Planning and Narratives Editor
PLANNING and NARRATIVES EDITOR
The Herald-Leader is hiring an entrepreneurial editor to build something new — a reimagined daily product that provides a must-read magazine-style experience and connects creatively to a dynamic eEdition, apps and website.
We’re looking for an editor who can conceive, edit and package deep and valuable journalism for our print covers and digital products as well as lead our high-profile initiative to transport readers along the continuum from print to digital through complementary components of those packages. This editor will see content through from inception to publication, working closely with reporters, assigning editors and visual journalists to conceive must-read content, plan dynamic visuals and execute on a schedule that allows for high-end design and final polish.
Should a story set up a conversation to be held online? Can we create a must-listen audio experience to elaborate on a key scene? Could we use a visualization to make sense of the data that drives a story in an innovative way? These are just a few of the questions we’ll ask on a daily basis as we seek big ideas that leverage our platforms to serve readers, viewers and listeners and to dramatically expand our reach and audience.
This role requires a command of audience analytics and knowledge of the tactics that deliver results, as well as a desire to experiment, iterate and quickly adjust as the news environment dictates.
Change is a central feature of a digitally driven media company. This editor must be both confident and conscientious in guiding stakeholders to always keep the interests of the communities we serve at the heart of our journalism.
The person in this role will report to the Herald-Leader’s executive editor. This position will initially focus on Lexington but is expected to grow into a planning role for McClatchy’s Central Region, including newsrooms in Lexington, Belleville, Ill., and State College, Penn.
Qualifications:The proven ability to lead, inspire, and convey knowledge to others and to work effectively with a wide range of colleagues.
- Strong planning and execution and interpersonal skills.
- Comfort with a job that will be demanding, fast-paced, constantly evolving and outcome-oriented.
- Skill and versatility as an editor and a writer, including the ability to shape stories in a way that best serves and engages our print and digital audiences.
- Excellent news judgment and a demonstrated ability to “see the story” that is going to matter to readers and to anticipate reader interests before they exist.
- A focus on ensuring that our content and staff represents the fullness of our community and state and the diversity of the people who live here.
- The ability to solve problems, innovate and adapt in service of the primary goal, which is to produce quality journalism that reaches and engages readers and subscribers and has an impact.
Education/experience
- Bachelor’s degree or equivalent experience in journalism
- At least 5 years of experience as an editor
- Experience with planning for content that appears across print and digital products