Executive Editor Regional News 17602

Profile

02/15/2022
Category:
Broadcasting, Radio, and Television
Location:
Washington, DC, US, 20008
Company:****
Summary/Objective
WAMU has implemented a flagship expansion in its local news division, building a regional newsroom that prioritizes inclusive coverage, collaboration, audience engagement, regional coverage, innovation, compassion, and ambitious journalism.  The Executive Editor, Regional News will take that road map and bring it to life across all regional news coverage-to include broadcast, DCist.com, WAMU.org, newscasts, social media, on-demand audio and new initiatives. Working closely with the Deputy News Director, Audio and Deputy News Director, Digital, the Executive Editor, Regional News will set and implement regional coverage goals and workflows, and develop long-term coverage plans for WAMU's content verticals alongside the Strategic Planning Editor.
This leader will set the standard for high-caliber audience-centric storytelling and ensure that the Content Department's goal of telling the stories of local communities in new and more impactful ways consistently guides coverage plans.
Working closely with the Strategic Partnerships Editor, the Executive Editor, Regional News will also collaborate with internal stakeholders and seek out external partnerships to grow and diversify our news content and establish greater credibility in communities WAMU has traditionally underserved.
The Executive Editor, Regional News reports to Managing Director, Local Content. This position directly supervises the Deputy News Director, Audio; Deputy News Director, Digital; Strategic Planning Editor; and Strategic Partnerships Editor, and is indirectly responsible for all newsroom staff, to include reporters, editors, and producers.
The Executive Editor, Regional News is a leader, coach, and innovator - eager to take our journalism to new heights, support our staff and set new standards in public media. Precise and excellent news judgment is a must, and so is a deep commitment to the team. The Executive Editor, Regional News must be an empathetic, inclusive and unflinching manager of people, devoted to articulating high journalistic expectations and supporting other newsroom leaders and staff at all levels to reach those standards. The Executive Editor, Regional News is the steward of our newsroom culture, working to foster a collaborative and innovative work environment and is committed to the professional development of the news staff.
Essential Functions
Supervising,
Training and Staff Development:
Supervises, coaches and mentors deputies and newsroom editors in carrying out vision for regional news strategy. Develops staff competencies via regular performance management assessments, including: goal setting, annual appraisals, ongoing coaching and performance discussions. Coaches and mentors deputies, editors and reporters in broadcast and digital execution. Champions the inclusive workplace and culture goals of WAMU and the Content Department. Directs deputies, editors and reporters to ensure diversity in sources, coverage area, and topics within beats. Identifies skills gaps and learning opportunities for the newsroom, and in consultation with other stakeholders, develop training plans to address them. Oversees a robust onboarding process for new staff. Leads regular team meetings and inclusive coverage conversations.
Regional news strategy and execution:
Strengthens and grows WAMU's storytelling across all platforms. Identifies opportunities for people-centric enterprise work, impactful investigative reporting, public service-oriented utility stories, and daily news coverage to be told on the best possible platform, in the method most effective for that platform. Provide hands-on editing/guidance on signature news stories for accuracy, tone, completeness and storytelling approach. Provide critiques and consistent feedback to set and emphasize best practices in both audio and digital storytelling. Guide ethical decision-making and maintain high ethical standards while encouraging innovation and calculated risk-taking. Ensures that work produced by WAMU complies with NPR and professional standards for balance, fairness and accuracy.
Audience Growth:
Identifies platform-specific tactical goals and opportunities for engaging audiences and growing our journalism in conjunction with the Managing Editor, Audience; Deputy Director, Digital; and Strategic Partnerships Editor. Seeks out tools and platforms essential to innovation in storytelling and audience engagement, and advocates for their deployment.
Essential Functions Continued
Collaboration and Partnerships:
Oversees the creation and execution of newsroom collaborations alongside the Strategic Partnerships Editor. Fosters relationships and improves workflows with partners at NPR and regional public media outlets. Communicates and coordinates with other WAMU departments, leaders, and the Community Council through a variety of means, including regular meetings, board reports, and direct outreach.   
Resource Management:
Allocate resources, weighing short-term needs and long-term goals. Manage newsroom spending against budget and provide input into budget preparation and management to Executive Editor, Regional News. Supports the work of both newsroom staff and other departments in seeking grants, fostering membership, and other revenue-generating efforts.
Workflows and Processes:
Sets, evaluates and enforces  workflows and tools to continuously improve and facilitate the work of the newsroom.
Position Type/Expected Hours of Work
Full Time 
Function Leader B
Exempt 
Salary Range
Commensurate with experience.
Required Education and Experience
Bachelor's degree or equivalent.
10 years of relevant experience; To include experience leading a team of journalists, preferably with a focus on multiplatform distribution
10 years of leading and managing an editorial team, preferably with a focus on multi-platform storytelling and distribution.
10 years of hands-on experience shaping overall news coverage and strategy, with a proven ability to increase the caliber of work offered by journalists with a wide range of levels of experience.
10 years of experience producing content in a fast-paced deadline-driven broadcast environment.
Experience maintaining high journalistic standards under deadline pressure, including standards of transparency, balance and fairness.
Experience leading journalists with varying experience and platform backgrounds; experience in team building, coaching and mentoring.
Experience in creating and leading collaborative, inclusive and diverse work processes/environments.
Experience managing resources in an integrated digital/broadcast newsroom.
Experience working in and/or knowledge of public radio and the public radio system.
Preferred Education and Experience
Master's degree or equivalent
10 years of relevant experience
Additional Eligibility Qualifications
Demonstrated experience in leading ambitious and distinctive coverage; the ability to think and make decisions based on a larger news strategy.
Impeccable news judgment and editing/producing experience across a range of reporting and storytelling genres; the ability to make good decisions quickly.
An understanding of audience behavior and current/emerging content platforms; experience building audiences, leading the integration of content, including local, national and international news, across platforms.
Understanding of the FOIA and public records, and an appreciation for the practice of data-focused journalism.
An understanding of the values, sound and sensibility of public radio and enthusiasm for the station, the region, and the value of localism.
Demonstrated creativity and an appetite for experimentation and risk-taking in storytelling.
A strong track record of applying insights from analytics and benchmarks to content decisions.
A passion for and understanding of strategies for building a loyal audience, and a willingness to deploy those tactics with a spirit of experimentation and continuous improvement in serving and engaging with new and diverse audiences.
Proven ability to consistently work well with diverse personalities; positive approach to embracing change.
Adept at communicating effectively across all levels of leadership while inspiring confidence.
Ability to respect input but ultimately be confident enough to take decisive action and take responsibility for said action.
Excellent written and oral communication skills.
A strong commitment to building and championing a workplace culture rooted in respect, diversity, equity and inclusion at every turn.
Hiring offers for this position are contingent on successful completion of a background check.
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Benefits
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Others
Please note this job description is not designed to cover or contain a comprehensive listing of activities, duties or responsibilities that are required of the employee for this job. Duties, responsibilities and activities may change at any time with or without notice.
Nearest Major Market:
Washington DC
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