American Chemical Society

Overview

C&EN (Chemical & Engineering News) seeks an editor to shape its audio and video coverage of the field of chemistry. Our Stereo Chemistry podcast series has interviewed Nobel Prize winners; captivated audiences with its stories about chemists, their work, and their lives; and delved into topics such as mining minerals from seawater and the chemist who helped save Apollo 13. Our new C&EN Uncovered audio series looks at the story behind stories in the magazine. We plan to relaunch video content as well, and the editor will help shape our video strategy.

The audio & video editor will sit in C&EN’s newsroom, working with reporters to produce credible, authoritative audio and video journalism, as well as additional multimedia pieces that enhance and deepen engagement with C&EN’s print and digital journalism. The editor will have access to expertise and resources within ACS Productions, which produces the society’s webinars and podcasts, but will be editorially independent from ACS Productions. 

C&EN produces award-winning journalism from around the world of chemistry. Its coverage of chemistry includes stories on research, education, industry, funding, and regulatory policy. It is published by the American Chemical Society (ACS), one of the world’s largest scientific societies, and is widely considered one of the major benefits of membership.

What you’ll do

1. Host, edit, and produce C&EN’s flagship podcast, Stereo Chemistry. Write scripts for these episodes in collaboration with reporters across the newsroom.
2. Oversee production of sub-series such as C&EN Uncovered.
3. Develop C&EN’s podcast strategy, informed by analytics.
4. Work with C&EN staff and freelance reporters to relaunch video reporting, both stand-alone pieces and adjuncts to text-driven stories.
5. Oversee contract audio and video editors.
6. Lead training of staff on multimedia best practices for hosting, scripting, interviewing, and recording
7. Record audio and video, including interviews, as well as gather information that leads to accurate and balanced stories. Construct audio and video packages that conform to C&EN’s style and meet deadlines.
8. Work with a team of writers and designers to develop multimedia elements for text-driven stories. 
9. Collaborate with audience and engagement colleagues to ensure multimedia content has the widest possible audience and impact.
10. Develop contacts in chemistry through attendance at scientific meetings and industry events, lab visits, and social media audience building.
11. Maintain a high level of awareness of emerging platforms, mediums, formats, styles, and trends for communicating science through audio and video.
12. Maintain C&EN’s audio/visual studio in Washington, DC.

What you’ll bring

1. Five years minimum experience in science journalism, including in audio and video.

2. Knowledge of the best ways to attract podcast listeners and video viewers.

3. Familiarity with online audio, video, and social media landscapes.

4. Track record of strong news judgment, good storytelling skills, and good oral communication.

5. Experience commissioning multimedia science stories preferred.

6. Knowledge of chemistry or related fields preferred.

7. Working knowledge of Adobe Audition and Premiere, or equivalent multimedia editing software.

8. Skill in managing multiple priorities and projects, setting and adjusting priorities as needed to ensure deadlines are met.

Division

Position Summary

This position will be primarily based in the Washington D.C. office. ACS employees work a hybrid work schedule, consisting of working onsite, three days per week. ACS employees are in the office on Tuesday and Wednesday with the third in-office day scheduled in consultation with the manager. While always welcome to work in the office, employees may work the other two days of the week from a location of their choice. New employees are immediately eligible for this hybrid work arrangement. ACS offers relocation assistance, if applicable.

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