ASOR seeks an editor for The Ancient Near East Today, a weekly e-platform for shorter to medium-length, non-technical pieces aimed at the general public, of interest to students, faculty, and other professionals in related fields. The platform was created in 2012, began publication in 2013, and has since published more than 500 short pieces with a geographic range from the Atlantic to Afghanistan, and a chronological range from the Paleolithic to the 20th century. ANE Today appears 52 times a year. This is a compensated position.

The editor should be capable of identifying and evaluating potential contributors and topics, soliciting and then evaluating items, and generally working with writers to produce pieces that are accurate, engaging, concise, and visually appealing. Items range from 800-1500 words; they appear first on the website and are then pushed out with the help of ASOR staff to over 42,000 readers via email and social media. ANE Today emails also include a variety of links to archaeological news, new books and reviews, exhibitions, and resources.

The ideal candidate should have a wide perspective on scholars and scholarship in ancient Near Eastern (and allied) studies from prehistory to the modern period in order to access the broadest possible range of potential writers. These writers may range from senior scholars to graduate students, and may include individuals outside of academia. Candidates are also expected to become familiar with ANE Today’s publications to date in order to develop both new and old topics and writers, avoid duplication, and to expand and reexamine themes and issues.

The editor solicits writers, edits contributions, organizes the imagery and layout, supervises the production, posting and distribution of items, works with technical and other ASOR staff members regarding the design and operation of the platform, and on marketing, strategy and reporting. The editor reports to a committee that oversees the platform and is also a voting member of the Committee on Publications. Editors are approved by ASOR’s Executive Committee and Board of Trustees. They may serve two three-year terms.

The candidate should also have excellent writing skills, preferably across a range of topics and genres inside and outside of academia, along with some editorial experience. Work experience as a journalist is beneficial but not required. Familiarity with social media and new media is similarly useful. Those interested should send a CV and letter of interest to Marta Ostovich at programs@asor.org. Consideration of applications will begin on March 14 but will continue until the position is filled.