DIGITAL NEWS EDITOR & ADVISER  

THIS IS A PART-TIME/WORK-FROM-HOME POSITION

We are seeking an experienced Digital News Editor & Adviser to work with the Managing Editor/Owner and editorial team of the Western Plains App and the Coonamble Times newspaper.

Over a nine month period you will review, re-develop, trial, and implement the systems and standards essential to creating and distributing high quality digital news content for our regional audience.  

We are breaking new ground within our region and finding our way with audiences and advertisers largely unfamiliar with home-grown digital news. 

This is an opportunity to co-create a world class local news strategy, supporting an editorial team with limited experience of publishing in the digital space, who are keen to expand their knowledge and skills. 

Time required: around 40 weeks between June 2024 to April 2025; part-time (days/hours negotiable with successful contractor); mostly remote – possibly with some visits to the region. 

This role is possible thanks to the NSW Government’s Regional Media Fund. 

OUR WHY 

Both our publications are unashamedly local – we care about what happens in our small remote communities and the wellbeing of the people scattered across our vast region.

We aim to cover the good, the bad and the ugly bits of life in our oft-forgotten patch.

Our not-so-secret motivation is to unearth, illuminate, mobilise, challenge, connect, question, engage, showcase, promote, inform, and enable our audiences.

We aim to foster greater understanding between people in our region, encourage participation and inclusion in local affairs and proactive problem solving.

We also work to bolster the people, organisations and businesses who work hard to help the region thrive. 

THE PERSON WE’RE LOOKING FOR  

We will contract a Digital News Content Editor/Curator & (Systems/Strategy) Adviser to work alongside the team to align and streamline our approach, policies and processes to deliver news and information through the Western Plains App and the Coonamble Times online platforms. 

You will: 

• Work part-time in the capacity of App Editor to understand, experience, assess and improve the team’s practices in sourcing and delivering digital news in the context of remote NSW 
• oversee consultation and interview stakeholders and to hear what they want and need; 
• review processes used by the company to create and deliver news content across different channels (website, app, Google News Showcase);  
• lead the development of an integrated approach to digital news content to ensure it meets the needs of the region’s audiences;  
• create and trial guidelines, policies and procedures to ensure consistency of style and standard, as well as optimising and scheduling content for searches/shares/backlinks;  
• using metrics/data to monitor audience response;  
• use best practice privacy and cyber-security protocols;  
• improve ranking in search engine results and other tools to grow the online audience. 
• develop systems to allow the team to measure engagement with content across the various platforms, and use this data to identify opportunities to improve the quality or efficacy of content, adjust strategy and execution, and implement improvements on an ongoing basis. 

TO EXPRESS YOUR INTEREST: 

Please email a brief outline of why you are interested and would be suited to the role to: Lee O’Connor at [email protected].  

Please attach your resume. 

If you have questions please call Lee on 0428 222517.