As Deputy Digital Editor, you are responsible for the day-to-day running of FourFourTwo.com in the UK. You will ensure that the website showcases a variety of content to reflect FourFourTwo’s place at the heart of football.
Your primary objective is to maintain and grow levels of traffic to the site, through identifying and analysing the key stories according to the varying news cycles – daily, weekly and longer. In the short term you will be reactive (or, where possible, proactive) with developing news stories, which may be hooked around fixtures; with an eye on the longer term, you will work with the Managing Editor to establish and enforce a features schedule incorporating several special events per year.
Reporting to the Global Digital Editor, you will be helping FourFourTwo through a period of transition with the following objectives:
Producing digital content reflecting FourFourTwo’s brand values, from match coverage to analysis to interviews to features
Reacting to the news cycle with both immediacy (How can this story be covered quickly?) and insight (How best to explain the real background?)
Establishing and maintaining an effective structure to make sure content is produced and matches covered
Promoting a culture in which Analytics is used to deliver insights that guide our strategy, working with the audience development team to optimise the site
Using social media in general, and particularly outreach to specifically cultivated mavens and connectors, to broadcast content
Being aware of coming trends in digital media, the better to aid the growth of FourFourTwo
Working with the (print-and-digital) Managing Editor to schedule and deliver notable calendar events like the #FFT100 while maintaining regular output
Managing salaried journalists and freelance contributors, and liaising with the Global Digital Editor over ongoing strategy
Staff development is an important part of your role. You must ensure that members of your team understand our objectives and our processes and receive the necessary training and coaching. You must also constantly seek ways to improve our coverage and performance, pushing your team hard and demanding high standards in everything that they do.
Key Relationships
It is essential that FourFourTwo becomes truly cross-platform, meaning that many of the staff work on both magazine and digital output. Although well aware of the magazine’s plans, you will be solely digital, and responsible (with the help and planning of the Managing Editor) for making sure that other staff dedicate sufficient time to originating, creating, preparing or uploading content, as necessary.
You will work with the Global Digital Editor to deliver any worldwide campaigns, be they editorial or commercial, and have a solid grasp on site analytics to understand and influence audience behaviour. You will also be the main point of contact for our in-house Creative Solutions team to effect commercial/editorial partnership delivery on FourFourTwo.com.
By managing the Digital Features Editor you’ll ensure there is a regular flow of new content onto the site, and continue to find new ways of alerting the public to that content including via social media. Keen awareness of new trends and opportunities in digital publishing will keep you on top of ways to grow FourFourTwo.com’s audience and influence.
Specific Responsibilities
Content
Create consistent, quality content
Liaise with the Managing Editor to compile an annual calendar of events, from big showpiece ‘events’ like the FFT100 down to key birthdays/anniversaries which can be marked with relevant content (new and archive)
Deliver the UK side of global content plans as applicable
Use analytics to understand audience behaviour, which content is working and to determine new opportunities
Monitor rivals and adjust strategy as necessary
Create new feature types and develop existing features that are proving successful, while boosting the SEO performance by working with Haymarket’s search experts
Management
Ensure that the Digital Features Editor is on top of commissioning for the immediate future
Charmingly enforce regular digital input from cross-platform staff: content from Staff Writers (and others), uploading assistance and site maintenance from the Chief Sub-Editor, design from Deputy Art Editor
Assign social-media duties to various staff members, ensuring that as many people as possible are aware of any new (or newly-relevant) content no matter how they follow FFT
Liaise with commercial staff as required, managing their expectations and demands while being open to possibilities
Develop the Digital Features Editor as your de facto deputy
Be aware of potential new writers to commission
Day to day
Support the Global Digital Editor in the running of the UK website.
Maintain high editorial standard in all content, produced to brand style and tone.
Ensure headlines are relevant, enticing, shareable and conform to best practice for SEO.
Oversee FourFourTwo’s social media presence: ensure all meet brand guidelines and best practice.
Investigate new platforms for the delivery of social media updates.
How to apply
To apply please send your CV and covering letter to recruitment@haymarket.com