Culture Editor

Location: East Coast
Job Type: Full Time

Position Overview:
AL-Monitor, the trusted and award-winning independent source of Middle East news and analysis, is seeking a dynamic Culture Editor to lead coverage and analysis of the region’s cultural, artistic and social currents, as well as spotlighting Middle East culture as it lives globally. The ideal candidate will have deep knowledge and experience in Middle East culture — including literature, arts, film, music, social trends and heritage — and will be skilled at translating these stories for a global audience. This role combines editorial oversight, original content creation and digital engagement to highlight the richness and complexity of the region’s cultural landscape.

Key Responsibilities:

• Editorial Oversight: Commission, edit and curate high-quality reporting, features and analyses on Middle East cultural topics. Ensure accuracy, depth and originality in all cultural coverage.
• Content Creation: Produce engaging written and multimedia content for the website and social media platforms, including video, podcasts, photo essays and longform storytelling.
• Contributor Network Development: Build, manage and expand a base of freelance writers, cultural experts and commentators across the Americas, Europe, the Middle East, Africa, and beyond, to enhance coverage and diversity of perspectives.
• Global Events Calendar: Curate a worldwide calendar of Middle East cultural events happening globally, and integrate these into Al-Monitor’s editorial coverage.
• Strategy & Innovation: Develop a cultural coverage strategy that aligns with Al-Monitor’s editorial vision and digital goals. Identify emerging cultural trends and voices to expand audience reach.
• Collaboration: Work closely with staff journalists and freelance writers to shape compelling cultural narratives.
• Digital Engagement: Collaborate with social and marketing teams to optimize reach, using multimedia and social platforms strategically to engage readers.
• Community & Thought Leadership: Represent Al-Monitor in cultural forums, events and panels; cultivate relationships with cultural institutions, experts and creators in the region.
• Analytics & Reporting: Monitor audience engagement and performance metrics to refine editorial strategy and content approach.

Qualifications:

• Deep expertise in Middle East culture, arts and society, with a strong portfolio of reporting, writing and/or editing in these areas.
• Proven editorial experience, ideally in news, cultural journalism or digital media.
• Experience building and managing a network of freelance contributors.
• Strong writing, editing and storytelling skills for digital-first audiences.
• Experience with multimedia content production, including video, audio and social platforms.
• Understanding of social media trends and analytics tools (e.g., Google Analytics, Hootsuite, Sprout Social) to inform content strategy.
• Ability to work collaboratively in a fast-paced newsroom environment while managing multiple projects and deadlines.
• Knowledge of Arabic, Persian, Turkish, or other regional languages is a plus.

The Culture Editor will report to the editorial team and work closely with the marketing and social teams to amplify coverage and grow readership.

Qualified candidates should send a CV to jobs@al-monitor.com with “Culture Editor” in the subject line.