Buffalo News seeks economic revival team leader

The Buffalo News seeks an experienced editor who will help expand and rethink coverage of the Buffalo Niagara region’s biggest story: its economic revival.

This position will lead a team of reporters who will relentlessly cover the forces that are shaping the future of Buffalo – and, most important, explain why it all matters.

The big storyline in Buffalo is the city’s nascent resurgence, and whether it will rebound post-pandemic. Historic buildings are coming back to life. A medical campus is reshaping downtown. A new solar factory has made big promises about jobs to come. But questions remain.

This editor will work closely with veteran reporters to identify untold stories, both big and small, that reveal the surprising ways Buffalo and its surrounding communities are changing. Topics will touch on a wide variety of subjects – from the local economy to the city’s growing startup scene to how climate change will shape the future of Buffalo.

The team will be charged with explaining what’s working, what’s percolating, what needs work, who’s ascendant, what’s in the pipeline and what it means for readers.

This is an opportunity to be a part of expanding and creating new journalism products that set the narrative for the region’s changing economy.

The editor will:

• Revamp and expand business coverage into a daily report that is essential reading for understanding how the region is changing.
• Create new ways for readers to experience that coverage – whether through different story forms, data, newsletters, video, audio or social media.
• Help launch and run an expanded business section, online and in print, that knits together the big developments and adds up to more than the individual stories.

• Set priorities and help reporters stick to them. Be comfortable saying “no” to the good story ideas to make way for the best ones.
• Be committed to eschew traditional business stories and forthe-record coverage in favor of stories that no one else is telling.
• Be willing to take creative risks, move quickly and learn from the outcomes.
• Work with reporters – from reporting to story conception to final line editing – to create coverage that sets the agenda and is far ahead of the competition.

The editor should:

• Have a demonstrated ability to guide reporters on compelling coverage that matters.
• Be a clear communicator who gives honest feedback, is committed to mentoring team members and develops the teams’ skills.
• Be adaptable and able to juggle multiple projects, take on unexpected challenges and meet tight deadlines.
• Help rethink and expand coverage in ways we have not yet thought about.
• Be as comfortable with digital story forms as pulling together traditional print packages. Stories should have an impact no matter the platform – whether a tweet thread or Sunday front page package.
• Have a good understanding of the ways data, reporting and visuals can make or break a story – bringing our coverage beyond the anecdotes and quotes.
• Be comfortable representing The News at public events, including networking and public speaking.

The Buffalo News is a daily print and online news organization with the largest staff of journalists in the region. We have a history of breaking the area’s big stories and investing in the stories that matter.

We strive to hire talented and dedicated people who reflect the diversity of the communities we serve. People of all backgrounds and experiences are encouraged to apply.

Why Buffalo? The city has seen a resurgence that makes it an exciting time to work and live here. The region has professional sports teams, a philharmonic, a growing waterfront, Niagara Falls, beautiful hikes and ski slopes all within a short drive.

Send cover letter and resume to recruiter@buffnews.com.