Deputy Managing Editor- News

The Post and Courier; Charleston (SC); On-site; USD 95,000 - 130,000; Full time

Job summary

The Post and Courier in Charleston, SC, is seeking a deputy managing editor to lead metro, business and public safety coverage. Based in Charleston, you will collaborate with journalists across South Carolina and shape an audience-first, platform-first news strategy.

This senior newsroom leader will oversee three news teams and enterprise reporters, coach editors, and develop coverage plans while balancing daily reporting with enterprise work.

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in Journalism, Communications or English preferred.
• At least 5 years of experience as an editor.
• Experience as a leader in digital news operations.
• Experience with developing and implementing content and audience strategies.
• Flexibility to adjust hours to monitor breaking news.

Responsibilities

• Oversee three news teams and editors, along with enterprise reporters.
• Coach and edit to develop reporter voices and reporting quality.
• Work with news editors to craft coverage strategies for daily and enterprise stories.
• Jump in on assignments when breaking news or major events occur.
• Partner with other deputy managing editors overseeing digital, planning, features and investigative teams.
• Drive coverage decisions and develop short- and mid-turn enterprise ideas.
• Foster an audience-first and platform-first newsroom culture and strategy.

Skills

Audience-first thinking

Platform-first mindset

Coaching & staff development

Digital news operations leadership

Analytics & data-driven reporting

Collaboration

Editorial planning

SEO & social media understanding

Rapid response coverage

Video strategy basics

Education

Bachelor's degree in Journalism, Communications or English

Tools

Marfeel analytics

Job description

The Post and Courier, South Carolina's statewide leader in award-winning news coverage, is seeking a deputy managing editor to lead efforts for metro news, business and public safety coverage.

The position is based in Charleston, a gem on the list of America's best places to live, and will have the opportunity to work with journalists across all our South Carolina newsrooms. Journalists who join us find opportunities in a Pulitzer Prize-winning environment to do some of the best work of their career, limited only by their ambition and determination.

This senior newsroom leader will oversee three news teams and their editors, along with enterprise reporters. The DME/News must help teams balance daily reporting with enterprise coverage, develop reporter voices through strong coaching and editing, work with news team editors to craft coverage strategies, and be willing to jump in on assignments when things get interesting — as they always do in the best newsrooms.

The DME/News will report to the executive editor and be expected to be a partner in driving coverage decisions and developing short- and mid-turn enterprise ideas. This position also works closely with other deputy managing editors overseeing our digital, planning, features and investigative teams.

You will be a strong candidate if you have a deep track record of leading digital news coverage and shaping a newsroom culture to think of an audience-first and platform-first strategy in news coverage. You should have experience in coaching a staff to develop a high degree of digital acumen, should be a strong collaborator and should have a competitive spirit with news coverage.

The Post and Courier is a privately owned company and values its relationship with readers, believing in the idea that investing in journalism will lead to more subscribers and a sustainable business. We began expanding across the state in 2020, seeking to fill a void in news deserts and areas where local news had dramatically shrunk.

We are a passionate and dedicated news organization and seek someone who shares the same passion and commitment to excellence as we do.

Requirements, Education Level and Experience:

• Bachelor's degree in Journalism, Communications or English preferred
• At least 5 years of experience as an editor
• Experience as a leader in digital news operations
• Experience with developing and implementing content and audience strategies
• Flexibility to adjust hours to monitor breaking news

Knowledge, Skills and Abilities:

• Deep familiarity with analytics tools (we currently use Marfeel for content analytics).
• High comfort level with coaching, training and leading our journalists.
• High comfort level working in a fast-paced, data-driven role.
• Eagerness to brainstorm and experiment with approaches to content creation and news coverage.
• Strong planning and organizational skills.
• A deep understanding of metrics, SEO strategy and social platforms.
• Self-direction.
• Ability to multi-task and excel under deadline pressure.
• Great collaboration skills.
• Deep familiarity with emerging best practices and smart ideas being tested across our industry.
• Experience with rapid response news coverage and enterprise reporting.
• Understanding of video strategies and tactics in digital and social platforms.