Research and News Editor

Penn State’s Office of Strategic Communications (the University’s central public relations and marketing division) is looking for an experienced Research and News Editor to join its news team. The successful candidate will play a key role in helping to shape research and news communications on an institution-wide scale, liaising with communications professionals across Penn State’s colleges, units, and campuses. In addition to promoting compelling and relevant storytelling that drives the University’s reputation for research and academic excellence, this individual will help increase the profile of faculty experts, build internal and external relationships, and influence communications on a wide range of topics.

This position offers a hybrid work arrangement that combines remote and on-campus working.

As Penn State’s central public relations and marketing division, Strategic Communications is a fully integrated, award-winning, best-in-class marketing and public relations division defined by innovative strategy and breakthrough creativity driven by measurable goals. We advance the University by strengthening and protecting the institution’s reputation in regional, national, and international spheres of influence in ways that serve recruitment, resource, and leadership goals.

The successful candidate will:

• Serve as the lead editor for research story submissions from communicators throughout Penn State.

• Play an important role on the Strategic Communications’ team that evaluates, edits, and promotes the thousands of non-research-related news stories submitted each year by communications professionals from across the University.

• Bring an experienced editor’s eye to stories on a wide range of topics, making sure submissions are accurate, strategically relevant, and understandable to a general audience.

• Help communications partners identify the most impactful story angles and promote consistency in Penn State’s approach to storytelling across the institution.

• Liaise with communications professionals in colleges and units to clearly communicate Penn State News’ research storytelling expectations and policies (and support communicators in conversations with internal stakeholders as they plan content and set appropriate expectations).

• Collaborate with Strategic Communications’ research communications team to write about Penn State research, when needed.

• Use Google Analytics and associated tools to monitor the success of content hosted on Penn State News and report results to Strategic Communications’ leadership team and other stakeholders.

• Work with Strategic Communications’ digital strategists to identify SEO opportunities for forthcoming/high-profile content and help inform SEO-driven content strategies over time.

• Support efforts to raise the profile of key faculty experts in regional and national media, including working with faculty to focus on aspects of stories that will resonate with journalists.

• Develop administrative communications strategies and materials, including news writing, to advance key University needs and priorities in areas beyond the research enterprise.

• Help curate approximately 40 weekly email news publications for distribution to hundreds of thousands of subscribers, including the general public and Penn State campuses, colleges, units, and alumni.

• Determine the best distribution strategies and paths for content, utilizing available University-wide web- and email-based communications vehicles and collaborating with Strategic Communications’ social, proactive media, and research communications teams.

• Monitor submitted content to identify items that raise questions, pose potential reputational risk, or have strong potential strategic upside; provide analysis and propose next steps for further discussion with Strategic Communications’ leadership and communications partners across the University.

The ideal person for this position will:

• Possess significant professional experience in research and non-research contexts as a writer, editor, and communications strategist on matters of national or international significance.

• Be adept at managing relationships with a diverse array of stakeholders, including the ability to provide informed, constructive feedback and suggestions to authors writing about a variety of complex research topics.

• Demonstrate prior professional experience in helping to prepare researchers (faculty or otherwise) to discuss their research in relatable terms with the media and public.

• Have a strong voice as a writer and editor, being able to bring clarity of vision to each piece, shape content for a general audience, and advance the University’s reputation for research excellence.

• Possess excellent news judgment and exacting attention to detail as an editor, with thorough knowledge of AP editorial style.

• Have sound writing and presentation skills.

• Possess the ability to review submitted content through a wide lens, anticipating questions and considering potential perceptions of the University community and the public at large.

• Be able to quickly create communications plans and materials to support administrative priorities and key University initiatives.

• Be highly organized, detail-oriented, and able to manage multiple priorities.

• Possess a solid work ethic, sound judgment, and strong problem-solving skills.

• Have experience working with modern content management systems (Drupal preferred).

Education and experience:

Typically requires a bachelor's degree or higher plus six years of related experience, or an equivalent combination of education and experience. A degree in communications, English, journalism, public relations, or a similar discipline is preferred.

More about Penn State’s Office of Strategic Communications:

Spanning Penn State’s large-scale enterprise—including 24 campuses across Pennsylvania, more than 90,000 students, and an alumni base exceeding 700,000—Strategic Communications’ work encompasses all forms of communications and engagement, ranging from branding, marketing, and trademark and event management to internal communications, proactive and social media, research communications, and crisis and issues management. We’ve attracted talented and diverse team members from private and public sectors at all levels of our division, giving us the ability to build a strategic program of excellence recognized throughout the University.

Strategic Communications values and reflects Penn State’s commitment to diversity, equity, inclusion, and belonging (DEIB), and our DEIB committee is actively involved in providing staff programming that helps incorporate DEIB principles into the fabric of our communications.

Pursuant to the Jeanne Clery Disclosure of Campus Security Policy and Campus Crime Statistics Act and the Pennsylvania Act of 1988, Penn State publishes a combined Annual Security and Annual Fire Safety Report (ASR). The ASR includes crime statistics and institutional policies concerning campus security, such as those concerning alcohol and drug use, crime prevention, the reporting of crimes, sexual assault, and other matters. The ASR is available for review here .

Employment with the University will require successful completion of background check(s) in accordance with University policies.

EEO IS THE LAW

Penn State is an equal opportunity, affirmative action employer, and is committed to providing employment opportunities to all qualified applications without regards to race, color, religion, age, sex, sexual orientation, gender identify, national origin, disability or protected veteran status. If you are unable to use our online application process due to an impairment or disability, please contact 814-865-1473.

Penn State Covid-19 Vaccination or Testing Requirements

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