Managing Edioitr

National Association of Black Journalists (NABJ); Arkansas; On-site; USD 65,000 - 90,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Medical insurance

Dental insurance

Vision insurance

Parental leave

29 days PTO

Simple IRA with 3% company match

Life insurance

Job summary

Arkansas Today is seeking up to two experienced Managing Editors to help launch our new statewide newsroom. These senior newsroom managers will work closely with our Editor-in-Chief to develop an editorial strategy centered around accountability and investigative reporting in lesser-covered areas of the state. Location: Arkansas, United States.

Employment Type: Full time. The role includes leading budgets, supervising reporters across locations, editing coverage, coordinating with platform

Qualifications

• At least 2 years of newsroom management experience.
• Strong communication and leadership skills.
• Ability to manage multiple projects and deadlines.
• Experience with WordPress and analytics shaping reader engagement.

Responsibilities

• Set vision for new statewide newsroom with Editor-in-Chief.
• Develop and manage editorial budgets for operations and expansion.
• Lead editorial meetings and align coverage with mission.
• Supervise reporters across locations and coordinate investigations.
• Edit and review daily and explanatory coverage.
• Coordinate strategies with platform managers and distribution partners.
• Represent Arkansas Today in public events and community engagements.
• Help oversee hiring of newsroom roles with HR.
• Bridge staff and senior management with clear policy communication.
• Identify and implement engaged journalism tools and training.
• Coordinate internships and fellowships program oversight.

Job description

Arkansas Today is a nonprofit news organization founded upon the idea that every Arkansan is entitled to have their voice heard. Central to this is a focus on in-depth accountability and investigative journalism prioritizing historically undercovered geographic areas that have been swept up in the ever-increasing proliferation of news deserts. By partnering with existing media organizations — ranging from national outlets to hyper‑local websites — Arkansas Today seeks to elevate those voices that too often go unheard, and to address the systemic issues that have long gone unchallenged in the Natural State.

Position Summary

Arkansas Today is seeking up to two experienced Managing Editors to help launch our new statewide newsroom. These senior newsroom managers will work closely with our Editor-in-Chief to develop and oversee an editorial strategy centered around accountability and investigative reporting in lesser-covered areas of the state. Central to this role is the practice and promotion of engaged and solutions-oriented journalism, actively involving the community in our processes and ensuring that their voices are elevated in our work.

Location: Arkansas, United States

Employment Type: Full time

Editorial And Newsroom Management

• Work closely with the Editor-in-Chief to set the vision for our new newsroom.
• Develop and manage editorial budgets that support newsroom operations and expansion, with a special focus on identifying and developing beats focused on historically undercovered geographic regions and subject matter areas across Arkansas.
• Lead editorial meetings, setting the direction for coverage and ensuring alignment with Arkansas Today's mission.
• Supervise a team of reporters, working to scope investigations, develop reporting plans and set realistic timelines, while ensuring communication and alignment across newsroom locations.
• Edit and second-read daily, explanatory, and engagement-driven coverage, ranging from quick-turn accountability stories to multipart investigations.
• Coordinate editorial strategies with platform managers and advocate for a diverse range of views within our reporting.
• Implement a distribution mindset among leadership and staff, helping editors and reporters think strategically about possible publishing partners on the local and national level.
• Represent Arkansas Today in public speaking engagements, panels, and community events.
• Help oversee the hiring process for newsroom roles, from crafting job descriptions to conducting interviews, in collaboration with team editors and human resources.
• Act as a bridge between newsroom staff and senior management, policies are clearly communicated and understood.
• Embrace and implement emerging tools of engaged journalism to further the mission of Arkansas Today.
• Identify and coordinate in-house newsroom training for staff.
• Act as a point person for interns or fellows.
• Submit journalists’ stories for nomination to annual awards.

Community Engagement And Partnerships

• Collaborate with the Audience Team to develop newsletters, resources, guides, data projects and other innovations to ensure production and alignment with editorial goals and standards.
• Build community input into our reporting from the start, using reader tips, listening sessions, and source networks in undercovered regions to identify stories and encourage engagement.
• Champion public service and solutions journalism.
• Develop and maintain strong relationships with partner newsrooms across the state.

What You Will Get

• Highly competitive benefits package, including medical insurance and options for vision and dental insurance.
• 29 days paid time off.
• Up to 12 weeks of parental family leave, with return-to-work flexibility.
• Simple IRA with 3 percent company matching. Group-term life insurance provided to employees ($15,000 policy).
• Support for professional training and attending industry conferences.

Job Requirements

• At least 2 years of newsroom management experience
• Strong communication skills, both written and verbal
• Ability to manage multiple projects at once while meeting all deadlines
• Working knowledge of WordPress and an understanding of how analytics and distribution shape what readers engage with
• Excellent organizational and leadership skills, with strong attention to detail.

It’s a Plus If You Have

• A proven track record of editing accountability-focused and investigative stories
• Experience working across various forms of media, especially video and audio
• Experience working in both breaking-news and long-term news environments
• Familiarity with and/or reporting experience in geographic areas across Arkansas
• Experience with community engagement or audience programs in a newsroomExperience mentoring up-and-coming reporters

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