UK remote
Deputy News Editor
About this role
Location: New Scientist Headquarters, HSK, London, W8 5HY Contract Type: Full Time/Permanent/Hybrid – 3 days/week in the office Closing Date: 31 st October, 2026 About The Role We seek an ambitious and driven Deputy News Editor to join our news team. The job is to commission and edit world-class science and technology news stories, shape our overall news coverage and strategy, and help set our expert reporters up for success.
The successful candidate will have a track record of publishing must-read exclusives, fast-paced breaking news, original off-diary reports and insightful analysis. They will know when to go big on a story and when to ditch one altogether, and they will have an eye for unique angles that will appeal to readers. They will have strong digital experience, regularly working on stories in unconventional formats. The successful candidate will also be a skilled strategist who thinks through the bigger picture and will help to set the overall direction of our news team.
They will have substantial management experience and they will know how to drive a culture of ambitious, agenda-setting journalism. The successful candidate will love science and technology journalism and have an insatiable fascination with the world. The role reports to our Executive Editor/News Editor. It is full-time and will require working three days a week in our London office. To apply, please submit a CV and a cover letter outlining your vision for the New Scientist news team (this should be no more than two pages long).
Main Responsibilities Commission, edit and publish world-class science and technology news stories Work closely with reporters on original, agenda-setting journalism, including exclusives, investigations, breaking news, analysis and off-diary stories Line manage reporters, providing regular feedback and support Help set the overall editorial direction of the news team, identifying key and emerging areas we should go big on Ensure we have must-read news stories every day Be a senior editorial leader within the editorial team Deputise for Executive Editor/News Editor, taking overall responsibility for the news team as required Experiment with different storytelling formats and approaches Maintain New Scientist’s high standards and editorial voice Be driven by the data, using analytics to make sure we are producing the engaging journalism that our audience and subscribers want Person Specification Knowledge & Experience Essential You have significant experience: Editing science and/or technology journalism (not academic journals or branded/marketing content) Setting strategy and direction for editorial teams Commissioning and editing exclusive, agenda-setting journalism Breaking news and covering major stories Managing and mentoring journalists Using audience data to inform editorial decisions Working for a high-quality journalism brand You understand: What makes a New Scientist news story What the most important topics in science and technology are right now How to read scientific research and work out what’s important for a general audience What makes content premium Modern digital publishing and workflows Libel law and how it relates to journalism Desirable A degree in a STEM subject Skills & Behaviours Exceptional news judgement and strong editorial instincts Excellent writing and editing skills Ambitious and highly driven Proactive with the ability to take action and get things done Strategic and big picture thinking Highly collaborative Extremely high standards Willing to challenge the consensus and take calculated risks Organised and efficient Appreciates the art of storytelling and crafting a narrative Collaborative and communicative, enjoys working with a team Good interpersonal skills, able to get the best out of writers and nurture new talent Adaptable and open to new ways of working/ideas About New Scientist New Scientist is a magazine brand for the insatiably curious, asking the big-picture questions about life, the universe and what it means to be human.