Description:
Summary: The website editor, working under the digital production team leader, is the gatekeeper for information presented to LancasterOnline’s digital audience and plays a key part in the newsroom’s goal to increase digital subscriptions and offer valuable content to retain our readership. Responsibilities include site layout for LancasterOnline, headline writing, SEO, story editing, aggregation and content generation. The website editor has a hand in every part of the digital publication process, from working with the reporters to break news (including writing shell posts for breaking news stories on site), identifying video and photo opportunities, exercising solid news judgment on headlines and story placement and in deployment of stories in push alerts, newsletters and social media. The producer looks for unique, digital-only content opportunities, including repackaging current and previous content, and scours the wire and competing news organizations for news relevant, important and interesting for a predominantly Lancaster County audience. The producer must also maintain clear, consistent communication with the digital team, the copy desk, reporters and editors.
In addition to the essential functions listed above, the employee is expected to exercise honesty, integrity and respect with all clients and co-workers, preserve confidentially of all business information and data, maintain a professional appearance and demeanor, demonstrate a positive attitude, communicate effectively with co-workers and clients, work with accuracy, efficiency, and attention to detail, respect the work environment and keep it as environmentally friendly as possible, and exercise initiative to learn new skills and tasks and to help co-workers when possible. Reliable attendance and punctuality are also required. The employee is also expected to perform other related duties, special projects and functions as required.
Essential Duties and Responsibilities:
- Manage and execute site layout for LancasterOnline
- Write and optimize headlines with strong news judgment
- Apply SEO best practices to maximize digital reach
- Perform story editing for clarity, accuracy, and engagement
- Aggregate content from internal and external sources
- Generate original and digital-first content
- Create shell posts for breaking news and support rapid publishing
- Collaborate with reporters to break news effectively online
- Identify and coordinate video and photo opportunities
- Make decisions on story placement and prioritization
- Deploy content across push alerts, newsletters, and social media
- Identify opportunities to repackage existing content for digital audiences
- Monitor wire services and competitor outlets for relevant news
- Ensure content is relevant and engaging for a Lancaster County audience
- Maintain clear and consistent communication with:
Digital team
Copy desk
Reporters
Editors
- Other duties as assigned.
Requirements:
Minimum Qualifications: The requirements listed below are representative of the knowledge, skills, and/or abilities required for this position. To perform this job successfully, an individual must be able to perform the essential functions of the job satisfactorily with or without reasonable accommodation. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable qualified individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.
- Education/Experience: Bachelor’s degree from an accredited college in Journalism, English, communications or related field is required. Proven knowledge and experience working with current media creation tools and contemporary newsroom systems, producing digital and print content, preferred.
- Communication Skills: Exceptional written and verbal communication skills, including the ability to adapt messaging across platforms, collaborate effectively, provide constructive feedback, and communicate clearly and accurately under pressure.
- Technical Skills: Proficiency in a content management system (CMS) for publishing and editing digital content; working knowledge of SEO tools and best practices (including keyword optimization, metadata, and headline structure); experience with digital publishing platforms such as web, newsletters, and push notifications; familiarity with social media management tools and platform-specific requirements; basic understanding of web analytics (e.g., Google Analytics) to monitor performance; proficiency in Microsoft Office or Google Workspace; foundational skills in image selection/editing and multimedia integration; and the ability to work within breaking news workflows and manage real-time content updates.
- Physical Requirements: Ability to sit, stand, walk, and use standard office equipment as needed to perform job duties. Reasonable accommodations may be made.
- Work Environment: Professional office environment using standard office equipment such as computers, phones, and copiers.
