Freelance Assistant Editor

Observer seeks a talented freelance assistant editor to work 20-25 hours per week, collaborating closely with staff editors to refine and polish various types of articles across all sections of the site (Business, Arts, Entertainment and Lifestyle), including reviews, opinions/essays, research, analysis and more. The role involves receiving and editing first drafts for style, clarity and accuracy—ensuring that each piece meets Observer’s standards—and seeing the process through to completion. This position will not assign stories but will interact directly with freelance reporters and contributors, relaying constructive feedback supporting each writer’s growth.

The ideal candidate has at least three years of experience as an editor, preferably with a news or lifestyle publisher, and is proficient in WordPress. The position is remote, and the hours are mostly flexible, with a strong preference for this freelance position to be available from 10-10:30am on weekdays to participate in a daily team call.

Responsibilities

Support Observer editors by tracking what’s coming down the pipeline, what’s in hand and what has been returned for second drafts, setting, communicating and hitting deadlines, and delivering the highest quality final product possible.
Provide constructive feedback to each author in a professional and timely manner.
Source images when necessary; write alt-text, captions and insert photo credits.
Format articles in WordPress with SEO titles/descriptions, subheadings, and internal links. Ensure best practices for tagging/taxonomy are followed.
Attend team meetings each weekday from 10:00 to 10:20 a.m. EST to develop an awareness of the day’s stories and broader editorial calendar and share updates on the articles under your management.

Salary: $30/hour

To apply, please email merin@observer.com. A cover letter is not required, but your application should include your resume, general availability (regarding the start date and your preferred weekly schedule), and a few sentences introducing yourself and explaining your interest in the role.

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FREELANCE ASSISTANT EDITOR