Deputy Opinion Editor/Engagement

$65,000 - $75,000/Yr

Gannett - Indianapolis, IN

Full-time - Mid Level

Indianapolis, IN

Publishing Industries

About the position

IndyStar is seeking a Deputy Opinion Editor who will drive audience engagement and growth by building relationships in communities across our coverage area, creating an environment where community members contribute to, engage in, and interact with our journalism. The Deputy Opinion Editor will report to the Opinion Editor and will also assign, edit, and write opinion pieces. They will identify and develop a diverse group of opinion content contributors and serve as a community convener. Our mission is clear: IndyStar informs, empowers, and inspires the people of Central Indiana with our journalism. We deliver journalism that is essential to the communities we serve with urgency. We are a people-centered newsroom that's obsessed with thoughtful experimentation and developing our next generation of industry leaders. The role involves organizing and leading events and initiatives designed to connect with readers, grow new audiences, and improve our reach into diverse communities. The Deputy Opinion Editor will establish and manage community partnerships that help break down barriers and build trust between communities and our journalists. They will represent the IndyStar at events, listening to audiences to discover trending topics, underreported stories, and relevant angles that will help improve coverage. Additionally, the Deputy Opinion Editor will identify and cultivate diverse voices who contribute letters and columns on issues that impact the community, generating, editing, and writing opinion pieces while serving as backup for the Opinion Editor, making independent decisions about letters and other content.

Responsibilities

• Organize and lead events and initiatives designed to connect with readers, grow new audiences and improve our reach into diverse communities.
• Establish and manage community partnerships that help break down barriers and build trust between communities and our journalists.
• Represent the IndyStar at events, listening to audiences to discover trending topics, underreported stories and relevant angles that will help improve coverage.
• Identify and cultivate diverse voices who contribute letters and columns on issues that impact the community.
• Generate, edit and write opinion pieces and serve as backup for the Opinion Editor, making independent decisions about letters and other content.

Requirements

• Bachelor's degree in journalism or a related field or equivalent combination of education and experience
• At least two years of professional journalism experience
• An entrepreneurial approach to growing audience
• Proven ability to manage multiple tasks in a fast-paced environment
• Solid news judgment that's guided by experience with audience metrics
• Strong sense of journalism ethics and grounding in basics of media law
• Commitment to reporting with fairness, compassion and sensitivity
• Command of AP style and dedication to accuracy
• Strong written and verbal communication skills, including active and empathetic listening
• An awareness and appreciation of diverse cultures, values, beliefs and perspectives
• Ability to build relationships and manage group dynamics.