Lead Writer, First Thing
$54,239–$54,239 year
HybridLondon, England, United Kingdom
Job Summary
Stay abreast of daily big news events to identify compelling angles and storylines for the flagship US newsletter, First Thing. Write timely analysis and explainers with accuracy, flair, and knowledge of Guardian style, while conducting quick-turn interviews with internal journalists and external experts. Summarise published work clearly and experiment with new formats using data-informed approaches. Collaborate across desks to make decisions incorporating news judgment and audience data, ensuring the newsletter files a few hours before the weekday 6am EST launch. This role requires a strong news reporting background with a global perspective to build a distinctive voice in a crowded landscape.
Required Qualifications
- London-based
- Permanent full-time position
- Hybrid environment working at least three days a week from our offices in King's Cross in London
- Demonstrable experience covering the news quickly and accurately
- Strong track record of audience-centered journalism and voice-driven writing
- Deep familiarity with US news landscape and culture
- Strong style and prose
- Global perspective
- Excellent news judgment
- Creativity
- Range
- Deep understanding of both US and international affairs
- Quick-turn interviews with Guardian journalists and other experts
- Incisive analysis
- Willingness to experiment with new formats
- Strong news reporting background
- Clips that demonstrate clear, accessible and personality-driven writing
- Ability to stay abreast of the big news events of the day
- Ability to identify compelling angles and storylines
- Ability to write timely analysis and explainers
- Accuracy
- Flair
- Originality
- Knowledge of Guardian style and tone
- Ability to interview Guardian journalists and external sources
- Ability to summarise published work clearly and concisely
- Ability to experiment with new formats
- Ability to use creative as well as data-informed approaches
- Ability to collaborate across desks and teams
- Ability to make decisions that incorporate a wide variety of inputs
- News judgment
- Input from colleagues
- Audience data
- Ability to file the newsletter a few hours before 6am EST/3am PST/11am GMT
- Availability for edits
- Ability to bring a diverse perspective to this role
Desired Qualifications
- Ideally, you'll have a demonstrable ability to bring a diverse perspective to this role
- Wide-ranging interests – you should be able to explore diverse subjects – such as abortion bans, conflict in the Middle East, and a Super Bowl halftime show – with curiosity and sensitivity
- We actively encourage applications from groups traditionally underrepresented in the UK media
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