Investigations Editor

WABE is Atlanta’s choice for NPR, PBS, and local news and storytelling. We inform, inspire, reflect, and empower greater Atlanta to drive community belonging and stoke civic participation. WABE is a non-profit, public media service broadcasting and streaming via WABE 90.1FM, WABE TV, WABE.org, and numerous podcasts and digital offerings.

About the role

The Investigations Editor will lead enterprise projects with WABE’s beat reporters, morning and evening shows, and digital team, while also pursuing reporting projects. This role operates in a multimedia setting, overseeing projects for radio, digital, and social media in collaboration with the managing editor, deputy managing editor, and senior editor of digital. The ideal candidate has investigative editing and/or reporting experience and strong organizational skills to manage multiple long-term projects and deadlines.

The editor will focus on education and/or housing beats for reporting projects and collaborate with journalists covering politics, health, environment, business, criminal justice, immigration, and Southside beats. This position is part of the senior editor and producer group and may participate in a weekend editor rotation or fill in for other editorial roles.

Responsibilities

• Story development: Work with reporters to develop investigative story ideas from tips, data, documents, or leads; assess newsworthiness, feasibility, and risk; set reporting plans and timelines for multi-week or multi-month investigations.
• Reporting guidance: Direct use of public records requests (FOIA/state laws), data analysis, document review, and source cultivation; advise on interview strategies, especially for sensitive interviews; help build and organize evidence files.
• Editing and structure: Line-edit and structurally edit long-form investigative pieces to ensure the narrative supports the central finding; work through multiple drafts; edit for accuracy, fairness, and clarity across print, digital, and audio formats.
• Legal and standards review: Coordinate with legal counsel on defamation, privacy, and records-access risks; ensure pre-publication review; manage "right of reply" outreach; uphold source protection and verification standards.
• Collaboration and resourcing: Coordinate with visual, audio, and photo/video teams on multi-platform packages; manage cross-newsroom or cross-station collaborations; allocate reporter time and data budgets with the managing editor.
• Standards and mentorship: Train reporters in investigative methods (records requests, data tools, source development); enforce ethical standards around anonymous sourcing and documentation; conduct post-mortems on published investigations.
• Impact tracking: Monitor and document real-world impact of investigations (policy changes, legal action, public response) for grant reporting or awards submissions.
• Participate in a weekend editor rotation and fill in for other editorial positions as needed.

Requirements

• 10+ years of journalism experience, with at least 5+ years focused on investigative journalism.
• Strong editing skills and belief in the importance of news media, with a high level of journalistic integrity and understanding of audio storytelling.
• Reliability, trustworthiness, and receptiveness to feedback, with a willingness to grow and adapt.
• Ability to brainstorm, design, edit, and produce award-winning investigative reports with community impact.
• Knowledge of AP style and audio editing techniques.
• Strong organizational skills and ability to meet deadlines while managing multiple long-term projects.
• High level of knowledge or ability to develop expertise in education and/or housing beats.
• Experience collaborating in a multimedia newsroom environment.

About WABE

WABE 90.1FM is one of the most listened-to stations in the Atlanta metro area and a top 15 public media station in the U.S. WABE reporters regularly contribute to National Public Radio’s newscasts and shows. The organization is expanding its coverage of the metro area, with a focus on underrepresented and underreported communities.

WABE.org and its social media platforms are growing and winning awards for innovation, creativity, and news content. The organization is 100% community-funded and supported by foundations, a board of directors, and the community, allowing for strong, sustainable growth.

WABE values collaboration, diversity, professional development, and wellness. The newsroom operates in a flexible, hybrid work environment and encourages cross-training, fellowships, and external training opportunities. Journalists at WABE come from diverse backgrounds and experiences, contributing to a rich and accurate storytelling environment.

WABE Studios is expanding its video, TV, and podcast divisions, offering opportunities to grow newsroom content across platforms.

Work Environment & Physical Demands

• Hybrid work environment requiring occasional in-person attendance at the station.
• Ability to sit or stand for extended periods, with occasional walking, reaching, or lifting (up to 5 lbs.).
• Use of standard office equipment in an ambient office environment.
• Occasional evening and weekend work may be required for events or high-volume periods (e.g., membership campaigns).
• Must provide own transportation to the station.

Benefits

• Free membership to metro Atlanta YMCAs.
• Flexible scheduling in coordination with supervisors.
• Company time off and sick leave policy.