Editor-in-Chief

Editor-in-Chief (The Dale Blues) Location: UK or Remote (GMT-friendly) Contract: Full-time (open to an initial 3–6 month contract-to-perm) Compensation: Salary negotiable and commensurate with performance (base + KPIs/bonuses) About The Dale Blues The Dale Blues is an international, independent voice in football & society — covering the game, its people, and the world around it with rigour, heart, and zero propaganda. We publish features, investigations, opinion, data-led analysis, culture pieces, and community reporting. The Role We’re seeking a bold, principled Editor-in-Chief to set our editorial vision, lead a multi-format newsroom, and grow audience, impact, and revenue. You’ll own the publishing calendar, tone, and standards—championing fearless journalism and exceptional storytelling across digital, audio, and social. Key Responsibilities Define and deliver the editorial strategy, voice, and style guide across all platforms. Commission, edit, and publish high-quality journalism: features, investigations, match analysis, interviews, explainers, and newsletters. Build and manage a network of staff and freelance contributors; nurture emerging talent. Uphold legal/ethical standards (accuracy, balance, right of reply, source protection, defamation awareness). Partner with Product/Design to improve UX, headlines, SEO, and conversion funnels. Own the publishing cadence: daily posts, weekly long-reads, and special projects. Set and hit growth KPIs (audience, engagement, retention, newsletter subs, membership). Represent TDB publicly (panels, interviews, briefs) with clarity and integrity. Collaborate on commercial opportunities (sponsorships, membership, events) without compromising editorial independence. What You’ll Bring Proven editorial leadership (Managing Editor / Editor-in-Chief / Senior Editor) in sports or current-affairs journalism. Exceptional editing, headline writing, and commissioning instincts. A track record in investigative or long-form feature development. Strong legal/ethical grounding in UK media law and journalistic standards. Data-aware and platform-savvy: understands analytics, SEO, and social distribution. Calm under pressure; decisive, organised, and great with people. Commitment to independent, non-propaganda reporting and reader trust. Nice-to-Haves Experience launching newsletters/podcasts or running a digital relaunch. Network across clubs, players, coaches, analysts, and the wider game ecosystem. Comfort with CMS tools, basic multimedia workflows, and AI-assisted editing. How We Measure Success (Example KPIs) Quality & impact of coverage (citations, pickups, reader feedback). Audience growth & engagement (UVs, time-on-page, return rate, newsletter subs). Editorial cadence and on-time delivery of the publishing plan. Contributor quality, development, and newsroom culture. To Apply Please email your expression of interest and CV/resumé to: adam.bruckshaw-iovaine@outlook.com Include (briefly, in the email body): 1. Three links to pieces you’ve edited or written that show your range. 2. A 150-word note on the editorial direction you’d set for The Dale Blues in the next 6 months. 3. One idea for a flagship investigative or feature series (2–3 sentences). Equal Opportunity We welcome applicants from all backgrounds. If you’re talented, principled, and believe writing can be both joyful and serious, we want to hear from you.