Jobs + Intern

Digital Editor

OxfordAmerican.org
Reports to Editor in Chief
Location: Houston area or Central Arkansas

Who We Are

The Oxford American (OA) is a nonprofit literary arts and media organization devoted to exploring the complexity and vitality of the American South through excellent writing, music, and art. We produce a quarterly magazine, a podcast, and live events. Founded in 1992, the OA is the recipient of the James Beard Award, National Magazine Awards, and the Whiting Literary Magazine Prize, among others.

What We’re Looking For

The OA is launching a web-first publication to complement the quarterly print edition. The new editorial arm of the organization will focus on timely dispatches from the South, offering nuance, context, and narrative to stories underreported in the traditional news cycle. We’re seeking an experienced digital-first editor to help launch this new imprint and sustainably grow the project and the team.

Our ideal candidate will have at least three years’ experience in digital publishing and/or in a newsroom and be available to start by August. 

You will work closely with the Editor-in-Chief to launch the publication later in the year. You bring an editorial vision informed by appreciation for the Oxford American’s mission and current programs. You have experience and interest in telling impactful stories across registers, styles, and subjects. 

You are deadline-oriented, can manage ongoing conversations with writers, eager to contribute as both a writer and editor, and can develop a production calendar around resources that will scale with the publication’s audience and funding. 

You’re skilled with CMS, HTML, SEO, and best practices for audience engagement and will use those tools to set attainable readership goals and grow the publication to best serve the engaged audience and reach new readers. You have a background in journalism and are immensely curious, with interests ranging from quantum physics to renewable energy to outsider art to songwriting. 

If you don’t meet 100% of the ideal background, we still encourage you to apply! The most important consideration is editorial vision with the skills to realize it. 

You will have a hybrid work schedule with the option to report to the magazine’s main offices in Conway, Arkansas or a satellite office in Houston with the Editor-in-Chief.

Primary Responsibilities

• Establish and launch publication with EIC

• Oversee digital production calendar

• Manage posts to oxfordamerican.org

  • Upload content to CMS

  • Track and report analytics

• Solicit, curate, and edit stories

• Select and secure art/photo pairings

• Assist in funding requests: grants, corporate sponsorships, etc.

Knowledge, skills, experience

• Minimum 3 years in a digital editorial role

• Demonstrated ability to implement SEO best practices

• Demonstrated proficiencies with CMS, HTML, and analytics tools

• Proficiency with InDesign, Photoshop, Canva, etc.

• Excellent organizational and communication abilities

• Track record of audience/traffic growth

Additional information

The OA is committed to empowering voices underserved by the publishing arena; applicants of color and/or those who identify as underserved or disabled are encouraged to apply. We invite applicants to voluntarily disclose any lived experiences that distinguish them for this role.

Compensation

Salary range $52,000–$58,000 based on experience. Health benefits including vision and dental. Matching 401k. Flexible work and reporting schedule.

Application Materials

1.  1-2 page letter of interest / vision statement 
Detail interest in launching a web-first publication at the Oxford American. (Can be aspirational!)

2.  Résumé

3.  Portfolio demonstrating writing and previous editorial work
Please annotate with context or reference the selections within the letter of interest. We want to know how this portfolio represents you!

Email materials to jobs@oxfordamerican.org, Subject line: Digital Editor.

Review of applications will begin immediately.

Editorial Internships

The Oxford American offers a comprehensive editorial internship program.

We have full-time and part-time positions available and offer a stipend of $2,500 per term. Internships begin in January, June, and September, though the program provides some flexibility for starting dates, and the opportunity for interested interns to extend their terms. For the near future, internships will be remote.

We accept applications for all terms year-round but please note the following deadlines: 

• April 15 for internships starting in June

• August 21 for internships starting in September

• November 15 for internships starting in January 

Interns are a vital part of the Oxford American’s print and digital production teams. The duties of an intern include evaluating manuscript submissions, participating in the planning of issues, fact-checking and proofreading stories, drafting posts for social media, and creating and maintaining digital content for the website. Interns are encouraged to participate in our off-site concerts and readings, generate article ideas, and to write for oxfordamerican.org. 

Applications should include a detailed cover letter, résumé, and one writing sample of up to 5 pages in length. Your sample could be one long piece or a collection of short pieces. (Samples can include critical and/or creative work, though a substantial portion should be prose.) Please specify the term for which you are applying. 

Submit your application using this form. Simply create a Submittable account and follow the instructions to attach your materials.

Thank you for your interest.