Audience Research Jobs (NOW HIRING)

The New York Times is an industry leader in visual and interactive journalism, excelling in data visualization and innovative approaches to covering the news.

We are looking for an audience editor with strong analytical skills to join the newsroom Audience team and partner with The Upshot, Graphics and Weather desks. This role sits at the intersection of audience strategy, newsroom analytics and editorial collaboration, helping these desks reach more readers while deepening our understanding of how audiences engage with data-driven journalism.

Some of our most far-reaching and engaging journalism comes from our graphics and data teams. We are looking for someone who can both analyze audience behavior and translate those insights into editorial and distribution strategies that expand the reach and impact of this work.

This editor will combine audience strategy with hands-on data analysis. They will interpret and translate how readers discover, engage with and share visual journalism; surface insights that inform coverage and presentation; and help ensure that stories reach the widest possible audience across Times platforms and beyond.

They will work closely with editors and our newsroom audience analytics team to inform both day-to-day coverage and long-term editorial projects, including interactive data features like election results, poll tracking and weather maps.

They will develop analyses and dashboards that help the desks understand how their work performs and then make strategic recommendations based on that audience research.

This is an in-office position, based in New York City and includes regular attendance in the office four days each week. There may be some flexibility to work remotely per your departmental guidance.

Responsibilities

• Partner with the newsroom audience analytics team to build on their ongoing analyses and deep dives on data-driven and visual coverage

• Interpret data and signals to shape how we present interactives and data-driven journalism both on- and off-platform

• Write SQL to analyze large datasets and support data-oriented analyses to be presented to senior desk leadership

• Optimize stories for search; identify trending topics and competitor trends that the desks should know about or take action on

• Contribute to regular audience performance updates including but not limited to morning audience notes, monthly masthead presentations and quarterly and annual audience reports to company leadership

• Work with editors and journalists on best social media practices, including framing coverage for specific audiences, and leveling up journalists' awareness of platform opportunities beyond social media

• Build community by monitoring comments for trends and facilitating conversations between readers and Times reporters and editors on our interactive and visual journalism

• 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 the Senior Audience Editor, News

Basic Qualifications

• 3+ years of experience in digital journalism, audience development, newsroom analytics or a related field

• Strong analytical skills and experience working with audience data to inform editorial or strategic decisions

• Proficiency in SQL and experience working with relational databases

• Experience collaborating with analytics or data science teams to conduct analysis and translate insights into strategy

• 1+ years of experience working with data analytics or data science teams to deliver analysis and make data-informed strategic decisions

• Strong writing and editing skills, and knowledge of Times style or the ability to absorb and apply it quickly

Preferred Qualifications:

• 1+ years of experience in at least one additional scripting language like R, Python, or JavaScript (R preferred)

• 1+ years of experience with version control (Git or other version control workflows)

• Experience working in big data environments such as Google BigQuery or AWS

• Experience with data visualization and analytical tools such as ggplot and tidyverse

• Familiarity with media industry analytics, audience trends or platform strategy, as well as interest in data visualization in news coverage

• Experience analyzing search, referral and social traffic patterns

• Experience with mainstream and some emerging social channels, with a willingness to learn about new platforms

• A dedication to The Times and its journalistic mission

• A strategic and analytical mindset, with comfort working with data and testing and iterating to find what resonates with various audiences

REQ- 019985