Newsperson (Washington, D.C. Text Editor)

Position description

The Associated Press is an independent global news organization dedicated to factual reporting. Founded in 1846, AP today remains the most trusted source of fast, accurate, unbiased news in all formats and the essential provider of the technology and services vital to the news business. More than half the world's population sees AP journalism every day.

The Associated Press seeks a talented and versatile text editor to join its text editing desk based in Washington, D.C.  You’ll work closely with news managers and journalists in Washington and across the United States to ensure AP content is accurate, fast, distinctive, and packaged creatively for audiences around the world. This temporary staff position lasts through the end of 2024 and is covered by AP’s agreement with the News Media Guild.    

Responsibilities: In this role, you will ensure that urgent news is published in the moment, swiftly guiding accurate reporting to AP customers and digital audiences. You will quickly assess the heart of a story, identifying details that need expansion or gaps that need filling, working to elevate the reporting and writing so it resonates with all of AP’s audiences. As a collaborative team player, you’ll work with reporters and other editors on a range of topics including politics, foreign policy, and national security, and may, on occasion, be called on to report breaking news from the desk. You may also be asked to find and verify important user-generated content, create eye-catching social promotion, and use digital tools to present stories in unique ways.

We’re looking for someone who will:

• collaborate with a team of journalists, reporters, and editors to edit and publish spot news and enterprise coverage that breaks news, has impact and is exclusive to AP.
• demonstrate strong communication skills and work collaboratively with the diverse team of journalists at the AP who operate in all formats: text, photo, video, audio, digital/social, interactive and graphics.
• have a great news sense, with the ability to communicate stories that people will want to share on social media and other platforms.
• pursue innovative and inclusive coverage techniques while maintaining AP’s standards for integrity and objectivity.

Preferred Qualifications: We’re looking for an excellent text editor to work with us until the end of 2024 who is excited by the process of editing and publishing breaking news and guiding spot news and enterprise stories to publication. You enjoy helping reporters explain complex stories in clear and compelling ways. You should be able to support reporters during the reporting, writing and presentation process, including with colleagues in remote locations. You are an editor who thrives when working swiftly on tight deadlines, in part because you can reorder priorities quickly.

Required Qualifications:

• Bachelor’s degree or equivalent experience, such as at least one year of full-time work as a newsroom developer or visual journalist a daily newspaper, broadcast station, online or digital news outlet or AP bureau.
• All applicants must be able to work in the U.S. or be able to gain permission to do so.
• Advanced-level professional competency in written and spoken English. Professional competency in a language besides English is a plus.
• The ability and willingness to work any shift, including at night and on weekends, or as coverage demands, as AP is a 24/7 operation.

We will consider strong candidates who do not meet every listed qualification. You may use a cover letter to describe the unique qualifications you would bring to this role.

Application instructions

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