The JOLT News Organization
Managing Editor: Local-news nonprofit Job at The JOLT News Organization in Olymp
The JOLT News Organization, Olympia, Washington, United States
Seeking an experienced newsroom leader to bring us into the next stage of our growth.
The JOLT – The Journal of Olympia, Lacey & Tumwater (Washington state) – is an award-winning, independent, nonprofit local-news organization. We publish online (only) every weekday, reporting on public meetings, the environment, schools, businesses, housing, nonprofits and fun things to do around here. We’ll celebrate our fifth anniversary in May 2025.
You might be right for this new position if you’ve got at least three years of leadership experience as an editor and are:
unafraid of new technologies that enable reporting,
eager to explore creative ways to expand our coverage and
enjoy leading a team whose members come from a variety of backgrounds (both local and remote).
You’d be living and working in one of the most pleasant and scenic places in the United States, in Thurston County, Washington. We’ve got great public schools and three campus-based colleges and universities. Olympia hosts a lively arts scene, with several theatre companies performing year-round. Our area is an hour south of Seattle, two hours north of Portland, 10-20 minutes from saltwater beaches and lakes, 90 minutes to several ocean beaches, and less than two hours from several ski areas. And you’d nearly always have weekends off to enjoy life here.
But while you might start working with us remotely, this is NOT a remote position. We’re looking for someone who will eagerly get involved in experiencing and covering our local communities.
Mission statement:
The JOLT
nourishes the civic lives of Thurston County residents and grows community capacity by publishing accurate, relevant and entertaining stories that help people become better informed and more involved in local issues, events and activities.
Position Summary:
This is the top editorial position in our organization. The editor oversees The JOLT News Organization’s news content on theJOLTnews.com, in
The Daily JOLT
newsletter and all its communications channels, aligning coverage with our mission.
Key Skills:
Maintain close communication with our reporters and contributors
Assign topics and reading manuscripts and other forms of written content to refine the pieces
Check for accuracy
Ensure proper use of grammar and style
Work within tight timeframes and with competing priorities
Essential Tasks and Responsibilities
Mission Focus:
Set the editorial tone and use sound news judgment
Work with our publisher/executive director to further develop the organization, foster a collaborative and productive work environment, and grow our reach.
Work with the publisher/executive director on setting a newsroom budget and following it
Editorial:
Edit stories and adhere to AP Style.
Produce original articles
Photograph news events
Create maps, graphics and data visualizations
Respond to reader comments, questions and requests for corrections promptly
Oversee and manage article publication across all our channels including captions and relevant hashtags for social media
Supervision:
Supervise news staff, working with reporters on the planning and execution of news articles and publishable content
Develop and nurture news staff
Collaborate with the publisher/executive director on recruiting additional editorial staff
Communication/community engagement:
Effectively communicate The JOLT News Organization’s mission, vision and priorities
Set agenda for and manage weekly meetings with reporting and editing staff
Actively listen and incorporate feedback from community members, stakeholders and staff
Represent The JOLT News Organization in the community and at events
Technical:
Maintain thorough knowledge of our publishing technologies
Live stream events or supervise staff in doing so
Use of photo and video editing tools to crop photos and create visuals and video elements to enhance articles and publish on various platforms
Knowledge of social media platforms and how to best use them to expand our reach
Stay current on market developments to provide insights and recommendations for growth
Education/Training/Experience:
A minimum of 5-7 years’ related experience, including at least three years as a news editor
Bachelor’s or higher degree in any relevant field
Physical Requirements:
Routinely operate standard office equipment including but not limited to computers, phones, photocopiers and filing cabinets
Independently mobile
Driver’s license, good driving record and own vehicle and insurance
Must be able to lift 10 lbs.
Ability to adapt and function in varying worksites and with some shifts in schedules and workloads.
Salary range and work environment:
$70,000 to $80,000, depending on experience, plus healthcare. Work at home or in an office: Most of us work from home and get together frequently via Teams, WhatsApp, Zoom and in-person. Must be available during work hours.
