Associate Editor for Engagement and Impact [1]
Zócalo Public Square, the innovative blend of live programs and ideas journalism, seeks a dynamic and ambitious Associate Editor for Engagement and Impact with a strong interest in expanding the reach and impact of our organization. We are looking for an intellectually curious person who is interested in big questions, passionate about democratizing ideas, and has the skills and creativity to take on new and challenging projects.
Zócalo is a thriving Los Angeles-based nonprofit organization and a creative unit of Arizona State University dedicated to connecting people to ideas and to each other. Our mission is to create a welcoming intellectual space offline and online by convening smart live programs and publishing thoughtful, wide-ranging essays. We are a high-spirited team partnering with some of the country’s most prestigious intellectual enterprises.
Since our founding in 2003, we have presented over 500 programs in 23 cities, seven states, and six countries. We syndicate our journalism to 290 media outlets worldwide and co-present programs with the Smithsonian Institution, the Getty Museum, and KCRW among others.
For the Associate Editor position, we are looking for applicants who have strong editing and writing skills, broad knowledge of online media and technology, a commitment to rigor, and willingness to jump into the fray. This opportunity is perfect for someone who is very attentive to detail, deeply committed to engagement with a broad public, and will thrive in the close-knit community that brings Zócalo’s nonideological and generous spirit to life.
The Associate Editor’s areas of responsibility center around how Zócalo interfaces with our readers and community. The Associate Editor will manage the Twitter, Facebook, and Instagram accounts for Zócalo’s journalism and programming. The editor will communicate directly with our network by planning social media campaigns and producing our newsletter, and continuously evaluating their effectiveness. The Associate Editor will also monitor and moderate comments on our site and engagements across our social platforms. As part of the editorial team, the Associate Editor will assist with the ways that Zócalo interacts with the public: writing headlines, working with images, commissioning art, maintaining the homepage, and using content management software to produce essays, video, and podcasts.
In addition, the Associate Editor will work closely with the Editor-in-Chief on special projects, including Zócalo’s yearly book prize, and any other editorial and programming needs. This work requires both organizational skills and the ability to think—and write—on one’s feet. The Associate Editor needs to be comfortable in a social environment—both in the office and online—and able to manage time and tasks well.
Finally, the Associate Editor will help with editorial content related to Zócalo’s live programming. Responsibilities may include writing event summaries, editing event descriptions, and conducting one-on-one interviews with our speakers. Previous reporting experience is a plus but is not required.
This position will work collaboratively with the Editor-in-Chief, Deputy Editor, and Associate Editor. As Zócalo expands its reach, there is great room for growth in this position.
The Associate Editor must be able to work out of Zócalo’s offices in downtown Los Angeles, and commit to long hours, occasional weekend and evening work, and some domestic and international travel.
Pay and benefits are competitive. Zócalo is an ASU Knowledge Enterprise and this editor will be employed by Arizona State University and eligible to participate in a full range of benefits, including health care and retirement.
Interested applicants should send cover letter, resume, and writing and/or editing samples to jobs@zocalopublicsquare.org [2]. Please include “Associate Editor for Engagement and Impact” in the subject line. The interview process includes an editing and headline test.