Newspaper Editor
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To lead the day-to-day return of University Express as a digital-first, student-led newspaper with a busy and visible newsroom culture, under the direction of the Student Media Manager.
The Editor will develop the paper’s editorial direction in weekly consultation with the Student Media Manager, recruit and lead a broad volunteer team, and oversee regular publication throughout the teaching year. The website will be the primary home of University Express, supported by a weekly newsletter, social distribution and at least one major broadsheet edition, with the principal print edition planned for February or March 2027.
The Student Media Manager retains overall responsibility for the direction and operation of Student Media and will coordinate production directly with the Graphic Designer. The Editor will be responsible for preparing edited copy, agreeing editorial priorities and meeting production deadlines.
University Express is a journalistic publication, not a communications channel for UCC, the Students’ Union, clubs or societies. Its purpose is to report, question, investigate, interview, interpret and document student life. The Editor must protect that distinction while ensuring that the newspaper operates accurately, fairly and responsibly.
This role is not about writing every article yourself. Its success will depend on building a functioning editorial structure, commissioning work, improving contributors’ writing and delegating responsibility across the newsroom.
Key Responsibilities
● Meet with the Student Media Manager each week to agree editorial priorities, review progress, identify risks and plan upcoming work
● Work with the Student Media Manager to recruit a broad editorial board and contributor network from across UCC
● Appoint and support section editors covering areas such as news, investigations, features, opinion, sport, Gaeilge, photography and digital publishing
● Maintain a clear distinction between University Express as a student newspaper and Motley as Student Media’s dedicated culture magazine
● Chair weekly in-person editorial meetings in the Student Media space
● Generate and assess story ideas, commission articles and assign work to appropriate editors and contributors
● Oversee reporting on campus decisions, Students’ Union activity, accommodation, the cost of living, access, governance, transport, education, sport and other aspects of student life
● Ensure that at least one substantial investigation or long-form project is in development at any given time
● Guide contributors through pitching, research, interviewing, drafting and revision
● Improve contributors’ writing through careful editing, constructive feedback and practical guidance
● Work with writers to strengthen structure, clarity, accuracy and style while preserving each contributor’s individual voice
● Refine copy, headlines and introductions to ensure that published work is clear, engaging and ready for publication
● Delegate editing and fact-checking to section editors and sub-editors while retaining responsibility for overall editorial standards
● Ensure that reporting includes appropriate verification, right of reply and legal or ethical review
● Distinguish clearly between news, opinion, promotional material and advertising
● Work with the Web Design Lead to ensure that the website is current, accessible, well organised and treated as the publication’s principal home
● Work with the Social Media and Content Lead to direct readers towards articles and the website, rather than allowing social media to replace the journalism
● Oversee the production of a weekly University Express newsletter
● Plan and produce at least one flagship broadsheet edition, with the principal edition scheduled for February or March 2027
● Develop the broadsheet’s editorial plan, flatplan, commissioning schedule and copy deadlines in consultation with the Student Media Manager
● Supply complete, edited and clearly organised copy to the Student Media Manager by the agreed production deadlines
● Liaise with the Student Media Manager throughout print production, with the Student Media Manager coordinating directly with the Graphic Designer
● Collaborate with Motley and UCC 98.3FM where stories can be developed through print, digital, audio or live discussion, while preserving the separate identity and purpose of each outlet
● Support contributor induction and training in news writing, interviewing, fact-checking, right of reply, media law, editorial ethics and content management systems
● Maintain a shared editorial tracker covering pitches, assignments, deadlines, editing, images, publication dates and social promotion
● Work with the Student Media Manager on advertising and readership development while maintaining a firm separation between commercial and editorial decisions
● Develop a clear handover for the following year’s editorial team
Desired Competencies
We are looking for someone with strong editorial judgement, an excellent understanding of what is required from an Editor, and the ability to bring a large group of contributors together.
You do not need to have edited a newspaper before, but you must understand that an Editor’s role involves commissioning, editing, fact-checking, delegation, decision-making, supporting writers and taking responsibility for published work. You should be able to recognise a strong story, ask difficult questions and help contributors produce work they may not yet have the confidence to attempt alone.
● Excellent writing, editing and proofreading skills
● A genuine flair for improving copy and making writing clearer, sharper and more engaging
● The ability to improve students’ writing through rigorous but constructive editing and feedback
● The judgement to preserve a contributor’s voice while bringing their work up to publication standard
● Strong news judgement and an ability to distinguish journalism from publicity or institutional communications
● An understanding of accuracy, fairness, fact-checking, right of reply and corrections
● Awareness of defamation, copyright, privacy, election coverage and other legal or ethical issues relevant to student journalism
● An interest in investigations, interviews, long-form reporting and evidence-led journalism
● Confidence recruiting, organising and supporting a large volunteer editorial team
● An ability to delegate responsibility rather than attempting to produce the publication alone
● Strong organisation, time management and deadline-setting skills
● Confidence chairing meetings and making day-to-day editorial decisions within an agreed structure
● Reliable communication and a commitment to weekly planning meetings with the Student Media Manager
● An interest in student politics, campus life, housing, education, sport and Cork city
● A clear understanding of the separate editorial roles of University Express and Motley
● A commitment to editorial independence, inclusion and the representation of different student experiences
● Familiarity with digital publishing, content management systems, newsletters or audience analytics is desirable
● A willingness to accept direction and feedback and work closely with the Student Media Manager and wider Student Media team
To lead the day-to-day return of University Express as a digital-first, student-led newspaper with a busy and visible newsroom culture, under the direction of the Student Media Manager.
