[Hiring] Managing Editor @Spotlight PA

Role Description

Spotlight PA is seeking a managing editor to lead its award-winning State College regional bureau. This bureau covers 14 counties in north-central Pennsylvania and produces in-depth investigative and public-service reporting on:

• Penn State, the commonwealth's most influential university
• The health of the region’s rural communities
• Urgent local government issues

The managing editor supervises three reporters based in north-central Pennsylvania to execute the newsroom’s goal of creating compelling accountability and public-service journalism that gets results. Responsibilities include:

• Assigning beats and coverage
• Coaching reporters on pitches, sourcing, and story structure
• Holding regular one-on-ones
• Setting goals and providing clear feedback
• Addressing performance issues and recommending discipline if necessary
• Approving PTO and schedule changes based on coverage needs
• Leading recruitment and hiring for the team
• Writing and producing Talk of the Town, a three-day-a-week newsletter
• Handling other duties as assigned, including collaboration with community partners
• Appearing at in-person editorial and fundraising events

Qualifications

• Experience overseeing, editing, and executing local journalism from idea through publication
• Strong editing and story organization skills
• Enthusiasm for working one-on-one with reporters at various career stages
• Ability to bring big ideas to the table and execute them
• Strong working knowledge of Centre County and/or north-central Pennsylvania

Requirements

• Full-time availability
• Remote position, but applicants should be based in or willing to relocate to north-central PA
• Salary budgeted between $80,000-$90,000, depending on experience
• Resume and a one-page cover letter required

Benefits

• Full-time position with benefits

Company Description

Spotlight PA is an independent, nonpartisan newsroom founded in 2019 to revitalize investigative and public-service reporting across Pennsylvania. The mission is to hold powerful private and public forces to account by producing nonpartisan journalism that serves the public good.

• Largest collaborative local journalism network in the U.S.
• Stories regularly republished across 125+ partner newsrooms
• Focus on driving positive change through vital reporting