Back to jobs
New

Staff Photo Editor, DC

New York, NY

The mission of The New York Times is to seek the truth and help people understand the world. That means independent journalism is at the heart of all we do as a company. It’s why we have a world-renowned newsroom that sends journalists to report on the ground from nearly 160 countries. It’s why we focus deeply on how our readers will experience our journalism, from print to audio to a world-class digital and app destination. And it’s why our business strategy centers on making journalism so good that it’s worth paying for. 

About the Role:

A Photo Editor for The New York Times has a creative eye and an innovative approach to visual formats and mobile-focused presentations. You should bring thoughtful technical skills and journalistic judgment to join a team creating visual journalism—still and video— for breaking news, features and enterprise stories for on- and off-platform publishing.

The primary duties of the job are to conceptualize and assign photography and video for the New York Times' Washington D.C. report, and to select and publish images and video for multiple platforms of The New York Times. You will work across a range of beats covered by the bureau, including the White House, Congress, the Supreme Court, the intelligence agencies, national security, domestic policy, healthcare and other issues.

You will assign and research a wide array of news and feature photographs and video, working productively with staff photographers, freelance photographers, wire services, agencies and all other sources of pictures, as well as editors, designers, and reporters in the newsroom. You will engage our staff and freelance photographers to identify and develop pitches with strong visual potential, producing strong photographic, video and multimedia displays with an eye toward innovative digital story forms and presentations.

You have a strong demonstrable experience with multimedia, journalism and photography of all kinds and you have a comprehensive understanding of the DC bureau's coverage areas and how to effectively cover them in distinctive ways. You have a broad knowledge of the current photographic, video, visual and social media landscape, including digitally innovative formats and mobile-first multimedia presentations. You are a team player and and are adept at initiating and developing ideas for photographs, short video clips and visual stories in different formats.

This is an in-office position based in Washington, D.C. and includes regular attendance in the office four days each week. There may be some flexibility to work remotely per your departmental guidance.

Responsibilities:

  • Conceive of, pitch, assign, develop, edit, pace and build powerful and innovative visual stories with attention to detail in a fast-paced newsroom.
  • Identify, vet and onboard new contributing photojournalists. Ensure that new contributors are versed and committed to ethical journalistic rigor, independence and integrity. Build relationships with the photographers you are directing through briefings, regular contact and feedback.
  • Collaborate with writers, reporters, editors, visual editors and photographers to shape ideas into visual story opportunities.
  • Demonstrate strong editorial judgment, working with Times editors and legal department for all vetting, copyright, legal and ethical questions.
  • Focus on working with a diverse range of subjects and photographers, keeping our global and multigenerational and diverse audience in mind.
  • Coordinate with D.C. desk editors and security team members to ensure the utmost preparation, training and safety of our photojournalists in the field.
  • Maintain and meet your desk's photo budget, and process/approve invoices.
  • Attend photo department meetings to report and share your desk's visual priorities.Demonstrate support and understanding of our value of journalistic independence and a strong commitment to our mission to seek the truth and help people understand the world.You will report to the Assistant Editor of Photography in DC.

Basic Qualifications:

  • 5+ years experience in a newsroom or equivalent.
  • Experience assigning and directing photojournalists in a variety of situations.
  • Proven deep research skills.
  • Expertise in handling electronic images, photographic usage and copyright issues
  • Strong technical skills, including proficiency in digital tools and programs, including content management systems, Photoshop, PhotoMechanic, video editing tools and social media platforms.

Preferred Qualifications:

  • An enthusiasm for visual journalism and current events, coupled with keen news judgment and a firm sense of journalistic ethics.=
  • Knowledge of Premiere.
  • Experience prioritizing and managing multiple projects in fast-paced environments
  • The initiative to take on and learn new technologies and tasks.
  • Open to working a flexible schedule as news demands.
  • Experience making quick and solid decisions in a high-pressure news environment.

