Audience Editor

Audience Editor:

The Current, Lafayette's nonprofit digital news outlet, is seeking an Audience Editor to lead audience growth and engagement efforts. This is a full-time, in-newsroom position based in Lafayette, Louisiana, reporting to the Editor-in-Chief.

The Audience Editor sits at the intersection of editorial and distribution — a hands-on role for someone who understands how journalism reaches people and why it matters. You will own The Current's day-to-day audience strategy across newsletters, social media, and analytics, while working closely with reporters and editors to ensure our journalism connects with the communities we serve. The ideal candidate is digitally and editorially fluent with strong instincts for audience engagement and passionate about local news.

Key ResponsibilitiesSEO & DistributionOptimize headlines and metadata for SEO across all published content; monitor engagement metrics and adjust distribution strategies accordingly, workshopping headlines in coordination with the Managing Editor as neededStay current on platform trends and experiment with emerging formats, including video, audio and AI-assisted distribution toolsNewslettersEdit, curate and send newsletters on a regular cadenceAnalyze newsletter performance and experiment with formats to drive growth and deepen audience connection A/B test headlines and newsletter formats to optimize engagement.

Manage and grow The Current's email subscriber list, including list hygiene, segmentation and acquisition strategiesAnalytics & Audience IntelligenceDrive content performance tracking using Google Analytics, HootSuite and related toolsShare analytics insights regularly to inform editorial decisions across the newsroomInterpret reader behavior and gather continuous audience feedback to shape coverage and strategySocial MediaManage and post across The Current's active social platforms on a daily basisEngage with readers on social media, responding to comments, messages and inquiries in a timely and professional mannerExperiment with emerging platforms to build two-way community engagement on owned sites and third-party platforms Produce social media graphics and short-form video content optimized for social platformsCollaborationPitch story ideas to editorial team informed by platform trends and audience dataDevelop creative storytelling formats in collaboration with reporters and editors, including explainers, Q&As and visual formats.

Develop calls-to-action to drive reader participation and interaction across platformsAssist with community engagement events, including live forums, listening sessions, and reader meetupsCollaborate with the Deep South Today audience team on shared initiatives, cross-promotion and content distribution across the network

Compensation:

$60,000Qualifications2-4 years of experience in audience engagement, digital journalism or a related fieldDemonstrated fluency with social media platforms and newsletter toolsComfort with analytics platforms, particularly Google AnalyticsStrong writing and editing skills, with an eye for headlines and SEOAbility to work independently in a fast-paced newsroom environmentOur commitmentWe're committed to building an inclusive newsroom that represents the people and communities we serve. We especially encourage members of traditionally underrepresented communities to apply for this position, including women, people of color, LGBTQ people and people who are differently abled.