Reporter and Reviews Editor, Autos

As a Reporter and Reviews Editor at Consumer Reports, your key responsibilities will include generating high-quality content on a variety of automotive topics, acting as an on-camera subject-matter expert, collaborating with other departments, and maintaining specialty content like Buying Guides and Product Pages. You'll be deeply involved in the entire content creation process, ensuring it meets consumer needs.

To qualify for the Reporter and Reviews Editor position at Consumer Reports, candidates should possess at least 5 years of multi-platform journalism experience, strong knowledge of the automotive industry, and a Bachelor's degree. Experience in creating engaging content across various platforms is essential and familiarity with automotive engineering and maintenance will greatly enhance your candidacy.

Consumer Reports has an extensive process for testing vehicles which involves driving each vehicle for 2,000 break-in miles before putting them through over 50 objective and subjective tests. Their Auto Test Center offers a comprehensive evaluation, ensuring unbiased insights into safety, performance, and efficiency that guide consumers in their vehicle decisions.

Working as a Reporter and Reviews Editor at Consumer Reports means being part of a collaborative environment at their Auto Test Center in Yonkers, New York. You'll engage with cross-functional teams, work on diverse projects, and enjoy a hybrid work model that promotes work-life balance while contributing to impactful content.

Consumer Reports offers competitive medical benefits starting your first day on the job, a generous 401K match, and a commitment to fair pay. Employees are supported through a culture of transparency and inclusivity, ensuring a rewarding work experience focused on consumer advocacy.

When answering this question, highlight specific positions and roles you've held in automotive journalism. Discuss the types of stories you’ve reported on, challenges you've faced, and how your expertise in the automotive industry has allowed you to provide valuable insights to readers.

Address the importance of providing unbiased, factual information about safety, performance, and efficiency. Emphasize that consumers look for comprehensive evaluations that can help them make informed decisions about car purchases.

Share your strategies for staying informed, such as following automotive news sites, subscribing to industry journals, attending trade shows, and engaging with other automotive professionals. This demonstrates your commitment to being an expert in the field.

Provide a specific example of a project where you faced a tight deadline. Explain the steps you took to prioritize tasks, communicate with team members, and ensure the content was completed without compromising quality. This shows your time management skills and ability to work under pressure.

Discuss your proficiency with content management systems like WordPress, social media platforms, and tools for data analysis or SEO optimization. This reflects your understanding of the digital landscape and how it relates to generating impactful automotive content.

Explain your strategies for understanding your audience's needs and preferences. Talk about using relatable language, varying formats (like articles and videos), and addressing a wide range of automotive topics that cater to different demographics.

Provide an instance where you worked with other departments, such as engineering or marketing. Emphasize how effective communication and teamwork led to successful projects, ultimately benefiting the quality of the content produced.

Discuss the elements that contribute to an excellent vehicle review, such as thorough research, clear evaluations of key features, honest assessments, and useful insights that help consumers understand a vehicle's pros and cons.

Emphasize your ability to simplify technical jargon into understandable language. Talk about using analogies, providing examples, and structuring content for clarity to help readers grasp complex automotive concepts without feeling overwhelmed.

Express your understanding of the impact of video content, especially in showcasing vehicle features, providing visual evaluations, and engaging viewers. Highlight how video complements written content and reaches a broader audience.