Reporter or Editor Story Editor
Job Description
Chalkbeat the growing nonprofit news organization telling the story of public education across the country, seeks a story editor who will make our stories sing.
Chalkbeat has seven bureaus — Indiana, New York, Chicago, Colorado, Detroit, Newark, and Tennessee — plus a national desk. The story editor will edit two bureaus to be determined. Stories include daily news pieces, step-back analyses, and longer enterprise work. Our story editing process is thorough, collaborative, precise, and fast-paced. Story editors work one-on-one with bureau chiefs and reporters, providing crucial perspective, adding regional or national context, and ensuring that stories read logically, adhere to Chalkbeat style, and are properly sourced. While each piece that comes across the transom is different, all of our stories taken together should add up to a coherent whole, and the story editor is essential to achieving that goal through a mix of line editing, copy editing, and pulled-back critical thinking.
This position will report to the managing editor for style and standards.
Who are you?
You’re a diehard and experienced editor fluent in AP Style who believes that equity in education and incisive education coverage are critical to civic life. Although this position does not manage writers directly, you possess a mentoring spirit that’s able to coax the best story possible from reporters both green and seasoned. You believe it’s better to teach than to tell. You live by your gut instinct for a good story and whack your way through unnecessary words to smooth and tighten. You can write nut grafs in your sleep. You’re used to being busy and you thrive under pressure. You edit quickly and will occasionally work late.
Required background and skills:
- 5+ years experience in daily journalism
- Expertise in story shaping, line editing, and copy editing.
- Experience working in a CMS.
- Stellar news judgment.
- Strong interpersonal skills with a knack for working with opinionated reporters and editors.
- Passion for education is a must; knowledge of education is a plus, but not required.
- Journalism experience in New York, Denver, Indianapolis, Detroit, Memphis, Chicago, Newark, and/or the Bay Area is a plus.
Note: We know there are great candidates who may not have all the skills we list, or who have other skills we haven’t thought of. If that sounds like you, please still apply and tell us more about yourself!
The ideal candidate is based in New York or another Chalkbeat bureau, but remote candidates will be considered.
This is a full-time position with benefits. Chalkbeat offers a competitive salary, commensurate with experience, and a generous benefits package, including a paid winter recess from Dec. 24-Jan. 1.
About Chalkbeat:
Chalkbeat is the nonprofit news organization committed to covering one of America’s most important stories: the effort to improve schools for all children, especially those who have historically lacked access to a quality education. We are mission-driven journalists who believe that an independent local press is vital to ensuring that education improves. Currently in seven locations and growing, we seek to provide deep local coverage of education policy and practice that informs decisions and actions, leading to better schools. Read more about our mission, values, and five-year strategic plan.
How to Apply
Please send a PDF of your resume and a cover letter to careers@chalkbeat.org. Include “Story Editor” in the subject line. Your letter must answer these prompts:
- What is your editing philosophy?
- Provide an example of how you’ve used that philosophy to elevate a reporter’s work.
Chalkbeat is dedicated to equal employment opportunities for all applicants and employees. Chalkbeat encourages people of all races, colors, national origins, ancestries, creeds, religions, genders, ages, disabilities, veteran status, sexual orientations, and marital statuses to apply.
