Crime/Breaking News Editor (AJC)

Company

Cox Enterprises

Job Family Group

Multi-platform Media

Job Profile

Manager, Editorial

Management Level

Manager - People Leader

Flexible Work Option

Hybrid - Ability to work remotely part of the week

Travel %

Yes, 5% of the time

Work Shift

Compensation

Compensation includes a base salary of $85,500.00 - $128,300.00. The base salary may vary within the anticipated base pay range based on factors such as the ultimate location of the position and the selected candidate's knowledge, skills, and abilities.

Position may be eligible for additional compensation that may include an incentive program.

Job Description

As the Atlanta Journal-Constitution (AJC) transforms from a storied newspaper into a modern media company with influence in Atlanta, Georgia, and all over the South, we seek an experienced editor to lead and help transform the newsroom's crime and breaking news teams.

The team consists of a talented group of journalists who range from a few years into their careers to veterans with decades of expertise on their beats.

The journalists in these key roles are dedicated to serving the AJC's audience with urgent, immediate breaking news coverage, thoughtful enterprise that tells the human stories behind crime stats and illuminating watchdog work that holds public officials accountable.

Experience covering courts, crime and breaking news is ideal as is experience managing teams that cover those topics. Familiarity with open records laws, legal search, media law and courtroom procedures are also ideal.

This editor should be able to offer sound and timely guidance when coverage involves sensitive topics, and should have the discernment to know when to involve the newsroom's senior leadership and / or lawyers.

The ideal candidate will be a proven leader who both loves the energy of breaking news and has a demonstrated knack for guiding reporters to break exclusive news and elevate quick-turn coverage into longer form enterprise and investigative work.

The breaking news and crime teams are tasked with being both urgent and immediate, thoughtful and strategic.

As the AJC expands and evolves to meet the growing appetite of an increasingly digital and mobile audience, this editor should be able to help reporting teams tell stories in a variety of innovative ways, including with audio and video.

This editor must champion diversity and have a demonstrated ability to ensure accurate, comprehensive coverage that reflects the community, with particular care given to ensuring historically underrepresented voices and communities are served.

The person in this full-time position will also lend guidance as needed to the weekend reporting team, led by a weekend editor, cops reporters and a rotating roster of weekend reporters.

This editor will play a key role in live coverage of major breaking crime or courts news, collaborating with leaders throughout the newsroom as news merits.

The ideal candidate is a prolific multitasker with sound news judgment and excellent editing / writing skills who can work independently in a fast-paced newsroom environment.

The AJC's mission is to be the most essential and engaging source of news and information for the people of Atlanta, of Georgia and the South.

To achieve that mission, we are investing and transforming our organization from a storied daily newspaper into a modern media company.

QUALIFICATIONS

• Bachelor's degree in a related field with 6+ years of progressive experience in media / journalism with at least 1 year of experience in a management or leadership role.
• May also have a master's degree with 4+ years of relevant experience, a Ph.D with 1+ years of relevant experience, or 10 years of related experience with no degree.

3 or more years of leadership experience is preferred.

• Demonstrated strong news judgment, sense of urgency, excellent editing ability and collaborative spirit.
• Demonstrated ability to lead teams to follow standards and execute large-scale breaking news.
• Reliable transportation and home Internet access.

Benefits

The Company offers eligible employees the flexibility to take as much vacation with pay as they deem consistent with their duties, the company's needs, and its obligations;

seven paid holidays throughout the calendar year; and up to 160 hours of paid wellness annually for their own wellness or that of family members.

Employees are also eligible for additional paid time off in the form of bereavement leave, time off to vote, jury duty leave, volunteer time off, military leave, parental leave, and COVID-19 vaccination leave.

About Us

As our primary divisions Cox Automotive and Cox Communications drive new waves of innovation, Cox Enterprises is entering spaces like cleantech, healthcare, esports and more.

We're a family business guided by a legacy of bold innovation that's driven by those who want to make their mark. Benefits of working at Cox may include health care insurance (medical, dental, vision), retirement planning (401(k)), and paid days off (sick leave, parental leave, flexible vacation / wellness days, and / or PTO).

For more details on what benefits you may be offered, visit our benefits page. Cox is an Equal Employment Opportunity employer - All qualified applicants / employees will receive consideration for employment without regard to that individual's age, race, color, religion or creed, national origin or ancestry, sex (including pregnancy), sexual orientation, gender, gender identity, physical or mental disability, veteran status, genetic information, ethnicity, citizenship, or any other characteristic protected by law.

Cox provides reasonable accommodations when requested by a qualified applicant or employee with disability, unless such accommodations would cause an undue hardship.