Local Editor

Job description

The Post and Courier, South Carolina's statewide leader in award-winning news coverage, is looking for a digitally minded, energetic local editor who can oversee our Columbia newsroom.

We are looking for a journalist who will embrace a start-up mentality in leading our largest newsroom outside of Charleston.

In this highly competitive market, we need an editor with the relentless drive, innovative spirit and single-minded determination to make The Post and Courier Columbia into the most vital news outlet in South Carolina's capital city.

The local editor will be a direct report to the Publisher in Columbia.

The editor must work in close partnership and direct alignment with the Publisher to execute the overall strategic vision for the Columbia operation, with a special focus on increasing our local brand awareness and building strong community relationships.

There will also be a dotted line relationship to the managing editor for statewide newsrooms, working alongside him to set the editorial direction and strategies for the newsroom.

This editor must be a self-starter who can lead a team of local journalists, including the editor of the Free Times, and work with others across the state to deliver stories that matter to our readers.

In addition to coverage of significant daily news, the team should be pursuing investigative stories, deeply reported enterprise pieces and strong accountability journalism concentrating on both quick-turn and long-form efforts.

The Columbia editor needs to be a strong coach and inspiring leader who is adept at spotting rich opportunities for coverage, can help reporters mold issues or trends into high-impact, relatable journalism, and is skilled at editing complex, sensitive stories.

At The Post and Courier, you will join a Pulitzer Prize-winning culture where distinguished journalism is valued and expected and where journalists have the opportunity to pursue the best work of their careers, limited only by their ambition and determination.

The Post and Courier is a privately held newspaper that values its relationship with readers, believing in the idea that investing in journalism will lead to more readers and a sustainable business.

We have built newsrooms throughout the state, seeking to fill a void in news deserts or areas where local news coverage has dramatically shrunk.

RESPONSIBILITIES

• Work comfortably under deadline pressure, be a strong coach, be a strong planner, embrace a digital-first mindset and work with a collaborative spirit.
• Guide seasoned reporters and coach younger reporters, and in all cases help elevate the level of journalism produced from our Columbia market.
• Drive digital subscriptions off of high quality journalism.
• Work with the audience team to execute digital-first strategies based on story-optimization, alternative storytelling formats, video creation, social engagement and more.
• Be an ambassador for The Post and Courier Columbia within the community, attending various events, developing relationships with key people, and creating an open-door atmosphere where readers feel welcome and encouraged to reach out to you.

QUALIFICATIONS

Requirements, minimum education level, and experience:

• Bachelor's degree in Journalism or another field if you have journalism experience
• At least 5 years of newsroom experience, including as a manager
• A track record of producing exemplary journalism as a reporter and/or editor
• Strong communication and interpersonal skills associated with developing trusting relationships, being an effective coach and maintaining confidentiality as needed
• Strong organizational and prioritization skills with excellent follow through
• Accomplished leader with clear managing and editing skills.
• Ability to ensure writing and reporting of the highest quality.

Knowledge, Skills and Abilities:

• Digital skills: Lead a digital-focused news operation, with a strong grasp of SEO, social media, video, app and other related strategies
• Accuracy and ethics: Produce work that is accurate and fair.
  
  Understands libel and privacy issues.
• Communication: Work well with editors and reporters across disciplines.
  
  Discuss original and assigned story ideas.
  
  Participate in brainstorming sessions to develop detailed and realistic story ideas.
• Organizational skills: Develop a systematic approach to managing a team.
  
  Understand how to set individual and small team goals to drive overall performance.
• Professional development: Seek out and participate in training opportunities to improve skills.
• Flexibility: React to change productively and handle other duties as assigned.

Physical Requirements, Work Environment and Travel:

• Regularly required to sit for long periods of time; close eye work on computer screen; required to stand, walk, reach with hands and arms, bend and stoop; light to moderate lifting 15-30 pounds.
• The worker is frequently subject to inside environmental conditions, which provide protection from weather conditions but not necessarily from temperature changes, and is sometimes subject to adverse outside environmental conditions.
• Local travel is required.
• The Post and Courier is an equal opportunity, drug-free workplace.
• Please include a cover letter, resume, list of references and work samples with your application.

Required Skill Profession

Media And Communication Workers