Managing Editor
The Lexington (KY) Herald-Leader is seeking a managing editor who will ensure that all of our journalists are laser-focused on producing quality journalism that serves our readers and our community.
This is a senior-level management position that will have a strong voice in the overall strategy and direction of the newsroom on a daily basis and long-term. The ideal managing editor will be digital-focused and have strong news judgment, writing, editing, social and reader engagement skills along with exceptional coaching abilities and leadership qualities. Working closely with the executive editor, the managing editor will have the authority to use those talents to shape our journalism from story conception to approach to distribution and promotion in order to maximize reach and impact, with an emphasis on strong accountability and watchdog journalism in all aspects of our coverage.
The editor will guide assigning editors, reporters and others throughout the editorial process, using a deep understanding of our audience and our community to help mold our coverage.
The editor will need to do much of this work in a hands-on way and will work directly with reporters in some areas of coverage. At the same time, the editor will be teaching reporters and others to think and work in a reader- and community-centered way.
The managing editor reports to the Herald-Leader’s executive editor/McClatchy’s Central regional editor. The managing editor will guide the work of journalists in the Lexington newsroom and will work closely with the regional audience growth editor, the regional service journalism editor and others to ensure we are collaborating effectively with other McClatchy newsrooms.
Core competencies:
- The proven ability to lead, inspire and convey knowledge to others and to work effectively with a wide range of colleagues in managing change.
- Strong interpersonal skills, including empathy (toward readers and staff).
- The ability to lead, direct, collaborate with and coach colleagues throughout the newsroom and regionally.
- Comfort with a job that will be demanding, fast-paced, constantly evolving, and more outcome-oriented than task-oriented.
- Skill and versatility as an editor and a writer, including the ability to shape everything from breaking news briefs to long-form pieces and watchdog journalism in a way that best serves and engages our audiences.
- Ability to articulate and reinforce standards for ethics and professional conduct as well as journalistic excellence.
- An interest in the science of readership and engagement, and an understanding of how to use readership data to inform the editorial process.
- A focus on ensuring that our content and staffing represents the fullness of our community and state and the diversity of the people who live here.
- The ability to solve problems, innovate and adapt in service of the primary goal, which is to produce quality journalism that reaches and engages readers and subscribers and has an impact.
- Entrepreneurial spirit focused on helping to identify and build new opportunities.
- Enthusiasm for helping to build philanthropic and community support for the journalism we do.
Requirements:
- A track record of journalistic excellence, particularly in digital journalism.
- Strong editing and writing skills and superior news judgment.
- Bachelor’s degree or equivalent
- Proven news editing and management experience
- An interest in and aptitude for storytelling using a broad range of media, including the written word, video, photography, podcasts and other audio, and whatever comes next.