Associate Editor

Society of Professional Journalists; Oregon (IL); On-site; USD 44,000 - 48,000; Full time

Job summary

A nonprofit organization is seeking an Associate Editor to oversee community news coverage, manage editorial vision, and collaborate with a dedicated team. The role includes editing, reporting, and engaging with the community to ensure diverse voices are heard. This position offers the chance to contribute to meaningful journalism in a beautiful setting.

Benefits

Paid Holidays

Vacation (2 to 4 weeks, DOE)

Sick Leave

Health Insurance Stipend

Qualifications

• Minimum 2 years of journalism experience with proven writing ability.
• Familiarity with AP style and digital platforms for audience engagement.
• Ability to manage story budgets and collaborate with team members.

Responsibilities

• Shape editorial vision and manage story budget.
• Review news copy for accuracy and fairness.
• Act as public face of the newsroom and interface with the community.

Skills

Written Skills

Verbal Skills

Interpersonal Skills

Time Management

Social Media Skills

Education

Degree in Journalism

Degree in Communications

Tools

WordPress

MailChimp

Photoshop

Excel

Word

Acrobat

Job description

Ashland.news Job Description: Associate Editor

Who you’ll work for: Ashland.news is the local community news source for Ashland, Oregon, collecting, curating and distributing a wide range of local news informing the civic, economic and cultural life of residents of the 97520 (Ashland) and 97540 (Talent) zip code areas, a population of roughly 35,000 people in an area of approximately 565 square miles.

Ashland.news is a nonprofit organization governed by a board of directors guided by a mission statement: Ashland.news provides sustainable, independent journalism that informs, connects, and engages the community with accurate, trustworthy news, fostering civic dialogue and cultural engagement.

Launched Jan. 14, 2022, to fill a news vacuum left by the closure of some legacy, for-profit news operations and the withering away of others, in three years Ashland.news has grown to a staff of six employees totaling 3.6 FTES (of which five, 3.2 FTEs, are in the newsroom) serving an ever-growing audience through operation of its website, Ashland.news, a three-times-a-week emailed newsletter, quarterly community engagement events and periodic special print editions mailed to all area addresses.

As of March 2025, Ashland.news averaged (over prior year) 57,000 monthly active users and 153,000 monthly page views; and more than 5,200 e-newsletter subscribers as of March 2025, with a 71% open rate and 25% click rate. Ashland.news is also active on social media: Facebook, X, BlueSky, Instagram and NextDoor. A recent market survey put Ashland.news fourth in the Rogue Valley market in internet traffic, behind two area TV stations and narrowly trailing the Medford legacy news operation.

What you’ll do: The associate editor position combines work traditionally associated with that of a city editor or arts & events editor (article assigning, management and editing); copy editor (posting online); newsletter editor (producing the thrice-weekly e-news); and managing editor (coordinating a wide range of article sources, from paid staff to paid freelancers to community contributors).

Coverage areas requiring oversight include the full gamut of community news, including city hall, public safety, education, environment, business, labor, health, nonprofits, sports, and arts & events.

Ashland.news also has a special project called Unheard Voices, intended to correct the historic under coverage by legacy newspapers of people of color, LGBTQ+ individuals and those of limited economic resources by proactively telling stories that would otherwise go unheard.

The associate editor, as with all staff members, must be prepared to do reporting and photography from time to time as needed.

Responsibilities will include:

— With other team members, shape the editorial vision for the newsroom.

— Help manage the story budget and help staff reporters and freelancers develop story ideas.

— Work with reporters through all phases of story development from identification through polishing copy, gathering art, layout and publication.

— Review news copy for accuracy, thoroughness, fairness and proper English. Produce finished work that meets all tests of prevailing laws of libel and rights of privacy.

— Curate and edit submissions from the community.

— Post stories to website daily and plan story budget for tri-weekly e-newsletter.

— Act as a public face of the newsroom and interface with the community — readers, stakeholders, donors and founders — responding to story tips and providing feedback.

What skills you’ll need: Besides strong written and verbal skills and thorough expertise in AP style, the associate editor must have excellent interpersonal relationship and management expertise, including story budgeting and planning. Familiarity with standard computer environments required, including iOS and Windows, plus Word, Acrobat, Excel and Photoshop, in addition to WordPress and MailChimp. Photographic skills required, video and audio skills a plus.

A degree in Journalism, Communications or related field is a plus, or commensurate experience.

A minimum of 2 years of journalism experience with a proven ability for clear, engaging writing, fresh story framing and diverse sourcing.

Excellent time management skills with ability to work under tight deadlines when needed.

Skill at using social media and digital platforms to drive traffic and engage readers, including experience with search engine optimization practices

Ability to take photos, video and audio on assignment as needed.

We encourage those with diverse experiences and backgrounds to apply. Proficiency in Spanish a plus.

Who you’ll work with: The associate editor will work with an executive editor, two full-time reporters, a part-time web editor, part-time copy editor, and volunteer photographer and copy editor, plus assist in managing a staff of 12-plus paid freelancers and a number of columnists and community contributors.

The associate editor will also participate in board committee meetings as needed. The associate editor will be among those on staff serving as a supervisor and mentor to interns.

When you’ll work: The position is full time. Standard business hours are the starting point, with evening and weekend work common as news coverage dictates.

Where you’ll work: Ashland.news has an office in downtown Ashland where it is expected a significant share of work will be performed to facilitate communications with other staff members, supplemented by remote work as circumstances allow.

Why do this work: Ashland is located in an area of spectacular natural beauty, its abundant natural resources serving as a verdant setting for a variety of outdoor recreation, prize-winning wineries and a host of cultural opportunities far exceeding that to be expected in a small-town setting, including Ashland’s world-renowned Oregon Shakespeare Festival, just one of a number of theater organizations in the area. Ashland is also home to Southern Oregon University, a liberal arts college renowned for its environmental and social responsibility. The work you’ll do here providing a needed service for an appreciative community will prove all the more rewarding as it will be done in service to the nonprofit’s mission, not beholden to profit-loss targets. You’ll work with a talented, committed team of journalists whose success is measured by the value they deliver to readers, not owners.

What you’ll earn: $44-48K per year. Paid holidays, vacation (2 to 4 weeks, DOE), sick leave and a health insurance stipend are included.

How to apply: Email cover letter, resume and links to (or attach) three to six examples of work you have edited to [e-mail] by May 23. Please include the job title in the subject line. Applications will be reviewed as they come in; best to send early.