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

Temporary position through November 2026. Hybrid schedule based in San Francisco; must reside in California. Salary range: $80,000 - $99,875 per year.

About the role

An editor at KQED and the California Newsroom is an experienced journalist who assigns, edits, reports, and coordinates statewide and multiplatform coverage. This role focuses on the 2026 midterm elections, overseeing and coordinating statewide coverage through November. The editor will work with journalists across 14 public radio stations and CalMatters to develop cohesive, multiplatform coverage of the California gubernatorial race, key Congressional campaigns, statewide propositions, and other elections, culminating in a statewide live broadcast special.

This position requires collaboration with news directors, reporters, and editors from multiple outlets, as well as coordination for national audiences as needed by NPR. While temporary, this role could lead to additional opportunities within The California Newsroom and/or KQED.

Responsibilities

• Coordinate with political editors and other newsroom leaders throughout California.
• Assess coverage needs and coordinate joint projects among stations.
• Maintain a running database of assignments and elections planning.
• Oversee California Newsroom employees assigned to elections coverage.
• Edit and produce journalism across all platforms, including audio, text, social media, and other digital formats.
• Contribute to news planning and stay atop daily local and national news through multiple sources.
• Work under deadline pressure with colleagues of varying experience levels.
• Occasionally fill in for other colleagues and represent 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 and thorough command of journalistic principles, ethics, and standards.
• Ability to meet deadlines and goals while working under pressure.
• Proven collaboration skills, essential for working with 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 multiple journalists and editors.
• Ability to prioritize tasks when working on multiple projects simultaneously.

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.

Benefits

KQED envisions a public media organization with a culture that centers on human dignity, equity, and belonging. We value the contributions of marginalized people in society — including Black, Indigenous, and all people of color, people with disabilities, and LGBTQIA+ people — and strongly encourage members of these communities to apply.