Photo by Christina @ wocintechchat.com on Unsplash

Managing editor

MLK50: Justice Through Journalism is hiring a managing editor to supervise news coverage for our small and scrappy digital newsroom. You’ll be the #2 on the editorial side, where you’ll manage the editorial calendar; develop and oversee publishing processes; assign and edit stories; write and edit newsletters and help manage our social media channels.

You will report to the executive editor and work closely with the senior editor and visuals director to supervise staff reporters and freelancers.

The successful candidate would be expected to live in Memphis or relocate. We will work with the employee to determine a moving schedule that incorporates the latest local public health advice and the employee’s safety concerns. We are not considering long-term remote candidates.

The organization:

Founded in 2017, MLK50 is an ambitious nonprofit digital newsroom focused on poverty, power and policy. Our mission is to report on the intersection of poverty, power and policy, and to equip residents to pursue reform.

Since 2017, MLK50’s journalists have won several national and regional awards, including the Selden Ring Award for investigative reporting. We believe in collaboration: We’ve partnered with national outlets such as ProPublica and The Marshall Project, and are leading the Memphis Media Collaborative, a group of four local news outlets.

We are fiscally sponsored by Community LIFT. Our core funders include the Surdna Foundation, the American Journalism Project and Racial Equity in Journalism at Borealis Philanthropy.

Job responsibilities:

  • Maintain MLK50’s editorial calendar and manage our website.
  • Frame news coverage through the lens of the most vulnerable, with a focus on poverty, power and policy.
  • Work closely with the executive editor, senior editor, visuals director and social media team.
  • Oversee MLK50’s social media channels.
  • Produce and publish regular newsletters.
  • Supervise reporters, including making assignments, coaching through story ideas and editing stories.
  • Help conceptualize multimedia elements including audio, video, photography and graphics.
  • Occasionally write and report stories.
  • And the ubiquitous duties as assigned.

You’ll be a good fit if:

  • You have at least seven years of local/regional news experience, at least two of which should be as an editor.
  • You have stellar news judgment and sharp editorial instincts.
  • You have impeccable editing, copy editing skills and a commitment to excellence in this area.
  • You have a demonstrated commitment to cultural competency.
  • You have a collaborative spirit and are calm under pressure.
  • You have a deep-seated commitment to independent, local journalism.
  • You’re proficient in WordPress, Google Docs, Google Sheets, Google Analytics, Slack and social scheduling tools.
  • You are detail oriented, super organized and adept at managing multiple projects, people and deadlines simultaneously.
  • You can dream big, execute efficiently, anticipate challenges and look out for opportunities.
  • You enjoy developing reporters and story ideas.

Compensation and benefits:

  • Full-time, exempt role with benefits
  • Salary starting at $80,000
  • $1,000 professional development stipend
  • 10 days paid time off, 10 paid holidays (Memorial Day, Juneteenth, July 4th, Labor Day, Thanksgiving Eve and Day, Christmas Eve and Day, New Year’s Eve and Day)
  • Flexible work schedule — some night/weekend hours will be required
  • Up to $3,000 reimbursement for moving expenses

Application process:

To apply, please send the following to hr@mlk50.com by 12 p.m. CT, Thursday, July 27:

  • Your resume/CV.
  • A cover letter/statement of interest. Tell us why you are a good fit for MLK50. What does journalism at the intersection of poverty, power and policy look like to you? Describe a time you managed a team/project.
  • Links to at least four samples of your best work, including major stories you’ve written, stories you’ve edited and/or projects you’ve coordinated, with a summary of your role.

We encourage members of traditionally underrepresented communities to apply, including women, people of color, LGBTQ people and people with disabilities.

If you meet most of the qualifications but not every single one, apply anyway. We’re growing, so if you’re not right for this job, you might be right for the next one.

Applications will be reviewed and interviews scheduled on a rolling basis, giving an advantage to early applicants.

Please send questions to hr@mlk50.com.