News Editor for Social Media

Northeastern University is looking for a News Editor for Social Media with experience in journalism, social media strategy, and transforming news content into platform-specific video content. The News Editor for Social Media plays a key role in Northeastern's news operation, including developing editorial strategies for social-first news content across platforms and maintaining editorial standards across all creator-produced content. The News Editor for Social Media combines brand standards and editorial strategy to promote Northeastern University as a knowledge brand that educates and informs. The role requires strong editorial background and impeccable journalistic standards honed at commercial news organizations where rigor and accuracy go hand-in-hand with creativity and innovation.

The role is responsible for monitoring the global news cycle and identifying timely angles and topics that showcase faculty expertise across a wide variety of subjects and align them with relevant events happening in the world at any given time.

Reporting to the Vice President for Communications, the News Editor for Social Media works closely with NGN's (Northeastern Global News) executive and managing editors, reporters, and content creators to identify news angles and timelines, conceptualize content and format, and write news content tailored for each platform (TikTok, Instagram, Facebook, LinkedIn, Reddit, etc.) that engages key stakeholder groups. The News Editor for Social Media understands current and emerging social media platforms and innovative trends in audience engagement around news content and can build editorial strategies to leverage them.

The News Editor for Social Media has a track record of devising and executing data-informed strategies with key metrics to track progress and meet ambitious goals. The editorial strategy is intended to leverage Northeastern's academic and research enterprise as a source for news. Should be familiar with leveraging AI-powered tools— including media monitoring platforms, automated insight generation, and data analytics—and make informed decisions for using artificial intelligence to innovate and increase capacity.

In partnership with the Creative Director for Social Video, the News Editor for Social Media leads an editorial training function for creators without traditional journalism backgrounds that maintains journalistic rigor (fact-checking, source verification, editorial ethics). The role also works with NGN news reporters on adapting their original reporting to social platforms.

As is the case for every member of the Communications team, after-hours work, including weekends, holidays and events is routinely required. The position is based on the Boston campus and is fully in-person.

Higher education experience is not required.

• 8-10 years of experience in both traditional journalism/editorial environments and social-first or creator-economy content production
• Demonstrated ability to train and coach teams in editorial standards without slowing content velocity
• Proven track record developing and enforcing brand voice/tone guidelines across multiple contributors
• Experience translating research or technical/academic material into story ideas for a general audience
• Experience using AI tools in responsible ways to increase capacity, innovate, and measure progress toward ambitious goals.
• Experience coordinating across teams with distinct workflows (editorial and creator) as a hybrid editor/producer/talent coach

• →Establish and enforce a consistent brand voice and editorial standards across all creator-produced content, serving as the final editorial gatekeeper balancing speed, authenticity, and accuracy.

• →Mine the university's research enterprise, faculty expertise, and student community for original story ideas, and build a "newsmaker" content pipeline that positions Northeastern as a trusted, recognizable source.

• →Align editorial standards for Northeastern Global News with social platforms in mind and identify NGN stories suited for creator-led video spin-offs — ensuring creator content reinforces rather than duplicates NGN's journalism

• →Support communications during high-priority or breaking moments, coordinating timely creator content alongside traditional press response
• →Track how creator-driven content performs against and complements earned media coverage, and stay ahead of platform and industry trends
• →Adjust targets and priorities for news content on social amid a constantly changing global, 24/7 news cycle and evolving digital landscape

Northeastern University considers factors such as candidate work experience, education and skills when extending an offer.  

All qualified applicants are encouraged to apply and will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, religion, color, national origin, age, sex, sexual orientation, disability status, or any other characteristic protected by applicable law.

With the pay range(s) shown above, the starting salary will depend on several factors, which may include your education, experience, location, knowledge and expertise, and skills as well as a pay comparison to similarly-situated employees already in the role. Salary ranges are reviewed regularly and are subject to change.