Dow Jones

Assistant General Counsel - Newsroom

Dow Jones • $215K — $250K *
Legal & Accounting
8 - 10 years of experience
Job Overview by Ladders

Qualifications

  • Juris Doctor (JD) degree from an accredited law school, admitted to the New York bar or qualified as in-house counsel.
  • At least 8 years of relevant legal experience, preferably with in-house exposure.
  • Demonstrated experience in media law matters such as defamation and privacy.
  • Strong understanding of libel law, privacy rights, and fair use principles.
  • Excellent written and oral communication skills with strong judgment.
  • Ability to manage multiple priorities in a fast-paced environment.

Responsibilities

  • Review news articles and other content for potential legal issues before publication.
  • Advise journalists on legal considerations during the newsgathering process.
  • Lead training sessions on media law for staff writers and editors.
  • Investigate and provide counsel on pre- and post-publication complaints.
  • Respond to litigation threats and legal inquiries promptly.
  • Collaborate on journalist safety initiatives and legal risk assessments.
  • Draft and negotiate agreements and assist with general litigation matters.

Benefits

  • Comprehensive Healthcare Plans
  • Paid Time Off
  • Retirement Plans
  • Education Benefits
  • Family Care Benefits & Caregiving Support
  • Commuter Transit Program
  • Financial Health Programs
  • Cybersecurity Protection
Full Job Description
Job Description:

About the Role

Dow Jones is seeking an Assistant General Counsel based in New York City to focus on newsroom counseling and litigation as part of its media law team.

This role will provide timely, practical, and solution-oriented legal advice on defamation, privacy, copyright, court access & freedom of information, and other matters of concern to the journalists across Dow Jones, including The Wall Street Journal, Dow Jones Newswires, Barron's, MarketWatch, Mansion Global, Financial News, and Investor's Business Daily.

The successful candidate will work with the other members of the media law team as a trusted adviser to reporters and editors, with a shared commitment to publishing impactful journalism while managing legal risks. This is an opportunity for a strategic thinker who thrives in a fast-paced environment and enjoys partnering with clients, while maintaining a superior work ethic, fastidious attention to detail, exceptional organizational skills, and a dedication to ethics and professional responsibility.

This role will report to the SVP, Associate General Counsel, who sits in New York City.

This is a hybrid role, with three (3) days per week required in our midtown Manhattan headquarters.

You Will:
  • Review articles, videos, podcasts and other materials for legal concerns prior to publication
  • Advise reporters and editors on legal issues in the newsgathering process
  • Lead training sessions on media law topics and collaborate with editors on other trainings
  • Investigate pre- and post-publication complaints and provide related advice
  • Respond to threats of litigation
  • Collaborate on journalist safety issues, including legal advice on risk assessments and helping to address incidents
  • Collaborate closely with internal colleagues and outside counsel (where engaged) on newsroom-related litigation, including reviewing and drafting filings and managing responses to discovery requests, subpoenas, etc.
  • Respond to subpoenas related to newsgathering materials
  • Help negotiate freelance contributor agreements, data use agreements, and other contracts in support of the Dow Jones newsrooms
  • Advise on advertising issues
  • Advise other parts of the business on issues of concern to the newsroom
  • Assist with Dow Jones's general litigation portfolio, in the U.S. and abroad


You Have:
  • Juris Doctor (JD) degree from an accredited law school. Currently admitted to the New York bar as an active member in good standing or qualified to register as in-house counsel in accordance with New York rules.
  • At least 8 years of relevant legal experience, with significant in-house experience strongly preferred.
  • Demonstrated experience handling media law matters
  • Strong understanding of libel law, privacy, fair use, access to information and other media law issues
  • Excellent research and communication skills (written and oral), with strong judgment and attention to detail.
  • Ability to manage multiple priorities in a fast-paced environment and exercise sound judgment in setting priorities.
  • Experience managing matters from investigation or pre-litigation demand through resolution or formal proceedings.
  • A high degree of initiative, accountability, and self-motivation, with the ability to work both independently and collaboratively.
  • Strong interpersonal skills and the ability to build credibility with stakeholders across functions and levels of seniority.
  • A practical, business-oriented mindset and the confidence to advise senior leaders on complex issues with clarity and discretion.
  • Commitment to ethics, professionalism, and high-quality legal work.


Our Benefits

  • Comprehensive Healthcare Plans
  • Paid Time Off
  • Retirement Plans
  • Comprehensive Insurance Plans
  • Lifestyle Programs & Wellness Resources
  • Education Benefits
  • Family Care Benefits & Caregiving Support
  • Commuter Transit Program
  • Subscription Discounts
  • Employee Referral Program
  • Financial Health Programs
  • Cybersecurity Protection


Business Area:
Dow Jones - Legal

Job Category:
Legal, Compliance & Audit

Union Status:
Non-Union role

Base Pay Range: 215,000.00 - 250,000.00

We're committed to offering competitive and flexible compensation to attract top talent. This pay range reflects our good faith estimate for the role and may vary based on a candidate's experience, skills, location, and other relevant factors.

For bonus-eligible roles, targets are determined based on multiple considerations, including market benchmarks and individual contributions.

For benefits-eligible roles, we offer a comprehensive and competitive benefits package covering health, retirement, wellbeing, and more, along with optional benefits to meet the diverse needs of our employees.

About Dow Jones

Dow Jones is a global provider of news and business information, delivering content to consumers and organizations around the world across multiple formats, including print, digital, mobile and live events. Dow Jones has produced unrivaled quality content for more than 130 years and today has one of the world?s largest news gathering operations globally. It produces leading publications and products including the flagship Wall Street Journal, America?s largest newspaper by paid circulation; Factiva, Barron?s, MarketWatch, Mansion Global, Financial News, Dow Jones Risk & Compliance, Dow Jones Newswires, and Dow Jones VentureSource.
Learn more about Dow Jones
Size
7,800 employees
Industry

Similar Jobs

More Jobs at Dow Jones

More Legal & Accounting Jobs

Find similar Assistant General Counsel - Newsroom jobs: