LT Editor, Politics & Statewide Coordination (The California Newsroom)

An editor at KQED and the California Newsroom is an experienced journalist who is capable of assigning, editing, reporting and coordinating statewide and multiplatform coverage in a manner that connects with audiences. KQED and California Newsroom editors are expected to produce journalism across all platforms, including audio and text, as well as social and other media. Editors must be proficient at editing and producing all aspects of on-air news elements for broadcast and must be equally proficient at editing text stories and producing other online news content. Editors are also expected to contribute to news planning, staying atop daily local and national news through multiple sources.

About the Role

The 2026 midterm elections will be pivotal for the state of California and the nation as a whole. The California Newsroom, a collaboration of public radio and nonprofit news outlets in the state spearheaded by KQED, is seeking a temporary editor to oversee and coordinate statewide coverage through November 2026. This position requires a journalist who is skilled in collaborations and partnerships across multiple newsrooms. This role requires an empathetic and human-centered manager who can work with journalists across the state with differing levels of experience.

Key to this role will be working closely with news directors, reporters and editors from multiple outlets to develop a cohesive, multiplatform approach to covering the California gubernatorial race, key Congressional campaigns, statewide propositions and other elections. The coverage will culminate in a statewide live broadcast special. This editor will work in collaboration with journalists spread across 14 public radio stations, along with the nonprofit news organization CalMatters, to provide coverage of significant issues, assigning and editing daily news and in-depth features and projects. The editor will also be responsible for coordinating California coverage for a national audience as needed by NPR.

While this role is a temporary assignment through November 2026, it could lead to additional opportunities within The California Newsroom and/or KQED. This is a hybrid position based in San Francisco, but the editor must reside in California. This editor will report to the Managing Editor of The California Newsroom.

Responsibilities

• Coordinates with political editors and other newsroom leaders throughout the state.
• Assesses coverage needs and coordinates joint projects among stations.
• Maintains a running database of assignments and elections planning.
• Oversees California Newsroom employees assigned to elections coverage.
• Performs other duties as assigned.
• Occasionally fills in for other colleagues.
• Represents KQED at events.

Requirements

• At least five years of experience in a similar role in a newsroom or news environment.
• Interest and knowledge in California political news.
• Excellent communication and coordination skills; clear communication with colleagues.
• Excellent news judgment.
• Thorough command of journalistic principles, ethics and standards.
• Ability to meet deadlines and goals while working under pressure.
• Proven collaboration skills, which are essential in working with fellow KQED staffers across departments and with partner organizations.
• Ability to work independently and as part of a team.
• Ability to stay focused, organized, communicative and proactive while working with a number of journalists and staffers across the organization and dealing with several different editors.
• Ability to stay organized and prioritize tasks when working on multiple projects at once.

Preferred Qualifications

• Non-English language skills (fluency in Spanish, Mandarin or other widely spoken languages in California).
• Previous work as a political editor or reporter, particularly in California.
• Proven capacity to identify opportunities for stories of high relevance to audiences.

Pay

$80,000 - $99,875

Schedule

Temporary through November 2026. Hybrid schedule based in San Francisco.