Sub Editor

Job Introduction

When you join Saga we welcome you with open arms and we fuel your career possibilities. We support. We encourage. We champion you to reach your full potential.

This role is an important part of the Group Marketing team who strive to facilitate, to help and support the Membership function of the business.

Saga Magazine we are committed to creating a really good read that is entertaining, informative, inspiring and fun.

As a sub-editor you will work closely with the chief sub to maintain our high standards of factual accuracy, good grammar, clarity and consistent house style, plus the essential editorial tone of a warm, friendly voice.

You’ll need good judgement to decide when copy needs a heavy edit or a light touch and the ability to come up with snappy headlines and attention-grabbing ‘sells’. You’ll need to collaborate with the art department to make sure copy and images work together on the page. And be able to spot a typo at 50 paces.

You will be tireless in checking facts on everything from new developments in healthcare to the Beatles’ greatest hits, using reliable online sources.

Ideally, you’ll have worked in a similar role on a national magazine and have a good grasp of print journalism.

And in return, you can look forward to all of the responsibility and involvement of an integral role, providing you with a rewarding and fast paced career with an excellent benefits package including life assurance, pension, high street and online discounts, and concessions for holidays and travel.

Role Responsibility

• To accurately sub, edit, and rewrite where necessary, copy for the magazine pages
• To accurately sub and adapt stories from the magazine to the website and social media outlets
• To help create bright, relevant, intriguing headlines
• To deputise for the Production Editor when necessary
•  To be on top on the magazine’s flat plan at all times by keeping a constant dialogue with the art, advertising, editorial and marketing departments over pagination, to ensure a smooth and constant flow of pages
• Maintain strong links with Deputy Editors
• To help develop and maintain a ‘tone of voice’ in keeping with Saga’s brand imperatives (trustworthy, friendly, authoritative, warm).
• To occasionally chase copy with tact and firmness
• To be able to accurately edit copy for different Saga-related purposes when required: ie other related publications, marketing or ‘advertorial’ projects
• To help moderate message boards or create social media content if required
• To repurpose copy when necessary with good understanding of SEO techniques
• To maintain close links with the online team – particularly in respect of X-refs/URLs, joint promotions and the magazine’s ‘internet contents’ page
• To work with the art director to engage with the production, potentially, of more than one edition of the magazine and help the smooth evolution of systems to ensure the production process is well organised and clear to all
• To work closely with all editors, and the art/picture desk, to ensure that all corrections are completed before pages are sent to repro/print
• To be cognisant with the wider repro and printing processes of the magazine, and familiar with the technical journey of pages to the repro house/printer

The Ideal Candidate

Capability, knowledge and experience:

• Demonstrable competence in a sub-editing role on a UK magazine or newspaper
• Demonstrable competence in lively headline and caption writing
• Excellent linguistic skills, especially spelling & grammar
• Keen eye for fact-checking
• Good knowledge of media law
• Excellent understanding of both print and web editing and writing styles
• Keen and analytical news awareness: sharp follower of news (especially politics and that relating to the world of over-50s) on and offline
• Proactive and confident about rewriting and questioning facts
• Comfortable and acquainted with all forms of social media: eg Facebook, Twitter
• Experienced user of InDesign and related software
• Competent in Microsoft Word and InDesign
• Acquainted with uploading to web techniques (EG SiteCore coding)

Education and qualifications:

• A good standard of secondary education required but Graduate-level or higher desired
• Maintains continuous professional development

Personal characteristics:

• A strong communicator and collaborator, able to communicate ideas and concepts, at varying levels of seniority
• Energetic
• Confident
• People-person
• Organised
• Ability to deal with a multifaceted role
• Ability to stay up to speed with daily general news events: especially those relating to the world of people over 50
• Ability to stay up to speed with libel laws and other legal requirements of a publishing house
• Demonstrable practical knowledge of sub-editing
• Excellent literary skills

Package Description

The standard benefits when you join Saga include:

• Option to purchase a further 5 days annual leave per year
• Free private medical insurance after 1 years service
• Pension
• AXA Be Supported
• Apples Nursery (Folkestone only and on a waiting list basis)
• Free fruit 
• Give as you earn
• Free eye tests
• Honeymoon benefit
• Sharebuy
• Salary finance
• Discounts on Saga holidays and insurance products
• A range of reductions and offers from leading retailers, travel groups and entertainment companies
• Long service awards

About the Company

When you join Saga you will see that we are committed to treating all employees fairly and to offering equal opportunities in all aspects of employment and advancement. 

We value diversity not just because it is the right thing to do, but because diverse teams perform better. Creating a culture in which everyone feels welcome and offering equal opportunities in all aspects of employment and advancement is incredibly important to us. Fair consideration is given to applications from all applicants, including those with disabilities. If you need support at any point with your application please let us know as we will be happy to help.

Learn more about the Saga business by watching our Saga plc results for the financial year 2018/2019

To all recruitment agencies: Saga does not accept agency CVs unless specifically engaged on the role by the HR Recruitment Team. Please do not forward CVs to our recruiters, employees or any other company location. Saga is not responsible for any fees related to unsolicited CVs.

Saga Group