About us The Independent is an online news publisher that was established in 1986 as a national newspaper independent of party political affiliations or proprietorial influence. In 2016, The Independent became a fully digital publisher, moving away from print in pursuit of sustainability, and to safeguard its values and journalism for the future. The Independent has always thrived through innovation and change. It was the first British newspaper to add a Saturday magazine; the first to give photography the same prestige as a news copy; the first to challenge the Westminster lobby system of closed briefings; the first broadsheet to move to the more compact ‘tabloid’ format; the first to launch a concise quality compact paper; and the first – and only – major newspaper to pull off a successful transformation to fully digital publishing. Through The Independent, Independent TV, eCommerce, indy100, subscriptions and other ‘reader revenues’, The Independent plans to continue the work of many decades, bringing much-needed independent journalism to over 100 million unique global visitors a month, make its voice ever louder and more insistent the world over. We have an international editorial team with our main offices in London and New York. The role The Independent is looking for a Deputy Culture & Lifestyle Editor, on a maternity cover contract, to help drive the department's UK coverage. The role is a year's FTC. The successful candidate will be a team player, with a deep understanding of all aspects of online journalism. You must be a confident and experienced leader who thrives under the pressure of working in a fast-paced newsroom. Diversity, Equity and Inclusion We champion diversity in our teams and in our reporting. As a growing and global brand, we must have a workforce that’s more representative of our readers, viewers, clients and partners, and a workplace that creates a sense of belonging for everyone We are committed to hiring and developing a diverse workforce regardless of background, and we support our people to thrive in their careers here. The Independent is an equal opportunities employer, if you require any reasonable adjustments to complete your application, please do not hesitate to advise us accordingly. About you Key responsibilities and accountabilities Write lively features, expert analysis and the weekly arts newsletter Commission and edit exciting, engaging features and reviews Lead on coverage of books, theatre and art subsections Edit and help facilitate across other areas of culture and the lifestyle section Run the department in the Head of Culture and Lifestyle's absence Help manage and nurture the in-house culture team Secure interviews with public figures in the arts Working on partnerships, including liaising with external stakeholders and colleagues across the business, managing editorial requirements and writing/commissioning content, organising staffing for events Maintain the books list for the newsroom, and coordinate across departments for noteworthy books Write the IndyArts newsletter and work with the subscriptions team on requirements including promotions and premium targets Liaising with the head of audience and senior editors to ensure maximum performance of content on a daily and more long-term basis Essential skills and experience Experience as a feature writer and commissioning editor for a newspaper or news website Excellent contacts spanning the book, film, TV, music, comedy and theatre industries An ability to spot trends and formulate original ideas across culture and lifestyle Ability to work well with a team and manage more junior members of staff An exceptional knowledge of the arts An understanding of The Independent brand and audience Our values – you will deliver across all our values Inclusive : We champion diversity in our teams and in our reporting. Working as a team, we put transparency and effective communication at the heart of everything we do. Innovative: From the very beginning, The Independent has been breaking the mould. We take risks and are always looking to try new ideas in pursuit of excellence. Independent: Nobody tells us what to think; we make up our own minds and aren’t afraid to do things differently. Like our readers, we value honesty and integrity above outside influences.