The editorial writer tells the story of Pepperdine University via the written word, ensuring stories inspire, inform, unite, and ultimately move the reader to act in ways that support the University’s values and mission.
The writer reports to the associate director of communications and editorial. The writer receives assignments from the associate director and assistant editor regarding newsworthy developments and people who are part of the Pepperdine community or engaged with the University in a compelling way. The writer contributes to the editorial calendar, which informs the editorial team’s coverage of important and newsworthy events, initiatives, and people in the Pepperdine community.
The writer works closely with IMC colleagues, as well as faculty and staff, to identify potential stories that are newsworthy and align with the University’s values, mission, and priorities, including stories that increase brand awareness and loyalty, enrollment, recruiting, fundraising, service, and student and alumni engagement. The writer is also responsible for and works closely with other IMC colleagues to publish, distribute, and promote stories in order to reach target audiences.
Integrated Marketing Communications is directly tasked with supporting the University's mission and strategic plan by building brand equity, elevating the University's national reputation, providing strong and consistent institutional message leadership, and implementing effective integrated marketing and communication strategies. The assistant editor fulfills a critical role in helping the department accomplish its goals.
Duties
- Editorial Development and Writing:
- Establish and strengthen relationships with stakeholders, executives, faculty, staff, alumni, and friends of the University to identify storytelling opportunities.
- Complete editorial writing assignments and explore and write stories that are newsworthy and aligned with the University's values and advance the University's mission.
- Publish, Distribute, Promote:
- Publish, distribute, and promote stories to targeted audiences.
- Collaborate with photographers to ensure images are captured to assist with storytelling.
- Steward the University's style and voice, ensuring consistency across all University channels.
- Reporting:
- Monitor and report key performance metrics of the Newsroom.
- Maintain the editorial calendar to ensure timely coverage of potential and assigned stories.
- Integrated Communication:
- Coordinate with and collaborate across IMC teams to support editorial requirements that achieve stated communication objectives and ensure timely delivery of assigned tasks.
- Editorial Strategy:
- Contribute to the development of an editorial strategy, which aligns with Pepperdine's values, mission, and strategic and brand priorities.
- Perform other duties as assigned.
- Uphold University Mission through Work Performed.
The above information has been designed to indicate the general nature and level of work performed by employees within this classification. It is not designed to contain or be interpreted as a comprehensive inventory of all duties, responsibilities, and qualifications required of employees assigned to this job.
Skills and Qualifications
Required:
- Bachelor's degree in journalism, communication, English, or related field.
- One or more years of writing and editing experience in a news, media, or publishing environment, with published bylines (clips required).
- Strong written and verbal communication skills.
- Strong attention to detail.
- Clear personal initiative, ability to multitask, and build productive relationships.
- Demonstrated success at working under tight deadlines.
- Ability to collaborate with staff photographers to ensure journalistic-style images are captured for use in storytelling.
- Proficiency with Google Apps, Microsoft Office, and content management systems
Preferred:
- Three or more years of experience in publishing, distributing, and promoting news stories.
- Experience in SEO and GAO optimization and measurement.
- Understanding of and ability to adhere to style books and guides.
- Knowledge of the Chicago Manual of Style.
- Project Management Software, Adobe Creative Suite, and Google Analytics.
This is a Regular, Nonexempt, 40 hour per week position.
Expected Pay Range: $25.96 - $28.36 per hour
The above pay range reflects what Pepperdine University reasonably expects to pay for this position at time of posting. Actual compensation may vary based on relevant factors such as work experience, market conditions, education/training, and skill level. In addition to base pay, Pepperdine offers a robust and highly competitive benefits package.
Pepperdine is an Equal Employment Opportunity employer and does not unlawfully discriminate on the basis of any status or condition protected by applicable federal, state, or local law. Pepperdine is committed to providing a work environment free from all forms of unlawful discrimination and harassment. Engaging in unlawful discrimination or harassment will result in appropriate disciplinary action, up to and including dismissal from the University.
Pepperdine is religiously affiliated with the Churches of Christ. It is the purpose of Pepperdine to pursue the very highest employment and academic standards within a context that celebrates and extends the spiritual and ethical ideals of the Christian faith. While students, faculty, and staff represent many religious backgrounds, Pepperdine is permitted under applicable law and reserves the right to seek, hire, and promote persons who support the goals and mission of the institution, including the right to prefer co-religionists who support Pepperdine's Christian mission.
Qualified individuals should be able to show respect for workplace differences, and have the ability to work effectively with individuals from different backgrounds.
Offers of employment are contingent upon successful completion of a criminal, education, and employment screening. The University conducts such screenings in compliance with applicable laws and with the objectives of evaluating risk and supporting a safe environment for students, faculty, staff, and guests; safeguarding key University assets including people, property, information, and the University’s reputation; and providing comprehensive job-related information to University leaders to enable them to make prudent hiring decisions. Individuals will be required to disclose any criminal convictions on a designated form after receiving a conditional offer of employment; failure to disclose accurate information may result in withdrawal of the offer or termination of employment. Qualified individuals with criminal histories will be considered for employment in compliance with applicable laws, including the Los Angeles County Fair Chance Ordinance.
