Job Description

The Associated Press is an independent global news organization dedicated to factual reporting. Founded in 1846, AP today remains the most trusted source of fast, accurate, unbiased news in all formats and the essential provider of the technology and services vital to the news business. More than half the world's population sees AP journalism every day.

The Associated Press seeks an experienced, detail-focused photo editor and shift supervisor fluent in English to join our Global Photo Desk. You will be a key member of AP’s new global production hub. You will help supervise daily photo production, schedule editors and shifts, direct workflows and work directly with the AP’s talented diverse global team of photojournalists to rapidly edit thousands of breaking news, sport and entertainment photos to send to AP’s customers around the globe. You will ensure accuracy and photojournalistic standards while editing and captioning photos at speed, and ensure handovers are clearly documented across shifts. You will be joining a team undergoing an exciting period of growth and change, expanding coverage that spans the globe, 24/7. This is being offered on a contract basis for two years.

Responsibilities: Reporting to the assistant director of photography you will supervise photo production shifts and ensure that photos from news, sports and entertainment worldwide are published quickly and presented flawlessly. You will schedule editors and shifts, direct daily workflows and ensure handovers are documented so no work is dropped between time zones. You will be part of a dynamic operation that works closely with photo staff worldwide to ensure the AP’s photo report is accurate, fast and distinctive for audiences around the world.

For this role, you will:

• Direct daily photo production workflows, setting priorities across breaking news, sport and entertainment coverage and ensuring editors understand assignments, deadlines and escalation points.
• Rapidly view thousands of photos coming from AP’s network of photographers and photo partners around the world to choose and crop the key news storytelling moments to send to AP’s global customers.
• Possess a keen artistic eye, capable of choosing photos for impactful storytelling while ensuring authenticity and aligning to AP’s standards for integrity and objectivity.
• Demonstrate a background of success as a photo editor and shift supervisor who efficiently manages and organizes a high volume of images, adept at prioritizing tasks, directing workflows and meeting project deadlines.
• Research and edit photos, writing accurate captions in English with consistent metadata and a consistent attention to detail
• Rapidly edit and process live feeds of photos from photographers at the biggest news, sport and entertainment events.
• Maintain consistent workflows, document handovers and commit to the highest journalistic ethical practices and to AP copyright guidelines.
• Collaborate with global video and text production teams to ensure integrated storytelling and metadata across formats.
• Be able and willing to work any shift, including at night and on weekends, as coverage demands, as AP is a 24/7 operation.

Preferred Qualifications: You must have demonstrated excellence as a careful and detail-oriented photo editor and shift supervisor, with a deep record of handling high volume of news photos and directing editorial workflows. You will have strong news and photo judgment and a love for breaking news and current affairs. We are looking for candidates with strong knowledge of U.S. and global news, politics and sports. You can work swiftly and accurately on sensitive stories under tight deadlines. You are someone who is calm under pressure and can work collaboratively to schedule shifts, assign priorities and ensure speed and high standards on a global photo editing team. Experience of Capture One is preferred but not essential.

Required Qualifications

• English language studies, journalism degree or equivalent experience, such as three to five years of full-time experience as a photo editor at a daily newspaper, broadcast station, digital news outlet, or an AP bureau or regional desk, including experience coordinating or supervising shifts.
• Experience in and passion for photography and/or journalism, and a strong aptitude for visual language.
• Ability to view thousands of photos and pick the key storytelling news moments.
• Advanced-level professional competency in written and spoken English. Professional competency in other languages besides English, is a major plus.
• Strong interpersonal, organizational and leadership skills with the ability to schedule staff, direct workflows and juggle multiple projects across formats and deliver success on complex, challenging story lines.

We will consider strong candidates who do not meet every listed qualification. You may use a cover letter to describe the unique qualifications you would bring to this role.

Candidates who previously applied for a photo editor position in India need not apply as those applicants will be considered for this role.

Application deadline is July 31, 2026 at 11:59 p.m. ET.

AP seeks to build an inclusive organization grounded in respect for differences. We support all aspects of diversity and provide equal employment opportunities to all employees and applicants without regard to race, color, religion, sex, marital status, national origin, age, sexual orientation, gender identity, disability, status as a veteran, or other characteristic protected by law.