Chief Editor, The New Guard

Young Americans for Freedom at the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign; Headquarters (KY); On-site; USD 80,000 - 120,000; Full time

Job summary

Young America’s Foundation (YAF) has an immediate opening for a chief editor of The New Guard. The New Guard EIC will work with YAF leadership to guide, edit, and oversee coverage of universities and K–12 institutions.

The role requires daily collaboration with program and communications teams and the National Journalism Center to ensure high-quality journalism that positions The New Guard as a top destination for young conservatives.

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree (or similar) in journalism, communications, or related field.
• Strong editorial judgment and experience editing news or investigative content.
• Familiarity with researching and developing underreported campus stories.
• Familiarity with open records requests and adjudication.
• Newswriting and editing experience with familiarity in AP style.
• Experience managing content workflows in WordPress or similar.
• Ability to mentor writers and manage multiple stories and deadlines.
• Experience with Adobe Illustrator/Photoshop and Premiere is a plus.
• Familiarity with media monitoring tools.
• Past involvement with YAF programs is a plus.
• Self-starter with strong organizational skills and attention to detail.
• Team player with excellent oral, written, organizational, and copyediting skills.
• Commitment to compliance with YAF policies and procedures as outlined in the YAF Staff Manual.

Responsibilities

• Oversee and edit daily stories exposing bias and attacks on free speech in education.
• Manage student and staff writers and contributors.
• Set editorial priorities and guide coverage to grow the reach and reputation of The New Guard and the Campus Bias Tipline.
• Edit, fact-check, and publish content on The New Guard and maintain the Campus Bias Tipline workflow.
• Work with reporters, students, and contributors to refine story pitches, structure investigations, and strengthen reporting.
• Draft and edit email content promoting New Guard stories for distribution to YAF’s key audiences.
• Assist with research projects, polling, surveys, and reports released to the media and shared on YAF social media platforms.
• Edit and contribute op-eds related to New Guard coverage.
• Train and advise students on media engagement and promoting YAF-related events on campus.
• Stay informed on campus trends, issues, and current events, particularly in the Conservative Movement.
• Edit other YAF publications and content as needed.
• Assist with YAF programs and events as needed.
• Other duties as assigned.

Skills

Editorial judgment

News editing

Open records familiarity

AP style

Mentoring writers

Organizational skills

Copyediting

WordPress experience

Education

Bachelor’s degree or equivalent

Tools

WordPress

Adobe Illustrator/Photoshop

Premiere

Job description

Young America’s Foundation (YAF) has an immediate opening for a chief editor of The New Guard. The New Guard EIC will work with YAF leadership to guide, edit, and oversee coverage of universities and K–12 institutions.

The role requires daily collaboration with program and communications teams and the National Journalism Center to ensure high-quality journalism that positions The New Guard as a top destination for young conservatives.