Travel Editor

Role Overview

The Travel Editor plays a pivotal role at National Geographic by designing, commissioning, editing, and preparing high-quality travel-focused editorial content primarily aimed at service journalism to engage a wide global audience on NationalGeographic.com. This position manages contributions from freelance writers and creators, spearheads text and video content creation, and oversees the ongoing Destination Guides initiative to assist travelers in making well-informed travel decisions.

Key Responsibilities

• Develop and pitch engaging travel story concepts in partnership with freelance contributors, focusing on service-oriented journalism.
• Commission, edit, and finalize stories for publication, collaborating closely with photo editors and digital production teams.
• Define creative direction for destination guide content, including formats and media such as videos.
• Monitor, plan, and refresh destination guides regularly using performance data to enhance relevance and traveler utility.
• Create additional story ideas that foster audience growth and engagement.
• Contribute to broader initiatives such as major ongoing travel series and franchises when needed.
• Innovate new storytelling methods, particularly with video content and social media platforms.
• Expand and maintain a network of freelance writers and travel content creators.
• Work with newsletter and social media teams to promote and amplify travel content.
• Support sales and marketing teams by generating editorial ideas based on proposals and active sales efforts.

Qualifications

• Minimum of 3 years' experience in originating, commissioning, and editing digital editorial content within media or journalistic contexts.
• Proficiency in digital editing and content production, including SEO, tagging, and headline crafting.
• Demonstrated capability to develop actionable and insightful travel-related content founded on thorough research and expertise.
• Keen eye for visual storytelling and understanding digital/social content presentation.
• Solid knowledge of the travel industry and history of producing related content.
• Established network of freelance creative collaborators, with strong judgment of quality reporting and writing.
• Excellent written and oral communication, able to articulate ideas clearly and professionally.
• Awareness of the changing media environment, travel consumer behavior, and competitive travel editorial content.
• Collaborative work style across complex organizational structures.
• Ability to manage multiple projects effectively, meet deadlines, and operate within budget limits.

Preferred Skills and Experience

• Experience in video content creation is advantageous.
• Familiarity with working alongside creators is beneficial but not essential.
• Background working in a large corporate setting is preferred.

Education

• Bachelor’s degree or equivalent required.
• Academic focus in journalism or media is desirable but optional.

Compensation and Benefits

The salary range for this role in Washington, D.C., spans from $79,400 to $106,400 annually. The final salary will consider internal equity and factors such as the candidate's location, relevant skills, and experience. Additional compensation may include bonuses or long-term incentives. The complete benefits package covers medical, financial, and other employee benefits according to the position and level.