Deputy Managing Editor

Job Description

Job Description

The Gazette in Cedar Rapids, Iowa, is seeking an energetic and experienced deputy managing editor to fill a key leadership role in our news operation. This editor works with reporters every day and helps supervise and coach them to produce their best work, while also working to refining the operation and journalistic practices as needed. Our ideal candidate has a history of impactful work, running teams of reporters and finding ways to deliver the most impactful overall news products as possible. You think on digital and print platforms, are audience-focused and have impeccable journalistic ethics and news judgment.

This editor must be a collaborative and a supportive colleague who can help get the best out of everyone they work with. You should make strong decisions and always be thinking of options in a fast-changing news environment. You’ll be thinking about creating the best possible presentations of photos, text and other elements. You’ll edit locally produced stories, help build daily digital and print editions. You will be comfortable jumping between tasks, and also pushing reporters to think big.

The deputy managing editor helps coach, plan and execute publication of news products on print and digital platforms. You’ll work across news beats (government, environment, investigative, features and more) and should be curious and keep tabs on what’s happening across the region. You’ll keep calm and collected under pressure. The role works in close collaboration with the managing editor and other section editors and oversees a portion of the reporting staff. This role requires writing, planning, assigning and editing content and assisting with special projects as needed. This role contributes reporting on stories on as-needed basis. This role has a strong understanding of storytelling – traditional or alternative story forms and audio / visual and newsletters for print and digital platforms.

Our ideal candidate takes a step back and thinks about context and the bigger picture, but also thinks about daily reporting and how to share iterative. You’ll think logically about story organization and context, help explain processes and ask detailed questions along the way. You’ll strive to put the audience first, will help coach transparency and journalism of the highest caliber. You’ll value open records and data-driven reporting and helping reporters make and manage their requests for such information, even in routine stories. You believe in being transparent, are a clear communicator, are comfortable explaining journalistic practices and enjoy trying to lead in a dynamic and rapidly changing news environment. You’ll help guide policy and help coach journalists to the highest journalistic standards, build newsroom training programs and help hold the staff accountable to delivering their best possible work.

Our organization :

Our news operation is a quality-driven newsroom that combines digital and print for The Gazette, TheGazette.com as well as several niche and community journalism digital sites. Located in Cedar Rapids, our team produces three print newspapers each week and digital editions seven days per week. Employees are expected to work from the office three days per week, with two days per week currently designated as work from home. Our company has a strong tradition of being independent and is employee owned. The majority of our news team is focused on enterprise reporting, and we have a strong spirit of collaboration with other news agencies. While we’re focused in Cedar Rapids Iowa’s second-largest city – we have reporters in Des Moines and Iowa City, home to the University of Iowa. The region is rich with things to do outside of work hours. This position is salaried, full-time employment position and includes health, dental and vision insurance as well as a complete suite of employee benefits including a 401K and additional employee stock ownership and vesting program (ESOP).

Job Skills & Attributes : Excellent editing, coaching / leadership and writing skills. Attentive to detail, well-organized and able to develop and execute content plans. Must be able to distill complex topics into easy-to-understand works and able to help others build their skills for doing so. Good communication and relationship-building skills are important while also understanding elements important to local communities. Basic understanding of digital analytics and desire to understand audiences. Ideal candidate is able to make decisions and demonstrate sound news judgment. Ability to thrive in fast-paced, deadline-oriented environment. Confident decision-maker. Strong digital mindset. Works well with others and is attentive, with follow-up with staff, sources and customers.

Minimum Requirements & qualifications : Preferred – undergraduate degree in journalism, English, communications or related course of study. Must have valid driver’s license and history of safe driving habits. Candidate must be highly organized, a confident decision-maker and committed to ongoing improvement and coaching. Juggling multiple deadlines simultaneously should be expected, and you should be comfortable working in a fast-paced environment. Ideal candidate will possess basic video and photography skills and always has a desire to learn new things. Approximately six to 10 years’ work experience in editing, coaching and publication production.  Candidate must successfully complete a pre-employment drug screen.

The hiring process will include a screening interview, interviews with colleagues and reporters as well as a site visit. You should be prepared to demonstrate your experience and skills throughout the process.

Employees at The Gazette receive competitive benefits including health, dental, 401k match and a comprehensive wellness program. 100% Employee owned.

EOE. Pre-employment background check, MVR and drug screen required.