Senior Journalism Editor, Arts & Culture

OVERVIEW

Application Deadline: Please submit your application materials by 11:59 pm EST November 19th, 2026
Intro to Position

This editor brings enthusiasm and fresh ideas to the coverage of cultural insights and deep respect for the curious audience. In collaboration with the Arts & Culture Hub editors and platform leads, this senior editor will be responsive to the news and drive NPR’s cultural insights coverage for broadcast and digital. They will work to identify and explain the values, beliefs, and social dynamics that shape our culture and guide the reporting team to explain and contextualize emerging trends with verve, speed and accuracy. This mandate includes providing insights into current artistic movements and trends, as well as deep dives to explain meaningful cultural change. This editor’s leadership will help the team break news and ideas. Because of the breadth of this beat, this editor will be a key decision-maker on the shape and design of day-to-day news coverage for the entire team.

This is an NPR editorial role covered under the terms of the NPR Ethics Handbook. All editorial staff are bound by this guidance. Editorial staff are defined as staff members who play a role in shaping the journalistic or creative direction of NPR's content, including events.

Responsibilities

Generate story ideas and review story pitches with reporters on the Society & Culture desk, which includes coverage of movies, books, sports, religion and education, among other things.
• Help develop storytelling approaches and sources, and determine the best platform for coverage.
• Direct daily news and feature coverage of beat in collaboration with all platform leads, desks and others as appropriate;
• Ability to fill-in or supplement editing of sports coverage, which may include some weekend work
• Engage digital and visuals teams at the earliest stage of story and event planning and idea generation;
• Proactively produce multiplatform coverage plans for major events and stories in collaboration with divisions and teams throughout NPR when necessary;
• Edit stories for broadcast, digital, social, and newsletters, supporting critics and correspondents in developing and executing stories with speed, voice, and nuance.
• Ability to advise show programmers and hosts on coverage threads, booking guests and interview questions.
• Competent at audio production;
• Competent in SEO, headline writing and other engagement best practices to ensure that all digital stories produced by the team are ready for posting;
• Participate in, edit, and direct news coverage when needed, including the flexibility to work some evenings or weekends when needed, and also occasional holiday assignments.
• Ensure that desk content meets NPR’s standards and practices (including accuracy, fairness, honesty, and impartiality).

The above duties and responsibilities are not an exhaustive list of required responsibilities, duties and skills. Other duties may be assigned, and this job description can be modified at any time.

MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS
• 5 years of experience editing arts, entertainment and culture coverage.
• Experience editing for radio and/or podcasting.
• Experience with coverage of arts and culture, including but not limited to: movies, TV, visual arts, and books.
• Experience in digital media, including editing copy, visuals and coordination with news apps as well as familiarity with content management systems and collaboration tools.
• A strong record of multi-platform thinking and execution in daily news as well as feature and enterprise coverage.
• Experience in editorial decision-making, including assigning reporters/correspondents.
• Ability to handle multiple and complex projects simultaneously under stringent timeframes and changing priorities/conditions.
• Ability to work quickly and efficiently under deadline pressure.
• Ability and willingness to work varied shifts.
• Demonstrated team collaboration and leadership skills.
• Expertise in writing, with excellence in news, headline and broadcast writing as well as copy editing.
• Proven ability to communicate clearly and effectively in challenging situations

PREFERRED QUALIFICATIONS
• Familiarity with NPR member stations and the public media system.
• Some experience and understanding of sports and sports journalism
• Flexibility, creativity and eagerness to innovate and embrace change.
• Long-standing relationships and contacts in the entertainment industry are a plus.

Education Requirements
• Bachelor's degree or equivalent in work experience

Work Location & Requirements
• SAG-AFTRA Hybrid Permitted: This is a hybrid permitted role. The employee will be required to be in the office at the Washington, D.C. / Culver City / New York City location at least 2-3 days per week. The employee must also reside in Washington, D.C. / Maryland / Virginia / Culver City / New York City.

Job Type
• This is a full-time, exempt position.

Does this sound like you? If so, we want to hear from you.

#LI-HYBRID

You may read NPR’s privacy policy to learn about how NPR may handle information you submit with any application.

Want more NPR? Explore the stories behind the stories on our NPR Extra blog.
Create a Job Alert

Interested in building your career at NPR? Get future opportunities sent straight to your email.
Create alert