Role Purpose:
As Editor of Autosport.com, your primary role is to oversee the development and continued growth of the website, in line with the goals outlined by the Editor in Chief and group publisher.
Autosport.com has become a leading international sports website and the definitive motorsport site, with the result that its editorial standards are closely scrutinised 24/7. As the site’s editor it is your primary responsibility to uphold those standards, while also leading the drive to improve the site, make it more modern and push to drive as many people to subscribe to Plus/Prime as possible.
In order to do this, you will work closely with the Plus editor, the site’s technical team, the Editor in Chief and other senior members of the Network editorial hub.
You will have an ambassadorial function, too: at the races your choose to attend, you will be representing the website (and the wider Autosport brand); these responsibilities extend to your attendance at significant non-racing events, such as the Autosport show and Awards.
Working with the Network editorial team you will continue to ensure that Autosport.com offers a constant stream of world-class motorsport content, in written form and with a growing presence of ‘live’ or as ‘as live’ content. This may include moving images, podcasts, videos, event streaming etc.
You are expected to set high standards in every aspect of your work, presenting a strong example to all staff and in representing the publication to those outside.
Key Responsibilities:
- Work with your own web team, and the wider editorial motorsport teams within the Network
- Liaise with the editor in chief regularly to discuss tone and direction of content on Autosport.com
- Work extremely closely with the editor of Autosport magazine to ensure that magazine and website enjoy consistency of content, that is also complementary
- Using data analysis tools available to you, hone the site’s coverage to fit the interests and needs of readers
- Work towards the best possible presentation of content on the site
- Assist the editor in chief and magazine editor in forward planning of content
- Monitor rival titles (internationally, online and in print) to ensure that Autosport.com’s coverage remains class-leading
- Work as a member of the team of editorial heads to help plan editorial content and communicate with staff (editorial and commercial)
- Continue to develop your contact base within the sport
- Be one of the Network’s ‘point men’ for understanding emerging web trends and advocating change and development whenever appropriate
- Uphold Autosport.com's reputation for being first with trusted news
- Where necessary, liaise with the Editor in Chief and group managing editor to correctly allocate resource to your team (this may be as simple as ensuring staff have the correct ‘kit’ or, more widely, evaluating the depth and breadth of our staff resource)
- Communicate with the Editor in Chief to be sure you know precisely what he is thinking and planning and how you can help to implement strategies as they evolve
- Set a high standard in terms of general behaviour, appearance and professionalism
- Carry out all of the above being mindful of budgetary considerations
Key Deliverables:
- Ensure the smooth running of autosport.com
- Use analytics and insight to tailor the content and its presentation to meet the desire of the readers
Skills and Experience Required:
- Excellent news sense and an understanding of how to set the news agenda
- Excellent writing and planning skills to ensure that Autosport.com can be agenda-setting as well as reactive
- ‘Tuned in’ to digital media developments
- Technical literacy as regards the function of the website
- Desire to learn new skills in video and photo editing
- Good communication skills
- An ability to operate independently, while still providing leadership for your team and ‘managing up’
- Time management and decision-making
Knowledge Required:
- Financial awareness
- Good understanding of media law
- Good knowledge of the motor sport media market
- An appreciation of the inter-relationships of all publishing functions