Statewatch Editor

The Salt Lake Tribune•Salt Lake City, UT

3d•$80,000 - $90,000•Hybrid

About The Position

The Salt Lake Tribune is seeking a collaborative and community-driven editor to lead its political coverage in Utah. This role is crucial for a nonprofit newsroom committed to public-service journalism that helps Utahns understand how government, public policy, and those in power shape their lives and communities. The editor will lead a talented team of reporters in covering the consequential changes occurring in Utah, a fast-growing state facing significant demographic, economic, and political shifts. The position emphasizes rigorous accountability, public service, and understanding the lived experiences of Utahns across the state. The editor will champion audience-first framing, lead listening efforts to answer Utahns' questions, direct watchdog and enterprise reporting, innovate alternative and visual formats, oversee team editorial operations, and lead, edit, and develop the reporting team.

Requirements

At least three years of editing and/or management experience
Demonstrated track record editing high-impact watchdog, government, or enterprise journalism.
Strong understanding of public records laws and investigative reporting techniques.
Sharp news judgment that prioritizes public utility and community impact over political theater.
Experience with using audience listening strategies and working with data visualization and digital storytelling.
Ability to guide reporters through breaking news and complex stories.
Commitment to collaborative coaching, ethical independence, and the mission of nonprofit local news.

Responsibilities

Champion Audience-First Framing: Enforce a standard framing process for every pitch by answering who each story is for, why they would care now and how people are affected.
Lead Listening Efforts and Answer Utahns’ Questions: Pay attention to the questions and conversations happening across Utah in communities, on social platforms, in story comments and through direct engagement with readers. Lead the team in producing reader-driven stories that directly answer public questions with full reporting transparency.
Direct Watchdog and Enterprise Reporting: Partner early with our accountability editor and audience strategists to identify ambitious enterprise and accountability stories. Lead the team in examining how public institutions operate, how taxpayer dollars are spent and how decisions made by those in power affect communities across the state.
Innovate Alternative and Visual Formats: Look beyond traditional story formats and help reporters determine the best way to tell each story and reach its intended audiences. Collaborate across the newsroom on video, data, maps, graphics, interactives and other approaches that make complex subjects accessible and engaging.
Oversee Team Editorial Operations: Use audience data and news judgment to inform coverage decisions, establish tracking alerts for major state issues and manage team workflow during high-interest news cycles. Balance urgency and ambition with thoughtful planning and sustainable workloads.
Lead, Edit and Develop the Team: Set coverage priorities, edit daily and enterprise journalism, coach reporters and provide clear and constructive feedback. Build a collaborative team culture that encourages ambitious work, experimentation and professional growth.