They will oversee political coverage across the Irish Independent and Sunday Independent and assist publications in the wider group on the island of Ireland as necessary.

He/she will manage a team of political correspondents, reporters and contributors and ensure high-quality journalism is produced across seven days.  They will also provide their own in-depth analysis of Irish politics and work to break agenda-setting stories. Originating high-quality newsworthy off-diary stories will play a significant part of the role. They will conceive and steer political investigations as well as devising innovative online content that fits with our multi-media strategy.

The key focus for the Political Editor will be shaping the political journalism strategy for the Irish Independent in conjunction with the Group Head of News, Sunday Independent Editor and Editor-in-chief.

They will be a key influencer within the newsroom and collaborate regularly with other departments including Features and Business. He/she will be well versed with Mediahuis Ireland’s video and podcast strategy. They will work with our Video and Audio departments to create engaging products for our audience.

The Political Editor will also routinely engage in quality control of political journalism on the Irish Independent website, ensuring our audiences see the best representation of our journalism.

Role Responsibilities (Overview)

• Create, write and edit up-to-date, accurate, balanced and engaging multimedia political journalism for Mediahuis Ireland publications.

• Organise and manage the Politics Team, including team building, rosters and the nurturing of talent.

• Collaborate with the wider editorial teams and liaise wit the news desk, editors and audience teams in coordinating coverage.

• Consistently break major political/news stories and write agenda-setting analysis.

• Create, develop and organise major projects, investigations, stories and supplements that will increase reader engagement.

• React quickly, accurately and professionally to breaking news, keeping stories updated across digital and social platforms.

• Develop new methods of coverage for politics on a cross-platform basis to drive traffic and engagement online. This could include audio, video and social media.

• Work to ensure all major news is broken on Mediahuis’ digital platforms

• Text optimisation, including copy editing and writing SEO-friendly headlines

• Engage with the Audience Desk to help the Irish Independent achieve relevant targets – particularly in relation to politics.

• Carry out your duties at all times in accordance with Mediahuis’ Editorial Code of Practice and relevant professional and legal codes

Experience & Qualifications (Minimum Experience & Essential Knowledge)

• Proven journalistic experience, with demonstrated ability to break news and write agenda-setting  commentary.

• An outstanding grasp of Irish and global politics.

• Experience working in an online environment

• A demonstrated ability to manage talent and operate in the best strategic interests of the newsroom.

• Knowledge of Audio and Video

Skills (technical & non-technical)

Technical & Non-Technical

• Written / Digital journalism

• Copy editing

• Ability in Audio/Video

• Broad general knowledge and understanding of the news agenda across news, politics business, entertainment and sport

• News judgement

• Managing a wide and varied mix of stories

• Use social media and other digital tools to source news information and to promote our journalism

• Leadership – Ability to inspire other team memberships through your work ethic and attitude.

• Team player - working with other journalists and editors to manage situations.

• Meet rolling deadlines

• Organisation – ability to plan towards deadlines

• Excellent knowledge of libel law

• Ability to represent the titles in a positive manner on broadcast media and at external events as necessary

Other

• Passion for journalism

• Creative Flair

• Ability to work at speed and under pressure

• Ability to Conceptualise

• Self-starting and shows initiative

• Accuracy, fairness, balance, commitment to ethics

• Flexibility / willingness to adapt

• Detail Oriented

• Effective Collaboration

• Learning Agility