Managing Editor (Eugene)

About the Role

The Managing Editor applies the Lookout Local journalism model. The ideal candidate will demonstrate well-experienced news judgment, excellent story ideation and line editing skills, and above all, be committed to creating a great seven-day-a-week news report. The Managing Editor helps the team of journalists produce excellence every day, serving readers’ evolving needs with a wide range of meaningful and local/personal journalism, responsive to diverse communities’ changing needs.

The Managing Editor must be comfortable and enthusiastic about the wide range of content delivered, from investigative and accountability work to best-in-class beat stories, breaking news, and service journalism that answers readers’ questions. The focus is on impactful stories while keeping readers briefly updated on step-by-step governmental proceedings and other actions. Lookout values explanatory, connect-the-dots reporting and pointed, knowing writing. Whether in 500 or 2,500 words, the goal is to tell readers what is known, well-sourced and well-told. Formats are tailored to content, using Q&As, Ask Lookouts, and other emerging formats—including video—in addition to narrative journalism.

Deep knowledge of the Eugene-Springfield area, Oregon, and/or the Pacific Northwest is highly valued.

Responsibilities

• Editorial Direction: Work with the Executive Editor to direct the daily newsroom, collaborating with correspondents on planning, reporting, sourcing, and first-line editing. Ensure the production of high-quality, trustworthy, non-partisan stories and community information, working with Lookout colleagues on multiple evolving products to distribute that content.
• Community Engagement: Lead Lookout’s overall community engagement work, collaborating with correspondents and the wider Lookout team. Seek ways, both digital and in-person, to gain reader insights and feedback. Represent Lookout Eugene-Springfield at community events to strengthen its role as a trusted local institution.
• Maintain and Strengthen Standards: Ensure content meets the highest journalistic standards of fairness, accuracy, and clarity, delivered with trustworthiness and lack of partisanship.
• Innovation and Growth: Apply modern digital creation and distribution tools, working closely with colleagues, especially in audience analysis. Think through visuals that aid storytelling and collaborate with colleagues to activate them.

Qualifications

• At least seven years of journalism experience, with a minimum of three years as a newsroom manager.
• Rock-solid journalism judgment, intuition, and taste.
• Demonstrated experience in story editing, news publication, and deadline management, with a proven ability to edit with clarity and provide readers with necessary context.
• Adept at using Newspack or modern content management systems and tools.
• Desire to work in an entrepreneurial, fast-growth startup environment, embracing agility and flexibility.
• Experience and comfort with the pace of digital-first journalism and the technologies that power it.
• Ability to engage diverse local communities in Lookout’s work.
• Demonstrated adaptability, especially with new topical coverage areas and communities.
• Comfort learning new technology and experience working in content management systems, producing, editing, and dressing stories with related media (photos, videos, etc.).
• Comfort with Lookout’s correspondent-focused model and the personality it brings to the work.

Plusses: Bilingual abilities, data skills, and audio/video experience.

About Lookout Eugene-Springfield

In one year, Lookout Eugene-Springfield has become the largest local newsroom in Lane County and the destination for local news and information. Known for journalism that goes beyond the superficial, Lookout staff always put the community at the center of coverage. Lookout is a full-time, in-person newsroom with an office located in downtown Eugene.

If you believe local journalism is built through relationships and visibility in the community, if you are curious, approachable, creative, and eager to experiment with new storytelling formats while maintaining strong journalism standards, you could be the right fit for Lookout.

About Lookout Local

Lookout Eugene-Springfield’s mission is to provide fair, accurate, and non-partisan news, focusing on the role of business in shaping a community through taxes and jobs. The organization is committed to reviving local journalism and engaging with the community to reflect their needs and interests. Lookout Eugene-Springfield is approaching its first anniversary, having already achieved significant traction in audience, membership, advertising, and community trust. It is part of Lookout Local, a fast-growing, next-generation West Coast-based local news network. Lookout Santa Cruz won the 2024 Pulitzer for Breaking News, and Lookout’s mission-driven, business-driven model is gaining national recognition.

Benefits

• Competitive salary and performance-based incentives.
• Full-time benefits including highly competitive medical, dental, and optical benefits.
• 401(k) with matching.
• Good PTO allowances.
• Stock options in the growing company.

An opportunity to make a significant impact on and contribute to the revival of local journalism in a collaborative and mission-driven work environment.