Editor, The 7 Live
The Washington Post · DC-Washington-TWP Headquarters · $109,200–$182,000 (stated in the posting)
Application Instructions
Please list all professional experience and explain any gaps in employment history. All of your application materials, which may include PDF files of work samples and/or links to audio, video, photography or graphics, must be uploaded to the field labeled Resume/Cover Letter/Work Samples to be considered for the position.
Join the future of news
We’re on a mission to deliver riveting storytelling for all of America. At The Washington Post, you’ll help reinvent news. Our work is driven by a deep investigative spirit and enhanced by innovation to bring audiences closer to the stories that matter most.
About Our Team
The Washington Post is powered by the passion and talent of our people. It takes all of us to reinvent news. Beyond our award-winning Newsroom and Opinions teams, we work across many departments, including Brand & Events, Communications, Customer Care, Engineering & Product, Finance, Human Resources, Legal, Marketing & Advertising, Print Operations, and Sales.
Why This Role Matters
The Washington Post is seeking an entrepreneurial, creative and highly energetic editor to lead The 7 Live, which showcases what Post journalists are seeing, hearing and discovering in real time.
The 7 Live is a prominent new feature of The Post’s Home experience on web and app, delivering a steady stream of short-form, stand-alone journalism throughout the day. It will draw on the breadth and expertise of our newsroom to surface breaking developments, reporter analysis, explainers and context, revealing quotes, data discoveries, cultural moments and other timely observations that help readers understand what is happening now.
We are looking for an editor who can turn this new concept into a distinctive, habit-forming destination. The successful candidate will lead The 7 Live from launch through daily execution, establishing its editorial voice, rhythms and workflows while maintaining a consistently high level of freshness and output. They will work across the newsroom to identify opportunities, assign and edit contributions and find creative ways to translate the expertise of Post journalists into concise, compelling storytelling.
This role requires exceptional news judgment, sharp editing skills and an instinct for what audiences find useful, surprising or worth sharing. The ideal candidate is both a journalist and a builder — someone excited by experimentation, comfortable using audience data to iterate quickly and adept at rallying colleagues around a new way of telling stories.
This position is based in our Washington, D.C., newsroom and reports to Senior Editor Annah Aschbrenner.
What Motivates You:
You are energized by the constant movement of the news and have a sharp instinct for what matters right now.
You enjoy building new editorial products and turning promising ideas into successful daily habits.
You love finding the revealing detail, smart observation or piece of context that helps readers see a story differently.
You believe great journalism can be authoritative and rigorous without always being long.
You are curious about audience behavior and eager to use data and experimentation to make journalism more useful and engaging.
You thrive on collaborating with journalists across subjects, disciplines and teams.
How You’ll Support the Mission:
Lead the daily editorial operation of The 7 Live, establishing its voice, standards, workflows and programming rhythms.
Ensure a consistent flow of timely, distinctive and high-value journalism throughout the day.
Identify, assign and edit short-form stories and updates drawing on reporting and expertise from across The Post.
Work closely with reporters, editors and visual journalists to identify observations, discoveries and reporting that can be quickly transformed into compelling stand-alone journalism.
Develop creative formats for news, analysis, explainers, quotes, data, cultural moments and other forms of timely storytelling.
Build efficient workflows that make it easy for journalists across the newsroom to contribute while maintaining high standards for accuracy, quality and presentation.
Partner closely with the News Hub and Digital Desk to identify opportunities and ensure The 7 Live reflects the breadth and urgency of The Post’s report.
Use real-time audience data to make programming decisions, evaluate performance and continuously refine the product.
Collaborate with Product, Visuals and Content Strategy colleagues to improve the reader experience and develop new capabilities for The 7 Live.
Experiment with story formats, presentation, cadence and programming to build reader habit and engagement.
Champion The 7 Live across the newsroom, cultivating contributors and helping journalists understand what makes a successful contribution.
The Skills and Experiences You Bring:
At least five years of editing experience at a major news organization or digital publication.
Exceptional news judgment and a strong instinct for stories, angles and observations that will resonate with broad audiences.
Excellent editing and headline-writing skills, particularly the ability to distill complex subjects into concise, engaging presentations.
Experience managing a fast-moving digital report and making confident editorial decisions under deadline pressure.
An entrepreneurial mindset and experience launching or developing new editorial products, verticals, formats or audience initiatives.
Strong understanding of audience behavior across web and mobile platforms.
Experience using real-time analytics and performance data to inform editorial decisions and improve products.
Excellent communication and collaboration skills, with the ability to build relationships across a large newsroom.
A willingness to experiment, learn quickly and adjust strategy based on results.
Interested candidates should upload a résumé, cover letter and up to three relevant work samples — such as edited stories, product launches or new editorial initiatives — to our jobs portal. Applications will be reviewed on a rolling basis until the position is filled, but those received by Sept. 11 will be prioritized. The cover letter should be addressed to Senior Editor Annah Aschbrenner and Deputy Managing Editor Mark W. Smith.
The salary range for this position is $109,200 - $182,000. The actual starting salary within this range will depend on individual skills, experience and qualifications as they relate to specific job requirements.
Collaboration makes us stronger. That’s why our offices are designed with open layouts, modern technology, and easy access to transportation. With certain exceptions for newsgathering and business travel, we work on-site five days a week.
Compensation and Benefits
Wherever you are in your life or career, The Washington Post offers comprehensive and inclusive benefits for every step of your journey:
Competitive medical, dental and vision coverage
Company-paid pension and 401(k) match
Three weeks of vacation and up to three weeks of paid sick leave
Nine paid holidays and two personal days
20 weeks paid parental leave for any new parent
Robust mental health resources
Backup care and caregiver concierge services
Gender affirming services
Pet insurance
Free Post digital subscription
Leadership and career development programs
Benefits may vary based on the job, full-time or part-time schedule, location, and collectively bargained status.
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