Bangla Head – Editorial (Digital)

Position: Bangla Head – Editorial (Digital)

Business Vertical: Digital Media
Location: Kolkata
Experience: 12+ years in Bengali-language journalism and digital media
Reporting To: RE - Digital

1. Role Overview

A leading print media house of Bihar-Jharkhand is planning to expand its digital presence into the Bengali-language media market in West Bengal. They are looking for an experienced, dynamic, and visionary Bangla Head – Editorial (Digital) to lead the editorial strategy, product development, and digital growth of the proposed Bangla platform.

The ideal candidate should have a strong background in Bengali journalism, an established presence and reputation in West Bengal, and proven expertise in digital content creation, video journalism, podcasts, social media growth, and digital monetization. The candidate will be responsible for developing the editorial vision, building a high-performing team, establishing the brand in the Bengali digital media landscape, and driving audience reach, engagement, and revenue growth.

2. Key Roles and Responsibilities

A. Editorial Leadership and Content Strategy

• Develop and execute the editorial vision and content strategy for the launch and growth of the organization's Bangla vertical.
• Lead Bengali-language editorial operations across digital platforms, ensuring accuracy, credibility, relevance, and high-quality journalism.
• Identify key audience segments, regional interests, emerging trends, and content opportunities across West Bengal.
• Develop differentiated content formats covering news, politics, current affairs, business, entertainment, lifestyle, culture, and other relevant categories.
• Maintain strong editorial standards, journalistic integrity, and the brand’s credibility
• Responsible for Branding and Event planning

B. Digital Product Launch and Growth

• Lead the end-to-end planning and execution of the Bangla digital launch, including content positioning, audience strategy, platform readiness, and launch campaigns.
• Demonstrate a strong understanding of digital media products, audience behaviour, content discovery, and user experience.
• Work closely with product, technology, marketing, and business teams to develop and continuously improve the Bangla digital offering.
• Define and monitor key performance indicators (KPIs), including reach, unique users, page views, engagement, returning users, and audience retention.

C. Social Media and Audience Development

• Develop strategies to increase reach, visibility, and engagement across platforms such as YouTube, Facebook, Instagram, and other relevant social media channels.
• Leverage platform-specific content formats, video storytelling, short-form videos, live coverage, and audience engagement initiatives.
• Build a strong digital brand identity and establish the organization's Bangla vertical as a credible and recognisable media brand.
• Use audience analytics and performance insights to optimise content distribution and improve organic reach.

D. Video Journalism and Podcasts

• Lead the development of compelling video content, including news bulletins, interviews, explainers, debates, ground reports, and short-form videos.
• Develop and manage podcast formats, including editorial planning, hosting, guest selection, production, and distribution.
• Possess a sound understanding of video production, scripting, shooting, editing, packaging, and digital storytelling.
• Identify opportunities to develop distinctive, engaging, and repeatable content properties that strengthen audience loyalty.

E. Revenue - Coordination and Monetization

• Develop strategies to monetise the Bangla digital platform through advertising, branded content, sponsorships, video monetisation, podcasts, and other suitable digital revenue streams.
• Work with sales and marketing teams to create commercially viable content properties (IP) and integrated digital advertising solutions.
• Identify opportunities to build scalable, revenue-generating digital products and content franchises.

F. Team Building and People Leadership

• Build, lead, and develop a high-performing Bengali digital editorial team, including reporters, editors, video journalists, producers, anchors, and social media professionals.
• Identify talent, recruit suitable professionals, and establish effective editorial workflows and performance standards.
• Demonstrate strong leadership, collaboration, decision-making, and team-building capabilities.
• Work closely with internal stakeholders across editorial, technology, product, marketing, and sales to achieve business objectives.

3. Educational Qualifications and Experience

• Graduate or postgraduate qualification in Journalism, Mass Communication, or a related discipline is preferred.
• Minimum 12 years of relevant professional experience in Bengali-language journalism, editorial leadership, and/or digital media.
• Proven experience in leading editorial teams and managing digital-first news operations or media platforms.
• Strong command of written and spoken Bengali, with an excellent understanding of West Bengal’s language, culture, society, and regional dynamics.
• Demonstrated experience in digital content strategy, video journalism, podcasts, and social media-led audience development.

4. Essential Competencies

• Established Industry Presence: A recognised and credible professional identity in the Bengali media landscape, with the ability to build audience trust and strengthen brand visibility.
• Digital-First Mindset: Strong understanding of digital journalism, emerging media formats, content distribution, and audience behaviour.
• Strategic Thinking: Ability to translate business objectives into a clear editorial roadmap and actionable launch strategy.
• Product and Commercial Acumen: Understanding of digital product development, monetisation models and advertising opportunities in coordination with revenue team
• Content Production Expertise: Practical knowledge of video production, editing, podcast development, and multimedia storytelling.
• Leadership and Team Building: Ability to attract talent, develop teams, foster collaboration, and deliver measurable results.
• Analytics-Driven Approach: Ability to use digital performance data to improve content quality, reach, engagement, and monetisation.
• Entrepreneurial Mindset: Willingness to build a new digital media vertical from the ground up and take ownership of its growth.

5. Key Performance Indicators (KPIs)

Performance will be evaluated against mutually agreed targets, including:

• Successful launch and establishment of the organization's Bangla vertical digital platform.
• Growth in digital reach, unique users, page views, and audience engagement.
• Growth in social media followers, video views, watch time, and podcast listenership.
• Development of a sustainable and high-performing editorial team.
• Quality, consistency, credibility, and differentiation of Bengali digital content.
• Achievement of agreed digital revenue and monetisation targets.
• Development of successful content formats and scalable digital media products

6. Ideal Candidate Profile

The ideal candidate will be a well-established Bengali media professional with a strong editorial track record, digital-first thinking, and entrepreneurial leadership capabilities. The candidate should be equally comfortable developing editorial strategy, appearing on camera or hosting programmes where required, building a team, driving audience growth, and collaborating with business teams to create a sustainable and monetisable digital media platform.

The position offers an opportunity to lead a new Bengali digital media initiative and build a distinctive brand in the West Bengal market.