(C) Poynter Institute
This story was originally published by Poynter Institute and is unaltered.
. . . . . . . . . .



The Independent Editor/Local Issues Reporter in Livermore, CA [1]

[]

Date: 2022-09

Editor/Local Issues Reporter

The Independent

Livermore, California

We are looking for the person to fill the senior newsroom position for our 58-year-old local weekly newspaper, which covers news in Livermore, Pleasanton, Dublin and Sunol, California, along with regional issues that affect the Tri-Valley community.

As Editor/Local Issues Reporter, the successful candidate will ensure the newspaper’s content in print and online is timely, accurate, balanced and engaging. The Tri-Valley is at a turning point in its growth and development, and we need an Editor/Local Issues Reporter who thrives on pursuing in-depth, serious community issues and abuses of political power.

As a Local Issues Reporter, you will cover the most pressing issues in Livermore with precision and fairness. You must demonstrate a clear understanding of how to dig for both topical and longer-term grassroots issues and front-page news stories. You must have the ability to research, write with context and clarity, and be a strong story teller on deadline.

It is important that the successful candidate lives within the Tri-Valley area in order to cultivate community connections and develop knowledge of local issues, players, and context.

This is not an entry-level position. We will be considering every candidate's experience and expertise in local journalism. Also, previous people management experience is preferred. A Bachelor's degree in journalism and/or equivalent, successful experience is required. The job also includes working late nights or weekends, depending on news or production demands.

The successful candidate must:

Regularly generate and develop unique and original story ideas from your key issues beat, and through your oversight of reporters and freelancers; stay on top of, and ahead of, important news and information for the communities of Livermore, Pleasanton, Dublin and Sunol. This includes anticipating and keeping track of regional, state and national events that directly affect or tie in to our community coverage.

Assign and oversee reporters, freelancers, projects and deadlines, and manage the editorial budget. Develop and coordinate a content calendar for the website and weekly print publication.

Must adhere to journalism best practices. Must be versatile, with excellent news judgment, strong reporting and writing skills. You should be generous sharing your knowledge and experience in order to help others improve.

Actively and creatively edit or rework written content from reporters and freelancers for clarity, context, accuracy and originality. Know when edits help a story by making it significantly stronger and engaging, when heavy edits will make only a marginal difference, and most importantly, understand and be able to patiently articulate the difference between them to those you supervise.

Oversee and manage production, whether it is posting on the website or Tuesday night's layout and production of the newspaper; maintaining standards, following Associated Press style and collaborating on story placement and design.

Collaborate with the Independent’s photo editor in planning and assigning strong visuals for the newspaper and website.

As a manager, the successful candidate:

Possesses strong people skills; you manage up, down and laterally with grace, passion, courage and emotional maturity.

Helps others stretch and improve. You are a mentor and coach, who listens and learns. You are generous with constructive feedback and remember to recognize good work.

This position offers a competitive salary; 10 vacation days annually in the first four years; 15 vacation days after five years; paid sick days; paid holidays; 50% health insurance and simple IRA company contribution.

The Independent is an Equal Opportunity Employer.

About The Independent

Publisher Joan Seppala founded The Independent in 1963 after every editor she approached at San Francisco Bay Area newspapers refused to hire a “woman reporter” to cover news. They all offered her a position on their society page, which did not interest her. So she found investors and started her own.

A community leader and crusader, Seppala over the years was instrumental in preserving the area’s ranchlands and vineyards from development and in establishing Livermore’s theater and cultural arts center. Seppala continues to pursue affordable housing, educational and social justice initiatives.

[END]
---
[1] Url: https://jobs.mediajobboard.com/company/the-independent-287780/job/editor-local-issues-reporter-in-livermore-ca-86pjv11s4co7ohfudcxamrk00rmfqn/

Published and (C) by Poynter Institute
Content appears here under this condition or license: Creative Commons .

via Magical.Fish Gopher News Feeds:
gopher://magical.fish/1/feeds/news/poynter/