Freelance Front Range Jobs (NOW HIRING)

The Stockton Record/recordnet.com, part of theUSA TODAY Co., seeks an ambitious news leader to run oneofthe Central Valley’s most storiedprint and digitalmastheads and coach its dedicated staff. 

You’llbe physically based in Stockton – and ifyou’rethe right candidate,that’sthe only wayyou’dhave it. Stockton is home to some320,000 peopleand is among America’s most diverse cities – full of vibrant culture, a global smorgasbord of food options and an endless supply ofgreat stories. Its local government and public schoolsremainmired in controversy and allegations of corruption.A politicaloperator runs a large-scale local influence networkposing asnews.Local journalists herehave torely on tough skin and fierce determination.There are few places where the need for professional journalismis greater. 

In short, somebody could win the Pulitzer covering Stockton. It might be you and your team. 

As the top local editor,you’llprioritize coaching and developing journalists as they balance daily enterprise with lighter, audience-serving coverage of food,businessand things to do.You’llknow how to help others bring context and clarity to their work. 

You’llfearlessly defendand advance the newsroom’s work andprioritize timeout in the communityrepresentingthe newspaper.Youwill drive breaking news online and havea laser focus on growingdigitalaudience through engaging content and effective use of social media, SEO, and other tactics. 

The job requires a mentor who can help reporters improve their newsgathering and writing skills, cultivate deep sourcing and take on ever-more sophisticated work.But you also have to be able to jump in and do the work – helping thenewsroom create relevant coverage that not only increasesitsreach but also drives loyalty and encourages more readers to subscribe. 

The job requires a problem solver who is well-organized, can workindependentlyandexercisessolid news judgment. Collaboration and teamwork skills area must; this local editor will work closely with an audience team tomaintaina consistent flow of quality stories, visuals and other content, enforcedeadlinesandidentifyopportunities. 

Dedication to transparency and accountability is key, as well as an eye for meaningful enterprise and watchdog stories with a focus on solutions. 

Local editors are part of a teaminGannett’s Center for Community Journalism, a nationwide leadership,editingand planning structure supporting small and mid-sized newsrooms. They may work across multiple newsrooms and even across state lines, so curiosity and commitment to remote teams and other communities is essential. The CCJ is designed to prioritize what matters most to local communities – even those thatdon’thave an on-site local editor. 

The local editor reports to a group editor and supervises frontline journalists within the wider context of the CCJ.  

Responsibilities: 

• Boots on the ground editing for local newsrooms. 
• Primary assigning, story vetting, line editing. Managingworkflowto meet deadlines. 
• Coaching and directly supervising front-line journalists, including regular 1:1s. 
• Ensuring steady productivity around high value topics and adjusting as needed. 
• Prioritizing DEI values in storyselection,sourcingand hiring. 
• Being the local face of the news organization for thecommunity wherebased and ensuring local engagement by frontline journalists in others. 
• Helping the staff hone skills in a wide range of storytelling: from real-time digital updates to narrative storytelling, employing alternative story forms and multimedia. 
• Using metrics and analytics todeterminehow to best reach and grow the audience. 
• Increasing digitalaudience andengagement and growing digital subscriptions. 
• Assuring daily work is completed on time and efficiently, setting priorities and coordinating with colleagues. 
• Receiving assignments in the form ofobjectivesto meet goals; administering company policies that directly affect team members. 
• Assigning and editing articles for context, completeness, fairness, accuracy, balance, and adherence to news values. Demonstrating strong news judgment in theselection,prioritizationand editing of content.
• Writing effective digital headlines, social media posts,briefsand breaking news alerts that help attract audiences. 
• Market leader duties such as office/building administration, compliance and customer service that require hands-on engagement at the local level (with Market Leader Administrators). 
• Leading or coordinating coverage when local news attracts a national audience (with Group Editor, Producer/Planners, others). 
• Cultivating a recruitment pipeline and screening, conducting first interviews for frontline journalists (with Group Editor, News and Talent Team, Recruiters). 
• Reviewing andoptimizingbeat and topic assignments within local newsrooms (with Group Editor). 
• Manage freelancers (with OperationsAssistants). 

Requirements:  

• Bachelor's or master’sdegree in journalism or related field or an equivalent combination of education and experience. 
• 3-5 years of relevant work experience. Management/supervisory experience. 
• Provenproficiencyin applying analytics to content strategy. 
• Strong communicationand collaboration skills. 
• Exposure todeadline-driven environment. 
• Exceptional planning and organizational skills. 
• SEO knowledge. 
• Self-motivation and self-direction. 
• Strong line-editing skills. 
• Strongpeople-managementskills. 
• Strong problem-solving skills. 
• Creativity and out-of-the-box thinking. 
• Candidates should have facility with AI and automation and experience in using it to enhance their journalism. 

Application Instructions

We are eager to learn more about you and how you fit this role. When you apply, don’t limit your upload to a resume; show us what you’ve done. To do so, put together a single document file that includes the following, in this order: 

1. Your resume – one to two pages.
2. A cover letter that outlines how you would approach the job. 

It is important that these items be assembled into a single document and uploaded in PDF format. Completing these steps will ensure that your application receives the highest consideration. 

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