Monitor Local Managing Editor

About the role

The nonprofit Maine Center for Public Interest Reporting was founded in 2009 to produce the independent local journalism Maine needs. Our mission is to deliver fearless, independent, citizen-supported journalism that empowers Mainers with crucial information about issues impacting our state. All of our news is free to read, with no paywall, and distributed for free to other news outlets to republish, supporting the entire news ecosystem in Maine. We publish The Maine Monitor to provide critical statewide investigative and in-depth reporting on a broad range of issues — everything from artificial intelligence in education to fair treatment by state police and Monitor Local to provide rural communities with essential local civic news about local government.

Responsibilities

• Leadership: Helps lead the editorial team in developing and executing a strong editorial vision and strategy for public service civic news and investigative projects.
• Upholds the highest standards and strongly supports the First Amendment and executes investigative/watchdog journalism.
• Demonstrates commitment to the organization’s diversity objectives in problem solving, team building, recruiting, hiring and retention.
• Fosters and maintains an equitable, collaborative, and inclusive newsroom culture.
• Sets and communicates the editorial vision for Monitor Local.
• Guides the editorial production process on Monitor Local to ensure a clean, informative and highly professional civic news product on a planned publication schedule.
• Works with freelancers on stories from pitch to publication, including story ideation, structural and line edits, copy editing and fact-checking, in coordination with the editor.
• Supports and collaborates with The Maine Monitor editorial team with resources and guidance needed to execute on ambitious public service and investigative journalism projects.
• Works with reporting staff, audience and outreach team, and development team to develop amplification strategies around news projects, in coordination with the editor.
• Works with audience team to develop project ideas and guide and edit production of multimedia content, in coordination with the editor.
• Occasional research and writing stories for Monitor Local.
• Creative/Analytical: Working with the editor and audience and outreach team, supports the production of multiple email newsletters.
• Works closely with digital editor, freelance photographers, and contract graphic artists to ensure editorial stories, newsletters and website have impactful visuals and audience appeal to drive audience engagement.
• Tracks and responds to assorted performance metrics, including audience engagement and website and newsletter performance, consulting and strategizing with the editor on optimization.
• Engages staff, community and leadership team to develop new strategies to grow our reach of local audiences across all delivery platforms.
• Operational: Co-leads the day-to-day editorial operation of Monitor Local, working with the editor.
• Identifies and oversees contract work with freelance reporters and photographers, in consultation with the editor.
• Identifies and develops newsroom talent, and inspires freelancers by providing meaningful feedback and creating opportunities for professional growth and achievement.
• Manages the Dirigo Reporting internship, including recruiting, editing, and mentoring.
• Practices good stewardship with company resources, including prudent management of the newsroom operational budget.
• Outreach: Builds and maintains collaborative and strategic partnerships with other newsrooms in coordination with the editor, audience team and MCPIR Executive Director.
• Collaborates across the organization and supports The Maine Monitor in fundraising efforts, including participating in outreach and fundraising events and occasional editing of donor campaign materials.
• Facilitates strong statewide connections as an ambassador of The Maine Monitor and Monitor Local and a leader in driving civic engagement.

Qualifications

• Has some newsroom leadership experience and a track record of producing and editing impactful, human-centered journalism.
• Is a collaborative editor, manager, and mentor who loves to champion and support the work of a team and has experience developing the skills of early career journalists.
• Has knowledge of the State of Maine and the issues facing its residents from the coast to the rural woodlands.
• Is an organized and creative leader who can articulate and execute a vision.
• Is committed to building a caring work environment and culture by respectfully providing and accepting feedback, encouraging and modeling work-life balance, and embodying a growth mindset.
• Has great integrity and a strong moral compass.
• Has a high level of individual initiative, including the ability to work with limited supervision, make deadlines, resolve practical problems independently, multitask and prioritize activities.
• Has outstanding verbal and written communication skills.
• Has strong news judgment, organization and decision-making skills.
• Has documented success building relationships across departments and with other newsrooms and community organizations.
• Be proficient with AP Style.

Benefits

• $65,000 – $68,000 annual salary.
• Employer-sponsored health, dental, vision insurance.
• Cell phone stipend (nontaxable).
• Retirement savings plan with a 3% employer match.
• Expense reimbursement, according to published policy.
• Short-term disability insurance.
• 15 days of paid time off in the first year of work; 20 days starting with the second year of employment. 6 personal/sick days.
• Remote work and flex time.
• 13 ½ paid holidays.

Pay

• $65,000 – $68,000 annual salary.

Schedule

• This position is based in Maine. Work can be done from home, but does involve travel for in-person story research and interviews and occasional visits to our offices in Augusta and Hallowell.
• We are a statewide news organization; the person who takes this job must be willing and able to travel to communities around Maine for reporting.