Please submit a portfolio with examples of work that you have assigned or edited along with your CV.

This position is represented by the NewsGuild of NY

REQ-020013

The annual base pay range for this role is between:

$115,000 - $125,000 USD

For roles in the U.S., dependent on your role, you may be eligible for variable pay, such as an annual bonus and restricted stock. Benefits may include medical, dental and vision benefits, Flexible Spending Accounts (F.S.A.s), a company-matching 401(k) plan, paid vacation, paid sick days, paid parental leave, tuition reimbursement and professional development programs. 

For roles outside of the U.S., information on benefits will be provided during the interview process.

The New York Times Company is committed to being the world’s best source of independent, reliable and quality journalism. To do so, we embrace a diverse workforce that has a broad range of backgrounds and experiences across our ranks, at all levels of the organization. We encourage people from all  backgrounds to apply.

We are  an Equal Opportunity Employer and do not discriminate on the basis of an individual's sex, age, race, color, creed, national origin, alienage, religion, marital status, pregnancy, sexual orientation or affectional preference, gender identity and expression, disability, genetic trait or predisposition, carrier status, citizenship, veteran or military status and other personal characteristics protected by law. All applications will receive consideration for employment without regard to legally protected characteristics.  The U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC)’s Know Your Rights Poster is available here. 

The New York Times Company will provide reasonable accommodations as required by applicable federal, state, and/or local laws. Individuals seeking an accommodation for the application or interview process should email reasonable.accommodations@nytimes.com. Emails sent for unrelated issues, such as following up on an application, will not receive a response.

The Company encourages those with criminal histories to apply, and will consider their applications in a manner consistent with applicable "Fair Chance" laws, including but not limited to the NYC Fair Chance Act, the Los Angeles Fair Chance Initiative for Hiring Ordinance, the San Francisco Fair Chance Ordinance, the Los Angeles County Fair Chance Ordinance for Employers, and the California Fair Chance Act.

For information about The New York Times' privacy practices for job applicants click here.

Please beware of fraudulent job postings. Scammers may post fraudulent job opportunities, and they may even make fraudulent employment offers. This is done by bad actors to collect personal information and money from victims. All legitimate job opportunities from The New York Times will be accessible through The New York Times careers site. The New York Times will not ask job applicants for financial information or for payment, and will not refer you to a third party to do so. You should never send money to anyone who suggests they can provide employment with The New York Times.

If you see a fake or fraudulent job posting, or if you suspect you have received a fraudulent offer, you can report it to The New York Times at NYTapplicants@nytimes.com. You can also file a report with the Federal Trade Commission or your state attorney general.

 

Apply for this job

*

indicates a required field

Resume/CV*

Accepted file types: pdf, doc, docx, txt, rtf

Cover Letter*

Accepted file types: pdf, doc, docx, txt, rtf

Select...
Select...
Select...
Select...
Select...
Select...
Select...
Select...
Select...
Select...

Voluntary Disclosures & Self Identify Questions

Individuals seeking employment are considered without regard to race, color, religion, national origin, age, sex, marital status, ancestry, physical or mental disability, veteran status, or sexual orientation.  To ensure compliance with equal employment opportunity requirements, we invite you to complete the Voluntary Disclosure form below.  All applications will receive consideration for employment without regard to legally protected characteristics. Whether you decide to disclose or not, it will not be considered in the hiring process or thereafter. Any information that you do provide will be recorded and maintained in a confidential file.

Select...
Select...

Voluntary Self-Identification

For government reporting purposes, we ask candidates to respond to the below self-identification survey. Completion of the form is entirely voluntary. Whatever your decision, it will not be considered in the hiring process or thereafter. Any information that you do provide will be recorded and maintained in a confidential file.

As set forth in The New York Times’s Equal Employment Opportunity policy, we do not discriminate on the basis of any protected group status under any applicable law.

