Managing Editor

First Amendment Watch; New York (NY); On-site; USD 47,000 - 57,000; Part time

Job summary

First Amendment Watch’s SLAPP Back Initiative seeks a part‑time managing editor to join our newsroom for 20 hours per week, funded by a grant and based on-site at NYU's Carter Journalism Institute in New York City.

The role requires strong data journalism and First Amendment expertise, excellent research and writing skills, and an entrepreneurial mindset to manage day-to-day operations, supervise staff, and lead fundraising efforts.

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in journalism, law, or communications (Master’s degree is a plus).
• 7–10 years of experience in journalism, preferably investigative or data journalism.
• Experience managing a small team.
• Familiarity with nonprofit financial structures and grants.

Responsibilities

• Manage daily operations and enforce deadlines for short-term projects and long-form investigations.
• Supervise two full-time reporters and two part-time researchers plus contractors.
• Prepare and file update reports to foundations and donors.
• Monitor budgets, invoices, and legal research subscriptions.
• Collaborate with university First Amendment clinics nationwide.
• Lead fundraising efforts and coordinate with NYU’s development office.

Skills

Data journalism

Investigative journalism

Team management

Fundraising

Research

Education

Bachelor’s degree in journalism or related field

Master's degree is a plus

Job description

The SLAPP Back Initiative, a project of First Amendment Watch, a nonprofit newsroom housed at the Arthur L. Carter Journalism Institute, is seeking a part-time managing editor to join our team for 20 hours per week .

The managing editor position is a part-time position with NYU employee benefits. It is a one-year grant-funded position with the possibility of an extension based on performance, need and additional funding. The job is based at the Carter Journalism Institute at 20 Cooper Square, New York, N.Y. , and is fully on-site.

Strong familiarity with data journalism and First Amendment issues is required, as are excellent research and writing skills, analytical ability, and an entrepreneurial mind-set.

Responsibilities of the position include:

• Manage the daily operations of The SLAPP Back Initiative, including workflow management by setting and enforcing deadlines for both short-term projects and long-form investigations.
• Supervise the work of two full-time reporters and two part-time researchers, plus other contractors and interns as needed.
• Write and file required update reports to various foundations and individual donors who provide the project withfinancial support.
• Navigate internal and external budgets as related to The SLAPP Back Initiative, including the tracking of contractor invoices and legal research subscriptions.
• Manage the Initiative’s collaboration with various First Amendment legal clinics at universities across the country.
• Spearhead fundraising efforts, including contacts with potential donors, writing fundraising proposals, and coordinating with NYU’s development office.

In compliance with NYC’s Pay Transparency Act, the annual base salary range for this position is $50/hr. New York University considers factors such as (but not limited to) the specific grant funding and the terms of the research grant when extending an offer.

The SLAPP Back Initiative, a project of First Amendment Watch, a nonprofit newsroom housed at the Arthur L. Carter Journalism Institute, is seeking a part-time managing editor to join our team for 20 hours per week .

The managing editor position is a part-time position with NYU employee benefits. It is a one-year grant-funded position with the possibility of an extension based on performance, need and additional funding. The job is based at the Carter Journalism Institute at 20 Cooper Square, New York, N.Y. , and is fully on-site.

Strong familiarity with data journalism and First Amendment issues is required, as are excellent research and writing skills, analytical ability, and an entrepreneurial mind-set.

Responsibilities of the position include:

• Manage the daily operations of The SLAPP Back Initiative, including workflow management by setting and enforcing deadlines for both short-term projects and long-form investigations.
• Supervise the work of two full-time reporters and two part-time researchers, plus other contractors and interns as needed.
• Write and file required update reports to various foundations and individual donors who provide the project withfinancial support.
• Navigate internal and external budgets as related to The SLAPP Back Initiative, including the tracking of contractor invoices and legal research subscriptions.
• Manage the Initiative’s collaboration with various First Amendment legal clinics at universities across the country.
• Spearhead fundraising efforts, including contacts with potential donors, writing fundraising proposals, and coordinating with NYU’s development office.

In compliance with NYC’s Pay Transparency Act, the annual base salary range for this position is $50/hr. New York University considers factors such as (but not limited to) the specific grant funding and the terms of the research grant when extending an offer.

Qualifications

• A Bachelor’s degree in journalism, law, communications or another relevant field. A master's degree is a plus.
• At least 7-10 years of experience in journalism, preferably in investigative and/or data journalism in order to properly support the project.
• Experience managing a small team.
• Familiarity with nonprofit financial structures and how to navigate foundational grants and financial deliverables.