Deadline:
Nothing gets done without a deadline, right? We hope to find the right candidate by December 15, 2024, but reserve the right to hire sooner.
recblid 3nz5qkv8lvjy3bvqba45rftow6xou9
The JOLT – The Journal of Olympia, Lacey & Tumwater (Washington state) – is an award-winning, independent, nonprofit local-news organization. We publish online (only) every weekday, reporting on public meetings, the environment, schools, businesses, housing, nonprofits and fun things to do around here. We’ll celebrate our fifth anniversary in May 2025.
You might be right for this new position if you’ve got at least three years of leadership experience as an editor and are:
unafraid of new technologies that enable reporting,
eager to explore creative ways to expand our coverage and
enjoy leading a team whose members come from a variety of backgrounds (both local and remote).
You’d be living and working in one of the most pleasant and scenic places in the United States, in Thurston County, Washington. We’ve got great public schools and three campus-based colleges and universities. Olympia hosts a lively arts scene, with several theatre companies performing year-round. Our area is an hour south of Seattle, two hours north of Portland, 10-20 minutes from saltwater beaches and lakes, 90 minutes to several ocean beaches, and less than two hours from several ski areas. And you’d nearly always have weekends off to enjoy life here.
But while you might start working with us remotely, this is NOT a remote position. We’re looking for someone who will eagerly get involved in experiencing and covering our local communities.
Mission statement:
The JOLT
nourishes the civic lives of Thurston County residents and grows community capacity by publishing accurate, relevant and entertaining stories that help people become better informed and more involved in local issues, events and activities.
Position Summary:
This is the top editorial position in our organization. The editor oversees The JOLT News Organization’s news content on theJOLTnews.com, in
The Daily JOLT
newsletter and all its communications channels, aligning coverage with our mission.
Key Skills:
Maintain close communication with our reporters and contributors
Assign topics and reading manuscripts and other forms of written content to refine the pieces
Check for accuracy
Ensure proper use of grammar and style
Work within tight timeframes and with competing priorities
Essential Tasks and Responsibilities
Mission Focus:
Set the editorial tone and use sound news judgment
Work with our publisher/executive director to further develop the organization, foster a collaborative and productive work environment, and grow our reach.
Work with the publisher/executive director on setting a newsroom budget and following it
Editorial:
Edit stories and adhere to AP Style.
Produce original articles
Photograph news events
Create maps, graphics and data visualizations
Respond to reader comments, questions and requests for corrections promptly
Oversee and manage article publication across all our channels including captions and relevant hashtags for social media
Supervision:
Supervise news staff, working with reporters on the planning and execution of news articles and publishable content
Develop and nurture news staff
Collaborate with the publisher/executive director on recruiting additional editorial staff
Communication/community engagement:
Effectively communicate The JOLT News Organization’s mission, vision and priorities
Set agenda for and manage weekly meetings with reporting and editing staff
Actively listen and incorporate feedback from community members, stakeholders and staff
Represent The JOLT News Organization in the community and at events
Technical:
Maintain thorough knowledge of our publishing technologies
Live stream events or supervise staff in doing so
Use of photo and video editing tools to crop photos and create visuals and video elements to enhance articles and publish on various platforms
Knowledge of social media platforms and how to best use them to expand our reach
Stay current on market developments to provide insights and recommendations for growth
Education/Training/Experience:
A minimum of 5-7 years’ related experience, including at least three years as a news editor
Bachelor’s or higher degree in any relevant field
Physical Requirements:
Routinely operate standard office equipment including but not limited to computers, phones, photocopiers and filing cabinets
Independently mobile
Driver’s license, good driving record and own vehicle and insurance
Must be able to lift 10 lbs.
Ability to adapt and function in varying worksites and with some shifts in schedules and workloads.
Salary range and work environment:
$70,000 to $80,000, depending on experience, plus healthcare. Work at home or in an office: Most of us work from home and get together frequently via Teams, WhatsApp, Zoom and in-person. Must be available during work hours.
Deadline:
Nothing gets done without a deadline, right? We hope to find the right candidate by December 15, 2024, but reserve the right to hire sooner.
recblid 3nz5qkv8lvjy3bvqba45rftow6xou9