Washington Post

Deputy Editor, National

Washington Post$174K — $236K *
Media
5 - 7 years of experience
Job Overview by Ladders

Qualifications

  • 5-7 years of editing or reporting experience with a record of distinction
  • Exceptional editorial judgment with a history of shaping high-impact journalism
  • Strong ideas for engaging audiences through innovative National coverage
  • Excellent communication and organizational skills
  • Experience mentoring and managing teams in a fast-paced newsroom is preferred
  • Commitment to accuracy and high standards of journalism.

Responsibilities

  • Partner with the National Editor to define and execute editorial priorities
  • Lead breaking news coverage while fostering ambitious enterprise
  • Identify original story ideas and refine storytelling with teams
  • Leverage audience insights and digital best practices to enhance coverage
  • Collaborate across the newsroom for cross-departmental reporting
  • Mentor and develop journalists while promoting a collaborative culture
  • Provide editorial guidance ensuring fairness and clarity in all reporting
  • Identify emerging trends for sustained editorial focus.

Benefits

  • Competitive medical, dental, and vision coverage
  • Company-paid pension and 401(k) match
  • Three weeks of vacation and up to three weeks of paid sick leave
  • Nine paid holidays and two personal days
  • 20 weeks paid parental leave for new parents
  • Robust mental health resources
  • Backup care and caregiver concierge services
  • Gender affirming services
  • Pet insurance
  • Free Post digital subscription
  • Leadership and career development programs
Full Job Description
Application Instructions

Please list all professional experience and explain any gaps in employment history. All of your application materials, which may include PDF files of work samples and/or links to audio, video, photography or graphics, must be uploaded to the field labeled Resume/Cover Letter/Work Samplesto be considered for the position.

Why This Role Matters

The Washington Post is seeking an accomplished, creative and collaborative editor to serve as Deputy Editor of the National desk, helping lead one of the newsroom's most ambitious departments and shape coverage of the stories that define life in the U.S.

This is a senior leadership role responsible for helping drive the editorial vision, daily execution and long-term strategy of the National department. Working closely with the National Editor, the Deputy Editor will oversee coverage spanning education, immigration, America and obituaries, guiding journalism that helps readers understand the people, issues and forces shaping the country.

We are looking for an editor with exceptional news judgment, a sharp eye for enterprise and a passion for developing journalists. The ideal candidate thrives on helping teams produce original, agenda-setting journalism that combines breaking news, accountability reporting, explanatory coverage and powerful storytelling. They will be equally comfortable managing fast-moving news, shaping enterprise and fostering collaboration across the newsroom.

This position is based in our Washington, D.C., newsroom.

What Motivates You:
  • You are driven to help readers better understand the people, communities and issues shaping America.
  • You thrive in fast-paced news environments and enjoy balancing breaking news with ambitious enterprise.
  • You are energized by developing journalists and helping teams produce their strongest work.
  • You believe great journalism is strengthened through collaboration across disciplines and departments.
  • You are excited by opportunities to evolve National coverage through innovative storytelling and audience engagement.


How You'll Support the Mission:
  • Partner with the National Editor on editorial priorities and guide the department's daily and long-term coverage strategy.
  • Help lead breaking news coverage while driving ambitious enterprise across the department's teams.
  • Work with editors and reporters to identify original story ideas, sharpen framing and elevate storytelling.
  • Use audience insights, visual storytelling and digital best practices to maximize the reach and impact of National coverage.
  • Collaborate across the newsroom to identify opportunities for cross-departmental reporting on consequential storylines.
  • Help mentor and develop journalists while fostering a collaborative, inclusive and high-performing culture.
  • Provide thoughtful editorial guidance that ensures fairness, rigor, clarity and excellence across all coverage.
  • Help identify emerging trends and issues that deserve sustained attention and investment.


The Skills and Experiences You Bring:
  • A demonstrated record of editing or reporting with distinction.
  • Exceptional editorial judgment and a track record of shaping ambitious, high-impact journalism.
  • Sharp ideas for elevating The Post's National coverage and engaging broad audiences.
  • Excellent communication, organizational and collaboration skills.
  • Experience managing journalists and helping teams succeed in a fast-paced newsroom is strongly preferred.
  • A commitment to accuracy, fairness and the highest standards of journalism.


Interested candidates should upload a résumé and a cover letter outlining their vision for the role to our jobs portal. Applications will be reviewed on a rolling basis until the position is filled, but those received by Aug. 23 will be prioritized. The cover letter should be addressed to National Editor Debbi Wilgoren and Managing Editor Kimi Yoshino.

The starting salary range for this position is $174,000 - $236,600. The actual salary within this range will depend on individual skills, experience and qualifications as they relate to specific job requirements. This position may be eligible for a bonus or incentive program, and a Post recruiter will discuss bonus payment terms and conditions during the interview process.

Compensation and Benefits

Wherever you are in your life or career, The Washington Post offers comprehensive and inclusive benefits for every step of your journey:

  • Competitive medical, dental and vision coverage
  • Company-paid pension and 401(k) match
  • Three weeks of vacation and up to three weeks of paid sick leave
  • Nine paid holidays and two personal days
  • 20 weeks paid parental leave for any new parent
  • Robust mental health resources
  • Backup care and caregiver concierge services
  • Gender affirming services
  • Pet insurance
  • Free Post digital subscription
  • Leadership and career development programs


Benefits may vary based on the job, full-time or part-time schedule, location, and collectively bargained status.

Your story awaits. Apply today!

Learn more about The Post at careers.washingtonpost.com.

About Washington Post

The Washington Post is an American daily newspaper published in Washington, D.C. It is the most-widely circulated newspaper within the Washington metropolitan area and has a large international audience. Daily broadsheet editions are printed for D.C., Maryland, and Virginia. The newspaper has won the Pulitzer Prize 65 times for its work, the second-most of any publication. It is considered a newspaper of record in the U.S. Post journalists have also received 18 Nieman Fellowships and 368 White House News Photographers Association awards. The paper is well known for its political reporting and is one of the few remaining American newspapers to operate foreign bureaus. The Post was founded in 1877. In its early years, it went through several owners and struggled both financially and editorially. Financier Eugene Meyer purchased it out of bankruptcy in 1933 and revived its health and reputation, work continued by his successors Katharine and Phil Graham, who bought out several rival publications. The Post's 1971 printing of the Pentagon Papers helped spur opposition to the Vietnam War. Subsequently, in the best-known episode in the newspaper's history, reporters Bob Woodward and Carl Bernstein led the American press's investigation into what became known as the Watergate scandal, which resulted in the 1974 resignation of President Richard Nixon. The advent of the internet expanded the Post's national and international reach. In October 2013, the Graham family sold the newspaper to Nash Holdings, a holding company owned by Jeff Bezos, for $250 million.
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