Assistant Data Editor

Assistant Data Editor

United States Virtual Req #39094

Gannett Co., Inc. (NYSE: GCI) is a subscription-led and digitally-focused media and marketing solutions company committed to empowering communities to thrive. With an unmatched reach at the national and local level, Gannett touches the lives of millions with our Pulitzer Prize-winning content, consumer experiences and benefits, and advertiser products and services.

Our current portfolio of media assets includes The USA TODAY NETWORK, which includes USA TODAY, and local media organizations in 43 states in the United States, and Newsquest, a wholly-owned subsidiary operating in the United Kingdom. We also own digital marketing services companies under the brand LocaliQ, which provide a cloud-based platform of products to enable small and medium-sized businesses to accomplish their marketing goals. In addition, our portfolio includes one of the largest media-owned events businesses in the U.S., USA TODAY NETWORK Ventures.

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Assistant Data Editor

USA TODAY seeks an Assistant Data Editor to lead a team of journalists who find and deliver compelling, interactive and searchable data to subscribers and tell stories gleaned from that data.

We are looking for a detail-oriented player/coach to guide the three-member Your Life in Data team in analyzing, preparing and presenting newsworthy datasets that surprise and empower readers. You should be able to anticipate which databases will resonate; know how to analyze that data to add value and context, as well as mine each dataset for multiple enterprise stories; and understand the tools that will deliver on these ideas.

You should relish making a wide range of data more accessible to ordinary people and finding ways for data to answer important questions. An editor’s eye for detail in data, stories and explanatory text for visual presentations will be essential.

This assistant editor will report to and assist the Senior Data Editor on the Investigations, Storytelling & Data team. This player/coach role includes leading the team’s data reporters in the data editor’s absence and partnering directly with reporters to analyze data on an occasional major investigation or enterprise story.

A collaborative mindset is fundamental to the success of USA TODAY’s data team. We expect this person to be equally good at devising strategies that bring their own ideas to fruition as at brainstorming novel approaches to ideas from others. The data the Your Life in Data team obtains have the potential to generate not only high-utility search tools but also short and long-term enterprise with reporting partners from across the USA TODAY newsroom and around the Network – and potentially suggest investigations as well.

Tell us in your cover letter your vision for this this job and what experience and special areas of interest you would bring to it. We’re open to considering candidates for whom this would be a first full-time editing role and, if that is you, share specifics about why you think you are prepared for the transition.

You will work with the largest team of journalists in the U.S., a powerful network of more than 200 local affiliates, with the nation as your subject. Our Investigations, Storytelling and Data team members are based across the country.

This position is remote and can be based anywhere in the US, except for Alaska and Hawaii or based at ourheadquarters in McLean, VA or in one of our local newsrooms.

Job Level: Editor IV

Minimum salary: $85,000

Responsibilities:

• Lead the Your Life Data team to obtain and analyze government and commercially available data that will interest readers across the country. Collaborate with staff journalists nationwide to build exclusive, custom data sets. Acquire existing datasets that we can make more useful to readers through cleaning, geocoding or the addition of contextual tools such as per-capita normalization.
• Use your keen sense of where to find under-utilized, off-the-shelf data, and help your team relentlessly negotiate for data that’s not as easy to get, including through FOIA. You should be able to think creatively, and fast, about building data sets from inconsistent records across many jurisdictions and help others do so.
• Help generate ideas for reader-facing searchable databases. Guide the team as reporters mine the data for innovative stories that capitalize on alternative story forms.
• Assist the data editor as a player/coach on the broader data team, including running the team in the data editor’s absence and working on complex data stories of your own and in partnership with other reporters.

Requirements:

• Bachelor’s degree in journalism or equivalent, plus at least five years newsroom data analysis experience, preferred.
• Demonstrated experience as both a leader and a collaborator on teams.
• Proven record as a journalist who routinely obtains, analyzes and reports from data – in addition to traditional methods – to tell stories and empower readers.
• Familiarity with data scraping, web development or analytical tools such as Python/Pandas or R. You should be comfortable with a variety of data cleaning tools and have some GIS skills.
• Experience with public records requests and with editing copy a plus.

Application Instructions:

We are eager to learn more about you and how you fit this role. When you apply, don’t limit your upload to a resume; show us what you’ve done. To do so, put together a single document file that includes the following, in this order:

1. Your resume – one to two pages.
2. A cover letter that outlines how you would approach the job.
3. Links to 3-6 online samples of your work. Show us what you’ve produced or had a hand in that best reflects what you can do in your desired role.

It is important that these items be assembled into a single document and uploaded in PDF format. Completing these steps will ensure that your application receives the highest consideration.

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The annualized base salary for this role will range between $85,000.00 and $161,000.00. Variable compensation is not reflected in these figures and based on the role, may be applicable. Exact compensation may vary based on skills, experience, location, and union representation, if applicable.

Gannett Co., Inc. is a proud equal opportunity employer committed to building and maintaining a diverse workforce. As such, we will consider all qualified applicants for employment and do not discriminate in connection with employment decisions on the basis of an applicant or employee’s race, color, national origin, ethnicity, ancestry, citizenship status, sex, gender, gender identity, gender expression, religion, age, marital status, personal appearance (including height and weight), sexual orientation, family responsibilities, physical or mental disability, medical condition, pregnancy status (including childbirth, breastfeeding or related medical conditions), education, genetic characteristics or information, political affiliation, military or veteran status or other classifications protected by applicable federal, state and local laws in the jurisdictions where Gannett employs employees. In addition, Gannett Co., Inc. will provide applicants who require a reasonable accommodation, as a result of an applicant’s disability or religion, to complete this employment application and/or any other process in connection with an individuals’ application for employment with Gannett Co., Inc. Applicants who require such accommodation should contact Gannett Co., Inc.’s Recruitment Department at Recruit@gannett.com.

Other details

• Job Family Media
• Job Function Content Production
• Pay Type Salary
• Required Education Equivalent Experience