Lead News Editor — Local & Digital

Forum Communications Company; Fergus Falls (MN); On-site; USD 54,000 - 66,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Health, dental, and vision packages

Paid maternity and parental leave

Company-paid short-term disability and

life insurance

Additional coverage options (critical/

hospital indemnity

Retirement benefits with company match

Generous PTO and volunteer hours

Job summary

The Fergus Falls Daily Journal, part of Forum Communications Company, seeks an editor to provide direction and leadership for the newsroom, guiding news gathering on both digital and print platforms while strengthening the paper's connection with Otter Tail County communities.

This role oversees editorial operations, manages staff, schedules, and deadlines, and builds audience engagement through innovative coverage. Expected compensation is $60,000 annually, commensurate with experience.

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in appropriate discipline with newsroom experience.
• Experience in a daily setting and/or supervisory capacity preferable.
• Strong decision-making skills.
• Strong verbal and written communication skills.
• Strong interpersonal skills.
• Ability to work well under deadlines.

Responsibilities

• Directing and managing local news gathering and editorial functions for the newsroom on all relevant publishing platforms.
• Editing and producing content for the Daily Journal and special publications.
• Covering local government and community news.
• Maintaining timely digital publishing workflows and ensuring print deadlines are consistently met.
• Establishing an agile and urgent news operation with workflows organized around timely, digital publishing.
• Conducting weekly newsroom meetings and maintaining effective newsroom communication.
• Building newsroom skills and performance expectations around the use of new and emerging digital tools; promoting the consistent use of alternative content formats and publishing tools that will help reach new audiences.
• Broadening and diversifying editorial contributions from local commentators, writers and thought leaders; evaluating and implementing opportunities for reporting partnerships with other local news, community or academic organizations.
• Being a player-coach with a hands-on leadership style, demonstrating strong journalism values, creativity and agility.
• Creating and maintaining a healthy workplace that values candid communication, clear expectations, respect, inclusion, innovation and urgency.
• Responsible for newsroom budget management and ensuring newsroom/content resources are allocated appropriately.
• Communicating weekly or as needed with FCC content teams and collaborating regularly on content projects with FCC state and regional teams.
• Communicating story/visual plans for the print edition to relevant production teams to ensure a high-quality publication that meets all deadlines.
• Other duties as assigned.

Skills

Strong decision-making

Strong verbal and written comm.

Strong interpersonal skills

Ability to work under deadlines

Education

Bachelor's degree in appropriate discipline

Job description

The Fergus Falls Daily Journal, part of Forum Communications Company, seeks an editor to provide direction and leadership for the newsroom, guiding news gathering on both digital and print platforms while strengthening the paper's connection with Otter Tail County communities.

This role oversees editorial operations, manages staff, schedules, and deadlines, and builds audience engagement through innovative coverage. Expected compensation is $60,000 annually, commensurate with experience.