Commissioning Editor

About The Role

The Telegraph Magazine is looking for a Commissioning Editor to join its award-winning team.

The successful candidate will have a breadth of knowledge and interests that span everything from politics and sport to technology and fashion. They will be able to identify subjects and angles that lend themselves to compelling long-form journalism that will work brilliantly both in print and online.

They will be brimming with original ideas as well as bringing on board their own contacts. They will have the ability to commission with clarity, edit to make copy flow and fit, work with the different editorial departments on projects and present ideas to the broader features team which they might then own for digital-only long reads.

They will think visually and understand all the platforms on which content is published and promoted when deciding which subjects engage our intelligent and affluent audience.

This person will fit into a small, collaborative team focused on long-form features, utilising both in-house writers and a variety of freelance contributors. The team holds regular ideas meetings and other forums for creating special issues and bigger projects - there are opportunities to own these in addition to the weekly flow.

Key Responsibilities

• Commission and edit long-form features, interviews and news features - with a special interest in and experience of fixing interviews across all subject areas.
• Related to the above, have strong contacts in the literary, entertainment, arts categories and a willingness to build on these and across wider sectors of interest.
• Bring on board freelance contacts and build relationships with good freelance writers
• Oversee regular magazine features as and when required
• Come up with a stream of fresh new ideas for The Telegraph Magazine’s intelligent and affluent demographic

This role is for a motivated and experienced journalist who wants to exercise their existing skills and experience and take on large-scale projects across multiple platforms. They should understand the different requirements of print and digital presentation, as well as social media and newsletter promotion.

They will be expected to study the Telegraph’s measures of success and find new ways to build on them. There is no limit to creative digital features and within their first year, this commissioning editor can expect to develop innovative approaches to content which will then be rolled out into other parts of editorial. 

They should be brimming with ideas, and as comfortable commissioning a longform report into a technological innovation as they are an interview with a reality TV star. And they need an excellent eye for newslines, filleting unpublished books and watching upcoming TV documentaries to spot a throwaway line or comment that warrants a feature.

The Telegraph Magazine has very high production values and the commissioning editor will be expected to work with the picture director, art director, visual storytelling and digital teams to brief them on each feature’s direction and requirements.

While office-based, they can expect to spend time out developing relationships with writers and publicists and to use their initiative and experience when it comes to unearthing brilliant ideas. The Telegraph Magazine editor wants commissioners to bring their own energy and perspective to features and not restrict themselves to what is a “Telegraph feature”.

Key Skills

• Experience in commissioning
• Digital knowledge and the ability to think in a 360 way
• The ability to re-work copy quickly and under pressure
• The ability to commission and edit long-form copy that resonates with The Telegraph demographic
• The ability to work with both seasoned writers and to nurture upcoming writers and edit features with intelligence and sensitivity
• Good knowledge of media law
• Be a gifted communicator who creates and nurtures contacts to bring exclusives to The Telegraph
• Have a voracious appetite for reading widely across print, digital, social media to identify compelling stories from around the world - with a special interest in people and a tireless energy for fixing interviews with them

Benefits

The nature of our industry means life at the Telegraph Media Group is fast-paced, demanding, and interesting. We also want it to be rewarding for everyone who works here by creating a suite of benefits that contribute to lifestyle choices and leisure activities. From dynamic working opportunities, medical cover, and parental leave (six months fully paid maternity leave and enhanced paternity/partner leave), to life assurance and season ticket loans, you can choose from a range of flexible benefits, designed to support your lifestyle and help you achieve a healthy work-life balance.

Training and development

With support from your manager and colleagues, you’ll also have access to a variety of training and development opportunities through The Academy. Covering a range of personal and professional skills, our courses enable you to develop an enjoyable and rewarding career.

Our commitment to inclusion

At Telegraph Media Group, we foster a diverse and inclusive workplace and we are committed to building a team that reflects a wide variety of skills, perspectives and backgrounds. We believe in equality of opportunity and welcome candidates from all backgrounds, regardless of age, gender, ethnicity, disability, sexual orientation, gender identity, socio-economic background, religion and/or belief.

We are proud to be a Disability Confident Employer as part of the government’s Disability Confident Scheme. If you are disabled or have a long-term health condition and would like support in applying for any of our roles or if you require any reasonable adjustments in the recruitment process with us, please make us aware.

To find out more about Diversity, Inclusion and Belonging at Telegraph Media Group, and for more information on our purpose, beliefs, and people values, please visit our website

Last updated on Aug 15, 2024