Senior Editorial Analyst

The Economist is hiring a Senior Editorial Analyst

The Audience team is at the heart of The Economist’s digital strategy. It distributes our journalism via posts on social-media platforms including Instagram, X, LinkedIn, Facebook, Threads, Bluesky, WhatsApp, TikTok and YouTube; through 23 newsletters, 19 of which are exclusive to our subscribers; by sending notifications to multiple apps; and by ensuring that search engines can locate and recommend our work. Through these platforms we identify our next generation of readers and build relationships with existing subscribers, all while remaining true to our 180-year-old brand.

It is also entwined with the digital newsdesk, a global team that publishes around the clock to our Espresso and core apps; curates our home tab and home pages; steers the flow of stories to ensure these appear online in a timely and orderly manner; and pioneers innovations in our visual, mobile-first journalism.

Within the Audience team sit two London-based analytics-focused specialists: the Head of Editorial Analytics and a Senior Editorial Analyst.

With a focus on content strategy, both support editors in content curation, SEO and digital commissioning, while also leading strategic initiatives, content reviews and digital transformation efforts across the newsroom. They play an important role in ensuring that data-driven insights guide editorial decisions, with a strong technical focus on data modelling, statistical analysis and implementation. They work closely with The Economist Group’s wider business to synchronise editorial projects with broader goals, particularly assessing the impact on important metrics. And they collaborate on engagement and data-science projects, leveraging new statistical models to deepen the understanding of both article performance and The Economist’s audiences.

The Economist’s digital coverage includes a mix of formats: news stories, explainers, opinion pieces, newsletters, videos, podcasts and more. We are recruiting a Senior Editorial Analyst to ascertain the performance of our journalism across platforms, and to help editors make sharper, data-informed decisions. They will combine editorial intuition with statistical rigour to produce insights that directly shape how we commission, frame and promote our stories.

Their primary responsibilities will be:

• Analyse article, newsletter, notification, audio and video performance across platforms (such as app, web, email, social and search) to identify what resonates with readers
• Write sharp, editorially literate regular performance reports that explain not just what happened but why—and recommend what to do next
• Design and interpret A/B tests (such as headlines and subject lines), ensuring statistical rigour and clear, actionable conclusions
• Identify high-performing formats, topics and tones, and share outcomes with editors to influence framing and commissioning
• Translate complex data into clear, jargon-free insights that support editorial decision-making and headline refinement, using data-visualisation where appropriate
• Track audience behaviour by region, channel and topic to highlight growth opportunities and underserved segments
• Collaborate with The Economist Group’s analytics department on methodologies, platforms, technologies and projects that will benefit not only the newsroom but the wider business as a whole
• Collaborate with product, marketing and editorial teams to evaluate content features, formats and promotion strategies
• Build trust in data across the newsroom by advocating for smarter measurement, better testing practices and continuous learning

Their primary skills will be:

• A deep understanding of digital journalism and content performance across platforms
• Experience writing data reports that are clear, narrative-driven and tailored to a journalistic audience
• Awareness of regional audience preferences and sensitivities in a global context
• Ability to spot patterns, communicate insight and make strategic recommendations in plain language that adheres to our style guide
• Familiarity with A/B testing and ability to talk about basic statistical concepts such as confidence intervals, significance testing and regression.
• Proficiency with analytics tools such as Google Analytics, Adobe Analytics, Parse.ly, Chartbeat and Salesforce Marketing Cloud
• Proficiency in Excel, SQL or Python and working with large data sets

Ideally they will have experience in a newsroom, media and/or editorial analytics environment, and will be educated to a degree level or above.

To be considered, applicants must complete the following assessment:

A senior editor has asked you to provide an overview of the performance of our recent cover leader “The stunning decline of the preference for having boys”. In no more than 300 words, explain how you would approach this evaluation and which insights you would want to deliver.

You may wish to touch on:

• The key questions your analysis would answer
• The types of data or metrics you would prioritise
• Any specific factors (editorial, promotional, audience-related) you would consider
• How you would communicate your findings and recommendations to editors

We are not expecting a full analysis, just a clear sense of how you would frame and approach the task—and what you see as the most essential elements.

This assessment is the most important part of your application, so make sure you explain your proposals thoroughly and clearly. Initially we will read it blind, without looking at your name. Only if what is submitted fits with what we are looking for will we examine your accompanying material. We will not consider applications sent without an assessment.

Please email your assessment, along with a CV and a brief cover note, to [email protected] by the end of Sunday July 13th 2025.

All applicants must be based in the United Kingdom to take up the role. They must already hold residency, citizenship or a visa that allows them to live and work in London immediately, without the need for any additional immigration-related process. We can neither sponsor candidates nor await immigration decisions.

Our team is expected to attend our main newsroom in central London for, on average, two to three days per week.

The Economist Group values diversity. We are committed to equal opportunities and creating an inclusive environment for all our employees. We welcome applicants regardless of ethnic origin, national origin, gender, race, colour, religious beliefs, disability, sexual orientation or age.