Managing Editor (Eugene)

Lookout Local • Eugene, OR

14d • Onsite

About The Position

The Managing Editor applies the Lookout Local journalism model. The ideal candidate will demonstrate well-experienced news judgment, excellent story ideation and line editing skills and most of all be committed to creating a great seven-day-a-week news report. The Managing Editor helps our team of journalists produce excellence every day, throughout the day, serving readers’ evolving needs with a wide range of meaningful and local/personal journalism, responsive to our diverse communities’ changing needs. The Managing Editor must be comfortable and enthusiastic about the wide range of content we will deliver, from investigative and accountability work to best-in-class beat stories, breaking news and service journalism that answers readers’ questions. We focus on impactful stories and, while being a primary news source, keep our readers briefly updated on step-by-step governmental proceedings and other actions. We are high on explanatory, connect-the-dots reporting and pointed knowing writing. Whether in 500 or 2,500 words, we tell the readers what we know, well-sourced and well-told. We fit the formats to the content, using Q&As and Ask Lookouts, and other emerging formats – including video – in addition to narrative journalism. We need a Managing Editor with extensive story-editing experience and a track record of leading teams of journalists. The ideal candidate brings deep knowledge of the Eugene-Springfield area, Oregon and/or the Pacific Northwest.

Requirements

• At least seven years of journalism experience, and at least three as a newsroom manager.
• Rock-solid journalism judgment, intuition and taste.
• Demonstrated experience, with references to match, on story editing, news publication and deadline experience as well as proven ability to edit with painstaking clarity, providing readers with the context they need.
• Adept at using Newspack or modern content management systems and tools.
• Desire to work in an entrepreneurial, fast-growth startup environment, embracing the agility and flexibility required to thrive within a new business.
• Experience and comfort with the pace of digital-first journalism, and the digital technologies that power it.
• Ability to engage diverse local communities in Lookout’s work.
• Ability to think through visuals that will aid storytelling and work with colleagues to activate them.
• Demonstrated adaptability, especially with new topical coverage areas and communities.
• Comfort learning new technology and experience working in content management systems, producing, editing and dressing stories with related media (photos, videos, etc).
• Comfort with the format of Lookout’s correspondent-focused model, and the personality it brings to the work.

Nice To Haves

• Deep knowledge of the Eugene-Springfield area, Oregon and/or the Pacific Northwest.
• Bilingual abilities, data, and audio/video.

Responsibilities

• Working with the Executive Editor, the Managing Editor will help direct the daily newsroom, working with correspondents in planning, reporting, sourcing and first-line editing.
• The managing editor will ensure we are producing high-quality, trustworthy, non-partisan stories and community information, working with Lookout colleagues on multiple evolving products to distribute that content.
• Help lead Lookout’s overall community engagement work, working with both correspondents and the wider Lookout team.
• Look for ways, in digital and in person, to gain reader insights and feedback.
• Represent Lookout Eugene-Springfield at community events, strengthening its role as a trusted local institution.
• Ensure content meets the highest journalistic standards of fairness, accuracy, and clarity, delivered with trustworthiness and lack of partisanship.
• Apply the full toolbox of modern digital creation and distribution tools, working closely with colleagues, especially in audience analysis.

Benefits

• Competitive salary and performance-based incentives.
• Highly competitive medical, dental, and optical benefits.
• 401(k) with matching.
• Good PTO allowances.
• Stock options in our growing company.
• An opportunity to make a significant impact on and contribute to the revival of local journalism.
• A collaborative and mission-driven work environment.

What This Job Offers

• Job Type: Full-time
• Career Level: Manager
• Education Level: No Education Listed