Select...
Select...
Race & Ethnicity Definitions

If you believe you belong to any of the categories of protected veterans listed below, please indicate by making the appropriate selection. As a government contractor subject to the Vietnam Era Veterans Readjustment Assistance Act (VEVRAA), we request this information in order to measure the effectiveness of the outreach and positive recruitment efforts we undertake pursuant to VEVRAA. Classification of protected categories is as follows:

A "disabled veteran" is one of the following: a veteran of the U.S. military, ground, naval or air service who is entitled to compensation (or who but for the receipt of military retired pay would be entitled to compensation) under laws administered by the Secretary of Veterans Affairs; or a person who was discharged or released from active duty because of a service-connected disability.

A "recently separated veteran" means any veteran during the three-year period beginning on the date of such veteran's discharge or release from active duty in the U.S. military, ground, naval, or air service.

An "active duty wartime or campaign badge veteran" means a veteran who served on active duty in the U.S. military, ground, naval or air service during a war, or in a campaign or expedition for which a campaign badge has been authorized under the laws administered by the Department of Defense.

An "Armed forces service medal veteran" means a veteran who, while serving on active duty in the U.S. military, ground, naval or air service, participated in a United States military operation for which an Armed Forces service medal was awarded pursuant to Executive Order 12985.

Select...

Voluntary Self-Identification of Disability

Form CC-305
Page 1 of 1
OMB Control Number 1250-0005
Expires 04/30/2026

Why are you being asked to complete this form?

We are a federal contractor or subcontractor. The law requires us to provide equal employment opportunity to qualified people with disabilities. We have a goal of having at least 7% of our workers as people with disabilities. The law says we must measure our progress towards this goal. To do this, we must ask applicants and employees if they have a disability or have ever had one. People can become disabled, so we need to ask this question at least every five years.

Completing this form is voluntary, and we hope that you will choose to do so. Your answer is confidential. No one who makes hiring decisions will see it. Your decision to complete the form and your answer will not harm you in any way. If you want to learn more about the law or this form, visit the U.S. Department of Labor’s Office of Federal Contract Compliance Programs (OFCCP) website at www.dol.gov/ofccp.

How do you know if you have a disability?

A disability is a condition that substantially limits one or more of your “major life activities.” If you have or have ever had such a condition, you are a person with a disability. Disabilities include, but are not limited to:

  • Alcohol or other substance use disorder (not currently using drugs illegally)
  • Autoimmune disorder, for example, lupus, fibromyalgia, rheumatoid arthritis, HIV/AIDS
  • Blind or low vision
  • Cancer (past or present)
  • Cardiovascular or heart disease
  • Celiac disease
  • Cerebral palsy
  • Deaf or serious difficulty hearing
  • Diabetes
  • Disfigurement, for example, disfigurement caused by burns, wounds, accidents, or congenital disorders
  • Epilepsy or other seizure disorder
  • Gastrointestinal disorders, for example, Crohn's Disease, irritable bowel syndrome
  • Intellectual or developmental disability
  • Mental health conditions, for example, depression, bipolar disorder, anxiety disorder, schizophrenia, PTSD
  • Missing limbs or partially missing limbs
  • Mobility impairment, benefiting from the use of a wheelchair, scooter, walker, leg brace(s) and/or other supports
  • Nervous system condition, for example, migraine headaches, Parkinson’s disease, multiple sclerosis (MS)
  • Neurodivergence, for example, attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD), autism spectrum disorder, dyslexia, dyspraxia, other learning disabilities
  • Partial or complete paralysis (any cause)
  • Pulmonary or respiratory conditions, for example, tuberculosis, asthma, emphysema
  • Short stature (dwarfism)
  • Traumatic brain injury
Select...

PUBLIC BURDEN STATEMENT: According to the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995 no persons are required to respond to a collection of information unless such collection displays a valid OMB control number. This survey should take about 5 minutes to complete.