Audience Editor, Chron
Hearst · Houston
Role Overview
Chron is chasing Texas-sized audience growth. We need an editor who knows how to make sharp journalism travel farther—across social platforms, search, newsletters and video—while building deeper, more direct relationships with Texans who come to Chron for news, culture and everyday curiosity.
Chron’s next Audience Editor will drive great content to new heights both on- and off-platform, grow our most loyal audience and find ways to reach new ones. The ideal candidate has read Chron, understands the brand—sharp, fresh and unmistakably Texan—and brings a strategic-first mindset with the hands-on fluency to execute. This role is the connective tissue between editorial ambition and audience reach.
What You’ll Do
Audience Strategy
- Develop audience growth strategies across social, video, newsletters and emerging platforms while leading a team of two audience producers.
- Create promotion plans for special editorial initiatives that include site, social, video, newsletter and search optimization efforts.
- Develop audience plans for major initiatives and fast-moving Texas moments—from RodeoHouston and severe weather to elections, sports, restaurants, travel and statewide projects.
- Analyze data to track performance, identify trends and opportunities, and pivot strategy to meet audiences where they are.
- Help run morning editorial meetings by sharing pacing and trending search terms, and recommending story opportunities based on known audience interests.
Social & Content
- Create and publish compelling content (text, images, video, etc.) that engages and grows Chron’s social following, inspires shares, drives visits back to the site and supports subscriber and newsletter growth.
- Manage Chron’s social media platforms, including but not limited to Facebook, Instagram, TikTok, YouTube, Nextdoor, X, Bluesky, Threads and LinkedIn.
- Monitor and respond to audience inquiries, comments and complaints on social media and work with editorial leadership to address them.
- Advise reporters and editors on the latest social trends, content ideas that come in through social and search, and how to write and optimize for each platform.
Video
- Own and refine Chron’s off-platform video strategy, including helping reporters and editors identify when video is the best way to tell their story.
- Shoot and edit short-form vertical video; develop and post social video to Chron’s site and social channels.
- Build the team’s overall fluency in video production, social strategy and AI optimization.
Cross-Team Collaboration
- Collaborate with editors, reporters and other key stakeholders on promotion plans and special campaigns.
- Stay up to date on trends and best practices in video, search and social media.
What You’ll Bring
- 3+ years of relevant experience in audience, social or video publishing strategy, with people-management experience preferred.
- A degree in journalism, communications, marketing or a related field, or equivalent professional experience.
- Strong understanding of Houston and Texas, and good instinct for stories that could travel statewide.
- SEO experience, including the ability to use search trends, Google Discover/Google News signals and audience data to identify coverage opportunities.
- Strong social and video fluency, especially across Facebook, Instagram, TikTok, YouTube, Reddit and Nextdoor.
- Ability to shoot and edit vertical video; experience with CapCut, Canva or similar tools.
- Strong writing, copy editing and communication skills, including the ability to write social copy in Chron’s voice with accuracy, clarity and Texas wit.
- Excellent news judgment, including comfort with breaking news and knowing when to escalate decisions to newsroom leadership.
- AI fluency and curiosity—able to use AI to find audience insights, simplify tasks and find efficiencies, while understanding that AI is no substitute for human judgment and verification.
- Experience with social media scheduling tools, analytics platforms and performance reporting.
- Flexibility and adaptability in a fast-paced, always-on news environment.
Decision-Making Authority
This person is empowered to act independently on:
- Writing social copy, designing visual builds and posting stories to social platforms.
- Developing and posting social video to Chron’s site and social channels.
- Sharing pacing data with the newsroom and surfacing trending terms that are a good fit for Chron to pursue.
- Newsletter content mix and when to issue site alerts.
This person defers to editorial leadership for:
- Long-term social, search and audience strategy decisions.
- Sensitive breaking news alert messaging.
Measures of Success
- Maintaining and growing healthy audience referral channels (search, social, newsletters, Google News, etc.).
- Increasing followers and engagement (shares, comments, saves) across social platforms.
- Driving traffic from social, search and newsletters back to Chron content on site.
- Supporting subscriber and newsletter growth.
- Overall increase of unique in-DMA audiences.
- Overall increase of repeat visitors from target growth markets within Texas.
The Most Challenging Parts of This Role
- Identifying areas of opportunity—content development recommendations that match audience wants, or trending search terms ripe for Chron to own.
- Continuously testing new ideas and being open to pivoting in a changing media landscape to keep audience channels strong.
- Understanding audience habits deeply enough to craft a strategy that retains loyal readers while developing new ones across Texas.
Additional Information
- Sponsorship: This position does not provide immigration sponsorship. Applicants must have the right to work in the U.S. without immigration sponsorship.
- Accommodations: We are committed to an accessible application process. If you need an accommodation to apply, please contact hnpemployment@hearst.com. This email address is for accommodation requests only.
Benefits
We support our employees through personal and professional development and promote physical, financial and emotional wellbeing for employees and their families. Our benefits include:
- Physical Wellbeing: Medical, dental and vision coverage to help keep you and your family healthy.
- Invest for the Future: Competitive retirement plan with a matching program in most markets.
- Generous Paid Time Off: Ample time off, including holidays and vacation.
- Paid Parental Leave: Paid leave to support growing families and new parents.
- Monthly Child & Dependent Care Reimbursement: Financial support for the care of your loved ones.
- Emotional Wellbeing: Mental wellness benefits to support your emotional wellbeing.
- LGBTQ+ & Inclusive Health Services: Inclusive healthcare designed for individual needs.
- Fertility Coverage & Menopause Support: Support throughout different stages of your health and family journey.
- Pet Wellness Reimbursement & Rover Credits: Support to help keep your pets happy and healthy.
- And more: Learn more about additional benefits and details here.