Unclassified - Houston, TX
posted 4 months ago
The Houston Chronicle is seeking a hard-charging key topics editor who will oversee a team of journalists covering the key topics that matter to our metro area's future. This editor will work with a team that dives into key topics that matter to the region's residents such as transportation and commuting, demographic changes, the effects of extreme weather, and climate change. This role will oversee reporters who find themes across the metro area, not just from Houston. The editor will help shape the structure of the teams and the beats, engaging in some of the work that matters most to our audiences across the region. Key responsibilities include shaping and leading our coverage with an eagerness to jump on breaking news and nuanced expertise to develop deeper enterprise and accountability work. The editor will use metrics to find insights that can shape our coverage and help us learn how best to serve our audiences. Crafting and editing coverage through a wide range of digital story forms, including quick-hits, social-first content, explainers, live blogs, short-form storytelling, long-form storytelling, videos, and data visualizations, is essential. The editor will develop beat reporting that is audience-centered, cultivate sourcing, obtain public records, and deliver scoops. Additionally, the editor will develop the talents of staffers by offering constructive criticism of their work and conducting evaluations of reporters and editors. Coordination with reporters in the field will be crucial to ensure the production of useful content that Houstonians can't get anywhere else. The role requires collaboration with other Chronicle team leaders, the visual team, the data team, and the audience team to bring stories to life. Coaching best practices in SEO, digital tactics, and evolving digital storytelling trends will also be part of the job. The editor will work to build a collaborative culture rooted in diverse teams that reflect the metro's diversity in every way, ensuring that this value carries through culture, sourcing, stories, and more. Success in this role will be measured through a daily, weekly, and monthly cadence of work, regular beat mapping with team members, and meeting shared newsroom goals around metrics such as conversions, subscriber growth, visits, and engagement.