Deputy Editor, Arts and Culture

• Role title: Deputy Editor, Arts and Culture
• Reports to: Editor, Arts and Culture
• Other Key Relationships: Editor, COS, Deputy COS
• Salary: $85,000 pro rata
• Hours: 2-3 days per week

About The Conversation

With headquarters in Melbourne, The Conversation Australia and New Zealand is the world's leading digital publisher of research-based news and analysis. Our model is a unique collaboration between academics and journalists. We produce easy-to-read articles based on proven expertise. It’s our mission to spread knowledge and inform decisions.

The Role

The Deputy Editor, Arts and Culture is responsible for working with academics to review significant arts exhibitions and performances, TV and film, and analyse arts policy, as well as trends, online culture, history, youth culture and social media. The Deputy Editor, Arts and Culture, will predominantly commission, edit and publish text-based articles, with a focus on The Conversation’s reviews coverage across artforms, including screen, visual art and live performance.

The Deputy Editor, Arts and Culture, will need to be a voracious reader and consumer of arts and culture who is well informed about developments in their field and passionate about developing new ideas.

The Conversation is a trusted journalism brand. Deputy editors need to protect its hard won credibility. They must be thoughtful, calm, methodical, rigorous and possess a deep commitment to professional impartiality and high ethical standards.

Key responsibilities include:

• Responsibility 1 – Keep track of the arts calendar and commission reviews of new theatre, dance, visual art, film and television shows
• Responsibility 2 – Commission and edit articles on arts and culture, reporting to the Arts and Culture Editor
• Responsibility 3 -Develop story ideas based on developments, trends and happenings in arts and culture, and respond to pitches from arts and culture academics
• Responsibility 4 - Promote editorial content on social media and other channels
• Responsibility 5 - Attend events and represent The Conversation with university partners Experience and skills

Essential experience

Journalism experience

Experience particularly in the arts and culture round

Essential qualities

• Highly developed written and verbal communication skills
• Knowledge of the arts and culture round and commitment to following trends and events within these communities
• Ability to develop interesting and relatable story ideas
• Diplomacy and the ability to create and manage positive relationships
• Courteous, kind and respectful
• Highly developed research and analytical skills
• Polished presentation
• Care and attention to detail
• Friendly and collegiate, in line with our newsroom culture

Please send us a copy of your CV and answers of no more than 200 words each to the below four questions to [email protected] by COB Wednesday 1 July (no cover letter required)

1. Tell us about your career and professional accomplishments.

2. Why have you applied for this role and why would you be a good fit for this position?

3. Tell us a little about yourself and the key factors that make you who you are. We particularly value all kinds of diversity and would like to hear anything about your background or experience that would enable you to bring something unique to our team.

4. Do you have the right to work in Australia?