Fresnoland is hiring a new lead editor. Is it you?
Minimum salary: $84,000 per year
Location: Fresno, California
Fresnoland is looking for the next great editor to turn great story ideas into powerful, impactful, and rigorous journalism that holds power to account and brings our community into the conversation.
Are you a proactive, strong communicator who loves working with writers? Are you a tactical editor who can work with reporters to translate scoops, trends, and story ideas into impactful stories? Do you have a passion for getting to the heart of power and inequality in Fresno and the central San Joaquin Valley? If so, Fresnoland wants to work with you.
Fresnoland is a small but growing nonprofit news organization passionate about making policy public, investigating systems, not symptoms – and building a sense of community along the way.
Fresnoland’s editor will manage a team of 3-5 reporters and freelancers, helping to assign, shape, and edit stories that instigate justice, contextualize conflict, and encourage civic participation in local government. Our reporters cover everything from housing, to air quality, to transportation, water, labor and economic issues.
The ideal candidate is well-read, has sharp judgment, experience writing and editing enterprise and accountability journalism, and is proactive in finding creative ways to tell stories that engage the diversity of people and communities of the central San Joaquin Valley.
They will also hold impeccable attention to detail, with high standards for accuracy and fairness – and be a clear and direct communicator. Interest in urban and rural policy issues is essential (aka, you enjoy keeping up with local government agendas, and follow experts on the beats we cover.)
Working in a small newsroom, the ideal candidate will need to be comfortable playing many roles in the newsroom outside of editing stories, from identifying ways to tell stories in creative ways off-platform, to managing the editorial calendar, to working with the Fresnoland team to evolve and grow the organization’s editorial strategy.
The editor will report to our executive director/managing editor.
Responsibilities
- Working with a team of beat reporters to take scoops, trends, and story ideas and shape them into impactful and useful journalism.
- Managing the daily and weekly workflow of Fresnoland’s original reporting products and keeping the team on deadline.
- Working with Fresnoland’s newsletter writer to curate and edit a strong, conversational and explanatory newsletter.
- Working with freelancers and other news partners to bring in visual storytelling, data analysis, investigative and legal support, and audience engagement opportunities to augment and elevate reporting to the diversity of people and communities in the region.
- Identify opportunities for Fresnoland to create new reporting products that help our original journalism reach and engage young, working class, and diverse audiences.
- Staying connected and aware of breaking stories, local government decisions, and other regional trends that may shape the stories Fresnoland takes on.
Relevant skills
- At least 5 years of experience working in a newsroom, with at least two years of editing experience
- Experience working on investigative projects
- Ability to work with people from diverse backgrounds and perspectives
- Commitment to Fresnoland values around equity, inclusion, and fairness
- Experience working with content management systems; Wordpress is a plus
- Comfort with Twitter, Instagram, and SEO optimization
- Experience managing a story budget; AirTable is a plus
Benefits
Fresnoland offers a generous benefits package, including 20 days of paid vacation, 10 sick days, 15 paid holidays, remote work and professional development stipends, full employer contribution to health benefits, and a 401k employer match.
How to apply
To apply, fill out the AirTable form here. We will be accepting applications through Monday, April 24.
We’ll reach back out to our first round of prospective candidates in late April to schedule a paid edit test. We’ll then conduct interviews in early May, and hope to make an offer by the end of May.
Any questions about the position? Contact Danielle at danielle@fresnoland.org.
We encourage people who identify with traditionally underrepresented communities to apply, including people of color, immigrants, LGBTQ+ people, and people with disabilities.