Title: Books Editor
Company: Kashmir Observer
Location: Anywhere
Job Type: Fulltime/ Freelance
Job Category: Newspaper
Deadline: March 31, 2020
Company Description:
The media in Kashmir has a particularly unenviable job to do. The problems faced by it are both universal to the conflict situations and unique to the region.
The story of the Kashmir Observer for the twenty three years of its existence is one of resilience in the face of heavy odds, and success in surmounting the many challenges to journalistic integrity. In that span the paper has navigated a sea of political instability, logistical nightmares and misplaced perceptions. Steadfast in the face of these considerable pressures, Kashmir Observer has in return earned a loyal readership and a reputation for integrity.
Kashmir Observer, as its content will bear out, has, as far as possible, tried to strike a delicate balance in its content. Its news and editorial pages have sought to present a well-rounded picture of the complex situation.
Kashmir Observer stories present a unique mix of detailed reportage and vivid writing, with a commitment to the art of storytelling, whether the subject is politics, culture, business or art.
Primary Responsibilities:
– Commissioning and editing pieces for the Books section, which typically carries two reviews and four book excerpts a month. The pieces in the section are standard single-book reviews of the recent titles. They often focus on writers and on topics of particular relevance to the region.
– Coordinating the Bookshelf section that features brief descriptions of prominent upcoming titles.
– Recruiting new writers and soliciting pitches. We also aim to have essays about both fiction and poetry, as well as ones about important non-fiction books.
– Maintaining a bank of stories and ideas, in coordination with senior editors.
– To be updated on important releases and events in the publishing world, and commissioning pieces that reflect important developments and conversations.
– Staying in touch with publishers and editors and tracking important releases from which the newspaper might be able to source extracts.
– Preparing and editing a list of relevant extracts to carry on the web-exclusives section each week.
Requirements:
Candidates should have at least two years of experience as an editor, at a publishing house or a journalistic or literary publication. They should have a passion for books, connections with a strong pool of writers from whom to commission essays on literature and non-fiction. They should also have contacts in publishing houses so that they can track new releases and commission essays on current subjects and books.
To Apply:
Please send in a résumé, two writing samples, a detailed statement on your editing experience, two references (only names and contact information), and a cover letter to [email protected] with the subject line “Books Editor– 2020” by March 31, 2020.