Audience Editor

 

Description:

The Audience Editor at Gulf News is responsible for driving digital reach, engagement, and audience growth across all platforms, including gulfnews.com, social media, mobile app, newsletters, and emerging channels. They will work closely with all of the editorial and product management team to maximise performance. This role combines editorial judgment with data-driven decision-making to ensure Gulf News content reaches the right audiences at the right time and in the most effective formats.

 

The ideal candidate is a newsroom-focused strategist who understands digital analytics, how to build referral channels, video performance and audience behaviour in the GCC region.

 

Key Responsibilities

Audience Strategy & Growth

● Develop and execute audience growth strategies aligned with Gulf News’ editorial goals.

● Identify emerging audience opportunities through analytics, market trends, and content performance data.

● Optimize content distribution across platforms with a focus on video (website, social, search, newsletter, push notifications).

 

Analytics & Performance

● Monitor real-time analytics using tools such as Google Analytics, Chartbeat, Search console and social platform insights.

● Provide insights to editors and reporters to improve story performance and reach.

● Produce daily/weekly audience reports with actionable recommendations.

● Monitor algorithm updates to ensure compliance with best practices.

● Stay updated on the latest SEO trends, tools, and industry changes.

● Experiment with new strategies to maintain a competitive edge.

 

Content Optimisation

● Guide newsroom teams on best practices, headline writing, metadata, and story structure to maximise engagement and visibility.

● Track search trends in the UAE, GCC, and global markets to inform content commissions.

● Ensure adherence to SEO standards.

● Plan content ideas, SEO meta data for upcoming events.

● Identify emerging news stories with high search potential.

● Implement local SEO strategies to improve visibility in local search results.

 

Distribution

● Develop platform-specific content strategies in collaboration with the social media team.

● Monitor audience engagement and adjust distribution strategies as needed, finding new partners and aggregators when needed.

● Explore new ways to drive audience, ensuring Gulf News is ahead of competitors

 

Cross-Functional Collaboration

● Work closely with editors, reporters and the product team with the goal of increasing brand performance.

● Collaborate with all teams to support audience acquisition and retention goals. Work in partnership with the commercial team to find opportunities and to execute on campaigns.

 

 

● Support breaking news coverage with data-driven publishing decisions.

 

Qualifications & Experience

● Bachelor’s-level degree in Journalism, Media, Communications, or a related field.

● 3–6 years of digital journalism or audience development experience (GCC experience preferred).

● Strong understanding of UAE/GCC digital audience behaviour.

● Proficiency with analytics tools (GA4, live analytics tools, social watching tools).

● Experience with SEO, social media management, and digital newsroom workflows. Video editing experience a big bonus.

● Excellent editorial judgment and communication skills.

● Ability to work under pressure in a fast-paced news environment, especially during breaking news.