The Editor will develop the paper’s editorial direction in weekly consultation with the Student Media Manager, recruit and lead a broad volunteer team, and oversee regular publication throughout the teaching year. The website will be the primary home of University Express, supported by a weekly newsletter, social distribution and at least one major broadsheet edition, with the principal print edition planned for February or March 2027.
The Student Media Manager retains overall responsibility for the direction and operation of Student Media and will coordinate production directly with the Graphic Designer. The Editor will be responsible for preparing edited copy, agreeing editorial priorities and meeting production deadlines.
University Express is a journalistic publication, not a communications channel for UCC, the Students’ Union, clubs or societies. Its purpose is to report, question, investigate, interview, interpret and document student life. The Editor must protect that distinction while ensuring that the newspaper operates accurately, fairly and responsibly.
This role is not about writing every article yourself. Its success will depend on building a functioning editorial structure, commissioning work, improving contributors’ writing and delegating responsibility across the newsroom.
Key Responsibilities
● Meet with the Student Media Manager each week to agree editorial priorities, review progress, identify risks and plan upcoming work
● Work with the Student Media Manager to recruit a broad editorial board and contributor network from across UCC
● Appoint and support section editors covering areas such as news, investigations, features, opinion, sport, Gaeilge, photography and digital publishing
● Maintain a clear distinction between University Express as a student newspaper and Motley as Student Media’s dedicated culture magazine
● Chair weekly in-person editorial meetings in the Student Media space
● Generate and assess story ideas, commission articles and assign work to appropriate editors and contributors
● Oversee reporting on campus decisions, Students’ Union activity, accommodation, the cost of living, access, governance, transport, education, sport and other aspects of student life
● Ensure that at least one substantial investigation or long-form project is in development at any given time
● Guide contributors through pitching, research, interviewing, drafting and revision
● Improve contributors’ writing through careful editing, constructive feedback and practical guidance
● Work with writers to strengthen structure, clarity, accuracy and style while preserving each contributor’s individual voice
● Refine copy, headlines and introductions to ensure that published work is clear, engaging and ready for publication
● Delegate editing and fact-checking to section editors and sub-editors while retaining responsibility for overall editorial standards
● Ensure that reporting includes appropriate verification, right of reply and legal or ethical review
● Distinguish clearly between news, opinion, promotional material and advertising
● Work with the Web Design Lead to ensure that the website is current, accessible, well organised and treated as the publication’s principal home
● Work with the Social Media and Content Lead to direct readers towards articles and the website, rather than allowing social media to replace the journalism
● Oversee the production of a weekly University Express newsletter
● Plan and produce at least one flagship broadsheet edition, with the principal edition scheduled for February or March 2027
● Develop the broadsheet’s editorial plan, flatplan, commissioning schedule and copy deadlines in consultation with the Student Media Manager
● Supply complete, edited and clearly organised copy to the Student Media Manager by the agreed production deadlines
● Liaise with the Student Media Manager throughout print production, with the Student Media Manager coordinating directly with the Graphic Designer
● Collaborate with Motley and UCC 98.3FM where stories can be developed through print, digital, audio or live discussion, while preserving the separate identity and purpose of each outlet
● Support contributor induction and training in news writing, interviewing, fact-checking, right of reply, media law, editorial ethics and content management systems
● Maintain a shared editorial tracker covering pitches, assignments, deadlines, editing, images, publication dates and social promotion
● Work with the Student Media Manager on advertising and readership development while maintaining a firm separation between commercial and editorial decisions
● Develop a clear handover for the following year’s editorial team
Desired Competencies
We are looking for someone with strong editorial judgement, an excellent understanding of what is required from an Editor, and the ability to bring a large group of contributors together.
You do not need to have edited a newspaper before, but you must understand that an Editor’s role involves commissioning, editing, fact-checking, delegation, decision-making, supporting writers and taking responsibility for published work. You should be able to recognise a strong story, ask difficult questions and help contributors produce work they may not yet have the confidence to attempt alone.
● Excellent writing, editing and proofreading skills
● A genuine flair for improving copy and making writing clearer, sharper and more engaging
● The ability to improve students’ writing through rigorous but constructive editing and feedback
● The judgement to preserve a contributor’s voice while bringing their work up to publication standard
● Strong news judgement and an ability to distinguish journalism from publicity or institutional communications
● An understanding of accuracy, fairness, fact-checking, right of reply and corrections
● Awareness of defamation, copyright, privacy, election coverage and other legal or ethical issues relevant to student journalism
● An interest in investigations, interviews, long-form reporting and evidence-led journalism
● Confidence recruiting, organising and supporting a large volunteer editorial team
● An ability to delegate responsibility rather than attempting to produce the publication alone
● Strong organisation, time management and deadline-setting skills
● Confidence chairing meetings and making day-to-day editorial decisions within an agreed structure
● Reliable communication and a commitment to weekly planning meetings with the Student Media Manager
● An interest in student politics, campus life, housing, education, sport and Cork city
● A clear understanding of the separate editorial roles of University Express and Motley
● A commitment to editorial independence, inclusion and the representation of different student experiences
● Familiarity with digital publishing, content management systems, newsletters or audience analytics is desirable
● A willingness to accept direction and feedback and work closely with the Student Media Manager and wider Student Media team
