Photo Editor

SCAM ALERT: Please note that The Seattle Times has received a number of inquiries about fake offers for this position originating from a fake email address (careers@seattletimes.us). We never send emails from this alias so please be aware these offers are not legitimate. 

The Seattle Times, a Pulitzer Prize-winning newspaper and one of the few remaining independent news organizations in the country, is hiring a Photo Editor to help lead our photo/video team and advance the Seattle Times’ legacy as a publisher of impactful photojournalism.    

As a Photo Editor, you will help manage a team of award-winning photojournalists, video journalists and photo production staff, ensuring that a high level of quality visual journalism is maintained across all Seattle Times online and print publications. Participation across the newsroom in brainstorming the best approaches for photo and video assignments is key as well as selecting images for a variety of stories. You'll be a coach for staff, guiding professional development and visual storytelling. This position plays an important role in ensuring our visual journalism reflects the diversity of the Pacific Northwest. You will uphold standards of accuracy, ethics and inclusiveness in coverage.  

The Seattle Times is an award-winning newsroom with a history of producing groundbreaking journalism for a broad regional audience. Independently owned by the local Blethen family for more than 120 years, The Times has won 11 Pulitzer Prizes, a national Emmy Award and a multitude of photo editing awards. The Seattle Times is on the cutting edge of developing a sustainable business model for local journalism.  It is considered a leader among major metropolitan newsrooms, producing rapid-fire breaking news, deep and richly told narrative and explanatory stories, high-impact investigative reporting, and powerful, gripping visual journalism.  

Please note: while currently remote, this position will require some work in our Seattle office once normal operations resume. Applicants should be current (or future) residents of the Greater Seattle area.

Responsibilities  

• Provide relevant, impactful photos for Seattle Times online and print publications. This includes assigning and editing photo/video staff, editing content created by other newsroom staff, researching archives of various wire agencies, negotiating freelance contracts, acquiring courtesy content and purchasing content from other sources as well as choosing the right image for each platform. 
• Maintain a high level of photojournalism quality, inclusiveness and ethics across all Seattle Times publications, balancing a mix of breaking news, enterprise, feature and sports stories. Maintain cultural competence across the visual report of all publications. 
• Maintain a knowledge of PNW sports teams and key sports stories. Edit photos of sporting events with a focus on communicating the key moments of each competition as well as stories that go beyond the field of play. 
• Manage members of the photo staff, with an emphasis on coaching and professional development. Assist in recruitment and hiring. 
• Work with other editors and journalists across the newsroom to brainstorm best approaches for photo and video assignments. Work to increase visual literacy across the newsroom through coaching.
• Help manage staff schedules, assignments, equipment and budget in order to maximize our coverage abilities. Advocate for staff needs. 
• Help plan visual coverage in advance of news events and during breaking news.  
• Help ensure that standards on news judgment, ethics, style and fairness, with specific focus on equity and inclusion, are consistent across all Seattle Times platforms.   
• Contribute to newsroom initiatives and committees as required.   

Qualifications  

We are committed to diversity and creating an inclusive newsroom and encourage members of traditionally underrepresented communities to apply. If your profile does not match this job description exactly, you may still be a candidate for this position. Please let us know how your skills and experience relate to the role and its objectives.  

• Experience: At least 5 years of experience in a fast-paced newsroom is preferred, including at least 2 years editing photography as well as some management experience of visual teams.    
• Education: Bachelor’s degree or equivalent work experience required.  
• Demonstrated visual acuity in the selection of photos for publication, showing a wide-ranging knowledge of news, feature and sports photo editing. 
• Demonstrated knowledge of impactful photo selection for both online and print publication.
• Demonstrated success of publishing highly visual projects. 
• Demonstrated ability to make strong news judgment,  ethical and cultural sensitivity decisions under pressure and while multi-tasking.  
• Demonstrated experience advancing equity and inclusion in news coverage. 
• Must have strong prioritization, organization and communication skills.  
• Must show ability to coach and mentor.  
• Must show ability to collaborate across teams to produce impactful journalism.  
   

Schedule

Variable hours which will include nights and weekends.

Founded in 1896, The Seattle Times continues its tradition as a family-owned, Pulitzer Prize-winning newspaper that cuts through the clutter and provides readers with timely, relevant news. We serve the Pacific Northwest with thoughtful, independent journalism that makes a real difference in our community. And as a media solutions company, we combine cutting-edge digital capabilities and service with the values and integrity of respected traditional media… with an established audience of 2.1 million. At The Seattle Times, you'll find work that matters.

If you need assistance to accommodate a disability, please contact Human Resources at careers@seattletimes.com and provide a description of the reasonable accommodation(s) needed.