We are searching for an experienced news editor or reporter who wants the opportunity to really put your mark on multiple newspapers based in East Central Iowa. Primary coverage area includes communities in Iowa, Southern Benton, Northern Keokuk and Eastern Poweshiek Counties, including the cities of Marengo, Williamsburg, Belle Plaine, Brooklyn, Montezuma…..
This position will encompass reporting, editing, shooting photos, working with designers on page layout, managing freelancers, building community partnerships and shaping the direction of your publications.
Summary: Oversees and manages the production of newspapers in the Central Iowa Union (Marengo, Williamsburg, Belle Plaine and Poweshiek) to produce news, community and sports content for community print and digital offerings. The position will require a presence in the Marengo office and in communities on a consistent basis. The position will also require writing / reporting, infrequent page layout, and regular meetings with the Publisher to help determine the direction of content in our publications.
Responsibilities:
- Coaches staff and correspondents in multiple locations to produce compelling news content with strong visual presentation in accordance with audience needs and product deadlines and standards.
- Develops individual ongoing training plans for news staff that focuses on growing skills, and presenting interesting stories in accordance with industry standards.
- Collaborates and works on as needed basis with executive editor and other key newsroom staff in Cedar Rapids to help achieve content, presentation and other strategic goals.
- Produces or coordinates enterprise reporting, photography, page plans for layout team.
- Assist with planning and creation of special sections, products and/or services based on community need and feedback.
- Increase your, and by extension the newspapers, visibility in the community by attending community events and gatherings as the representative of the Union and Gazette. This would be considered above and beyond covering the event for news purposes.
- Ensures that all publications contain timely and locally relevant content
- Using a variety of data, including conversations in the communities, to ensure that the news and sports content we produce drives readership and relevance in our publications
- Tracks trends on topical area and develops and cultivates sources (i.e. people, records, databases, etc.) across a wide variety of interests.
- Maintains a list of story ideas relevant to readers with emphasis on original enterprise stories that set an agenda for the city and county the publication serves. Takes ownership of topical area(s).
- Uses solid news judgement when communicating assignments and training to news staff.
- Identifies opportunities for using a variety of ways of storytelling (video, audio, pictures, text, etc.) and regularly finds opportunities to put the ideas into practice.
- Demonstrates proficiency in using existing and new tools to gather, display and report content and also present news in context. Attends training to learn and apply these tools.
- Adheres to all professional and company policies and ethical standards.
Job skills & attributes:
- Ideal candidate will be a flexible, self-motivated, creative go-getter and problem solver who works well with superiors and those in their charge.
- Candidate must display technical aptitude and have strong ability to write and report well and distill complex subjects into understandable, accessible elements which in turn can be trained to news staff under their direction in a way that allows them to also grow their skills.
- Must have empathy and toughness and be a good listener.
- Must work well with others and be attentive to follow-up with staff, sources and customers.
- Candidate possesses basic desire to learn new skills.
Minimum Requirements:
- Preferred – undergraduate degree in journalism, English or related course of study.
- Must have valid driver’s license and history of safe driving habits.
- Candidate must demonstrate ability to work quickly and accurately and must have ideas on how to present news in an ever-changing media landscape.
- Approximately 3 – 5 years experience in a multimedia newsroom is desired.
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