San Francisco Public Press Seeks Managing Editor

The San Francisco Public Press is a nonprofit news organization that provides independent analysis of government and other powerful interests through in-depth investigative reports published online and in a quarterly print edition. We cover politics, housing, education, environment, labor, economics, immigration, health, public safety and a range of other topics. We also produce podcasts and terrestrial radio broadcasts via a new independent radio station, KSFP, on 102.5 FM in San Francisco.

We are seeking an experienced editor to lead a team of staff and freelance reporters in producing cutting-edge journalism about important local public policy issues. The full-time editor will oversee production of news on the web and in the print edition, as well as collaborate closely with journalists in the audio department.

The Public Press is a small newsroom known for punching above its weight, seeking out ambitious, exclusive stories with high social impact. We aim to compete with the most established, respected news organizations by providing our community with important stories they can’t read anywhere else.

WE’RE SEEKING AN EDITOR WHO:

  • Shoots for the stars without missing deadlines — and inspires that culture.
  • Has a vision about where our coverage should go, and how to get there.
  • Demonstrates stellar journalistic principles and news judgment.
  • Can conceptualize and execute complex, high-impact investigative and accountability stories.
  • Knows how to guide teams to acquire, organize and analyze data sets to tell complicated public policy stories, and translate that information into compelling infographics.
  • Is comfortable as the leader in a small-team environment, where frequent and clear communication is necessary.
  • Is comfortable with digital project management tools like Slack, Airtable and cloud-storage platforms in order to facilitate multitasking and team coordination.
  • Can confidently explain the journalism we do and our methodology to the public.

DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES:

  • Recruit, train, manage and edit a corps of freelance and staff journalists, including writers, photographers, data analysts and designers.
  • Work with the print and web teams to plan daily news stories and the quarterly newspaper.
  • Plan long-term investigative projects up to 9 months ahead of publication.
  • Run weekly editorial planning meetings.
  • Provide feedback and story ideas to the radio team, and strategize on best ways to publish this work.
  • Promote the journalism post-publication through social media, live events and broadcast appearances.

EXPERIENCE & KNOWLEDGE REQUIRED:

  • Seven or more years of professional experience in editing news publications.
  • Newsroom management experience.
  • Investigative reporting skills including computer-assisted reporting, data analysis, and document hunting.
  • Mastery of Associated Press style and line editing techniques.
  • Familiarity with print and web design principles.
  • Ability to work remotely and in person in San Francisco with staff and volunteers.
  • Deep understanding of San Francisco history, politics, economics, environment and culture.

OUR DREAM CANDIDATE POSSESSES:

  • A history of leading award-winning investigative reporting teams.
  • A bachelors or masters degree in journalism.
  • Contacts with other journalists in the area who can contribute to our work.
  • Facility with (or willing to learn) web tools such as WordPress, CSS, HTML and Javascript; print design tools including InDesign, InCopy, Photoshop and Illustrator.
  • Experience in audio journalism production.

PAY & BENEFITS:

This is a full-time employment position that includes health insurance and a flexible spending account. Compensation commensurate with experience, in the market range for comparable positions in nonprofit local independent news. Some telecommuting is OK.

WHAT WE NEED FROM YOU:

  • Resume, including your e-mail address and phone number.
  • A thoughtful cover letter about what you’d bring to the Public Press. We want to hear your ideas for taking the newsroom to the next level.
  • Five to eight of your best clips, including a mix of your own bylined stories and those you edited.
  • Three professional references.

 

Please submit all materials to:

  • ATTN: Michael Stoll, Executive Director
  • San Francisco Public Press
  • 44 Page St., Suite 504
  • San Francisco, CA 94102

OR

jobs <at> sfpublicpress <dot> org

 

The Public Press encourages and actively recruits applicants representing a broad diversity of backgrounds including but not limited to age, national origin, ethnicity, race, religion, ability, sexual orientation, gender or political affiliation.

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