[Hiring] West Coast Entertainment Breaking and Trending News Editor @USA TODAY Co.

Role Description

The West Coast Entertainment Breaking and Trending News Editor is responsible for identifying, editing and driving timely entertainment coverage with strong audience engagement potential. The role focuses on real-time and daily trending news, event staffing and coordination across Entertainment content areas, while upholding USA TODAY editorial standards and sourcing guidelines. We're looking for an editor who can react quickly to breaking news and won’t hesitate to jump in to write stories when needed.

• Oversee and contribute to breaking and trending entertainment news, including high-traffic moments, live events, and rapid-response coverage.
• Identify high-interest entertainment and pop culture stories ahead of competitors and, at times, jump in to write breaking and trending entertainment news.
• Abide by strong fact-checking and accuracy standards, with a solid command of AP Style.
• Demonstrate strong news judgment and ability to work under tight deadlines in a fast-paced environment.
• Evaluate West Coast press invites, recommend coverage strategies, and coordinate staffing for entertainment events (e.g., awards shows, media previews, celebrity appearances).
• Communicate staffing options and constraints with senior editors and photo and video leads.
• Work closely with senior editors and peer editors to manage coverage plans, shift schedules, and handoffs, including coordination across time zones and during travel or remote work periods.
• Serve as a point of contact between Entertainment and related desks to flag relevant interviews, pitches, or coverage opportunities.
• Demonstrate passion for entertainment and pop culture, with prior digital news experience.
• Use AI tools responsibly to assist with research, trend analysis, transcription, and content packaging to improve efficiency and creativity.

Qualifications

• Bachelor's or master's degree in communications, journalism, marketing or related field or equivalent combination of education and experience.
• 5+ years experience in entertainment journalism, including editing.
• Experience covering news in a fast-paced environment.
• Strong competitive instincts and intellectual curiosity; core knowledge of the entertainment industry.
• Access to cable TV and streaming services.
• Proficiency in digital publishing, metrics and SEO best practices.
• Strong editorial judgment and storytelling skills.
• Experience working with CMS, SEO, and analytics tools.
• Excellent communication and collaboration skills.
• Network of industry contacts and sources.
• Enthusiasm to try new things in a fast-paced, deadline-driven environment.

Requirements

• Application Instructions: When you apply, don’t limit your upload to a resume; show us what you’ve done. Include a single document file that contains:
• Your resume – one to two pages.
• A cover letter that outlines how you would approach the job.
• Items must be assembled into a single document and uploaded in PDF format.

Benefits

• The annualized base salary for this role will range between $73,000 and $114,063.
• Base compensation is reflective of many factors, including, but not limited to, the market in which one lives/works, individual education level, skills, certifications, and experience.
• Note: variable compensation is not reflected in these figures and based on the role, may be applicable.

Company Description

USA TODAY Co., Inc. is a diversified media company with expansive reach at the national and local level dedicated to empowering and enriching communities. We seek to inspire, inform, and connect audiences as a sustainable, growth-focused media and digital marketing solutions company.

• Through our trusted brands, including the USA TODAY NETWORK, we provide essential journalism, local content, and digital experiences to audiences and businesses.
• Our digital marketing solutions brand, LocaliQ, supports small and medium-sized businesses with innovative digital marketing products and solutions.