Weekend Writer/Editor, E! News Digital, Editorial

VERSANT is a leading force in news, sports and entertainment - home to iconic and trusted brands that inspire, inform, and delight audiences. Our unique combination of content, technology and services enriches the cultural fabric, igniting passions, sparking conversations, and connecting people to what they love most.

As an independent, publicly traded company, VERSANT brings together powerhouse cable networks - including USA Network, CNBC, MS NOW (formerly MSNBC), Oxygen, E!, SYFY, and Golf Channel - with dynamic digital and direct-to-consumer brands such as Fandango, Rotten Tomatoes, GolfNow, GolfPass, and SportsEngine. Together, these businesses reflect our commitment to delivering exceptional experiences across every screen and service.

VERSANT is an industry-changing media company fueled by innovation and an entrepreneurial spirit. With a strong foundation and a forward-looking vision, VERSANT empowers creativity, embraces change, and drives connection in an ever-evolving world.

E! News is looking for an experienced and passionate Weekend Writer/Editor to lead our weekend coverage. This role will be responsible for writing and publishing content daily while editing writers and conducting interviews for E! digital. This person will also spearhead E!’s weekend coverage, working Wednesday-Sunday.

The ideal candidate has experience working in entertainment, strong news judgment and an understanding of the E! audience. They will also be able to thrive in a fast-paced environment and use data-driven analysis and social conversations to determine content and pitch ideas. The candidate will work well in team settings and also on their own, thriving in the autonomy of the weekends, when they will be the driving force for our coverage.

Responsibilities:

• Write and publish 5-7 pieces of content daily, ranging from trending news stories and galleries to interviews and evergreens• Work under tight deadlines, providing clean, clear copy

• Create SEO-driven headlines and descriptions that maximize traffic
• Edit copy for other writers in a timely manner, providing grammatical feedback as well as notes on style and tone• Ability to self-edit when necessary

• Determine strongest news stories to pursue and work quickly and efficiently to publish content
• Collaborate with the digital news video team to align on content and timing, especially for weekend content
• Identify and pitch stories, viral trends and celebrities that help start conversation and drive page views, video views, referral traffic and engagement• Seek out clever angles, second beats and attention-grabbing headlines
• Familiarity with analytics, ability to examine story performance and identify follow up angles to continue to increase page views and video views

• Pitch and conduct interviews with celebrities, identifying strongest angles afterwards and publishing in a timely manner
• Work alongside the team in covering tentpole events, brainstorming lead-up coverage and writing articles in real time during red carpets, award shows and other pop culture events
• Collaborate with social team to promote content across the portfolio

• Bachelor’s Degree or equivalent experience
• 5+ years experience in a deadline writing sharp copy, ideally in entertainment news
• Excellent writing skills that align with the E! voice
• Proficient in SEO
• Strong news judgment and understanding of what the E! reader wants to consume

Desired Characteristics:

• Collaborative team player with the ability to contribute independently
• Creative storyteller who can identify entertainment trends and create innovative ways to tell a compelling story
• Hard-working, dedicated and detail-oriented  
• Proven ability to thrive in a fast-paced, high-pressure environment
• Effective communication skills and strong collaborator who can work across multiple departments
• A passion for pop culture
• Strong understanding of digital metrics (page views, video views and audience growth)
• Red carpet experience: Ability to interview celebrity talent with smart, news-driven questions. Ability to then turn content into digital articles and videos.
• On-camera presence is not required, but experience field producing and reporting on red carpets at entertainment events is a plus.

Additional Requirements:

• Hybrid: This position has been designated as hybrid, generally contributing from the Los Angeles, CA office a minimum of three days per week.
• Salary range: $75,000 - $90,000

As part of our selection process, external candidates may be required to attend an in-person interview with a VERSANT Media employee at one of our locations prior to a hiring decision. VERSANT Media's policy is to provide equal employment opportunities to all applicants and employees without regard to race, color, religion, creed, gender, gender identity or expression, age, national origin or ancestry, citizenship, disability, sexual orientation, marital status, pregnancy, veteran status, membership in the uniformed services, genetic information, or any other basis protected by applicable law.

For LA County and City Residents Only: VERSANT Media will consider for employment qualified applicants with criminal histories, or arrest or conviction records, in a manner consistent with relevant legal requirements, including the City of Los Angeles' Fair Chance Initiative for Hiring Ordinance, the Los Angeles County Fair Chance Ordinance for Employers, and the California Fair Chance Act, where applicable.

If you are a qualified individual with a disability or a disabled veteran and require support throughout the application and/or recruitment process as a result of your disability, you have the right to request a reasonable accommodation. You can submit your request to [email protected].

VERSANT Media is committed to fair and equitable compensation practices. We include a good faith pay range for each position to comply with applicable state and local pay transparency laws and to promote equity across our organization. Actual compensation will be based on factors such as the candidate's skills, qualifications, experience, and location and may include additional forms of compensation and benefits such as health insurance, retirement plans, paid time off, etc.

VERSANT Media is not accepting unsolicited assistance from search firms for this employment opportunity. All resumes submitted by search firms to any employee at VERSANT via-email, the Internet, or in any form and/or method without a valid written Statement of Work in place for this position from VERSANT's Talent Acquisition team will be deemed the sole property of VERSANT. No fee will be paid in the event the candidate is hired by VERSANT as a result of the referral or through other means.