News Assistant

Position description

The New York Times is looking for a news assistant to work in a floater role to learn several different news assistant jobs throughout the newsroom. Floaters fill in on multiple jobs to cover other employees’ vacations, leaves and other types of time off, and fill in on any shifts or projects that don’t have an assigned news assistant.

You will rotate easily from one job to another. Flexibility is important as floaters do not have a set schedule; a floater’s schedule varies week to week and will include nights, weekends, and holidays. Schedule changes occur regularly and being cooperative with changes and quickly responsive to calls/emails from Newsroom Operations managers are required.

This is an in-office position, based in New York City and includes regular attendance in the office four days each week.

Responsibilities:

• Assist editors in producing multiple newsletters and other online content
• Handle layout of some parts of our print newspaper
• Maintain department documents, including listservs that contain reliable information of reporter locations
• Proofread and fact-check and audience-related tasks, i.e. SEO and URL verification
• For publication in listings, review and confirm background facts for events submitted to The Times, seek out appropriate upcoming events, select events and edit content for space requirements
• Determine accuracy of data, correcting apparent errors and calling attention to news developments the material may disclose
• Manage desk social media accounts at the direction of editors
• Write and reword caption information attached to incoming pictures or other material submitted by photographers so that editors can write captions for publication
• Gather, prepare and archive content, including tables, listings, captions, summaries, photos, graphics and other content elements, reformatting assigned content for immediate publication in all media
• Screen and sort mail, send out newspapers, answer telephone calls and manage other incoming information for the assigned department
• Ensure the smooth administrative operation of the assigned desk by performing a variety of tasks under the supervision of desk editors and the operations manager, including:
• Maintain varied departmental files and personnel and other office records including work and vacation schedules, timebanks, whereabouts lists and payroll records
• Assist editors and operations managers with processing of freelance and staff payments
• Learn and use evolving administrative tools and working with editors and operations managers to help create and apply newsroom policies on the assigned desk
• Demonstrate support and understanding of our value of journalistic independence and a strong commitment to our mission to seek the truth and help people understand the world
• This role reports to a Deputy Director of Newsroom Operations

Qualifications

Basic Qualifications:

• 1+ years of experience with Google Workspace
• Experience in a role requiring organizational skills
• Experience in a fast-paced environment that requires meeting deadlines
• Strong grammar

Preferred Qualifications:

• Strong communication skills
• A passion for learning about new tools and journalism formats
• Versatile skills in writing
• Experience with Adobe Creative Cloud, with an emphasis on InDesign

The job will be based in New York and is represented by the NewsGuild of NY.

Application instructions

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