Editorial Writer

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 pro…