Digital Editorial Lead (Regular Full-Time)WTTG/WDCA - FOX 5 DC / FOX 5 PLUSThe BriefFOX 5 DC is seeking a Digital Editorial Lead to drive the editorial vision for digital, social, streaming, and connected TV coverage across the DMV. Based in our Bethesda newsroom, this role leads the local digital team and works closely with regional partners to grow audience, elevate storytelling, and deliver breaking news and weather coverage across every platform.
We're looking for a proven newsroom leader with strong editorial judgment, digital expertise, and a passion for winning in a fast-paced, 24/7 news environment.
Big Picture ViewReporting to the VP/News & Content, the Digital Editorial Lead owns the editorial standard for quality, strategy, and performance. This leader guides story selection, framing, presentation, and distribution while serving as the newsroom's primary advocate for digital audiences.
This is an editorial leadership job first. You will lead a team of local Digital Content Creators, collaborating directly with the newsroom, station leadership, and Northeast Regional Digital Content Team, and ensure FOX 5 DC remains first, fast, accurate, and audience-focused across all platforms.
Does This Sound Like You?You're an experienced journalist and leader with strong news judgment and deep understanding of how audiences consume content across digital, social, and streaming platforms. You know how to identify big stories, make fast editorial decisions, and lead teams through breaking news while maintaining high standards.
You think like the audience, understand the DMV, and know how to tell stories that resonate across every screen. You're collaborative, data-informed, passionate about digital journalism, and motivated to win big. Every. Single. Day.
What You'll Do- Set the Editorial Standard. Own editorial decisions across web, apps, social, streaming, CTV, and FOX LOCAL. Guide story selection, framing headlines, SEO, and audience strategy.
- Lead and Grow the Team. Manage, coach, and develop Digital Content Creators. Foster a culture of speed, accuracy, accountability, and continuous growth.
- Drive breaking News and Weather. Lead real-time digital coverage of breaking news, major events, and severe weather across articles, video, live streams, push alerts, and social platforms.
- Command the Multi-Platform Video Funnel. Oversee social video strategy across TikTok, Meta, YouTube Shorts, and emerging platforms to drive audience growth and connect viewers to live and long-form content.
- Champion the FOX LOCAL Experience. Help shape and optimize content for FOX LOCAL. Monitor audience behavior and performance metrics to improve engagement and strengthen loyalty.
- Synthesize Data & Help Drive Audience Growth. Use audience, search, engagement, and platform data to identify opportunities, inform editorial decisions, and grow reach and engagement.
- Coordinate Across the Operation. Partner with newsroom leaders, producers, assignment editors, field crews, regional digital teams, and FTS markets to maximize coverage and content performance.
- Build AI Workflows. Implement AI-powered tools and processes that improve efficiency and create more capacity for impactful journalism.
- Spot What's Next. Stay ahead of emerging platforms, audience trends, and storytelling formats to keep FOX 5 at the forefront of digital innovation.
- Other Duties. Perform other duties as assigned.
What We're Looking For- 5+ years of digital content experience publishing original content & news for digital and social platforms, with at least 2 years leading teams in a mid-to-large market.
- Exceptional news judgment, writing, and copy-editing skills, and a mastery of AP style.
- Ability to make and communicate fast, sound editorial decisions under deadline pressure.
- Expertise in social, streaming, CMS platforms, video publishing, and analytics tools.
- Stellar leadership, communication and organization skills; the kind of leader a 24/7 newsroom can rely on.
- Meticulous attention to detail and a passion for digital journalism.
- Knowledge of the Washington, D.C., Maryland, and Northern Virginia communities.
- Experience with photo and video editing, particularly Adobe products.
- Bachelor's degree in Journalism, Communications, or a related field with an emphasis on digital publishing preferred.
- Flexibility to lead through the realities of a 24/7 operation - including early mornings, nights, weekends, holidays, and breaking news and severe weather events as needed.
Benefits- Comprehensive Package: Excellent health benefits, paid time off, professional development opportunities, and 401k with company match.
- Lifestyle Perks: Work in a vibrant urban environment surrounded by DC's best dining, shopping, and iconic sports culture. Access to the onsite fitness center.
What's Next?If you are a digital-first newsroom leader who thrives in breaking news and severe weather, values strong journalism, exercises calm, sharp judgment under pressure, and knows how to lead and motivate a team to grow audiences across every screen, we want to hear from you.
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