Managing Editor of The Alaska Desk Alaska Public Media’s new collaborative Salary: $78,000 Location: Alaska based Reports to: Alaska Public Media’s news director Overview: Alaska Public Media is hiring a managing editor for its new, CPB-funded statewide reporting initiative called The Alaska Desk. This initiative is aimed at enhancing the public radio network’s statewide coverage by addressing news deserts and increasing collaboration across more than a dozen stations. The managing editor will lead The Alaska Desk, which will be staffed by four reporters and two other editors with a statewide focus. Our ideal candidate has a clear vision for enhancing statewide collaboration among public media stations and is passionate about implementing that vision. This editor will manage a team of four reporters based at stations while thinking big picture about how to best serve public media audiences around Alaska during a time of immense change in the state. The editor will be well-versed in Alaska issues, the state’s history and coverage themes across communities. They will approach journalism with an audience-focused mindset and guide journalists to report beyond meeting agendas and press releases, diving deep into the state’s biggest topics from the economy to climate to housing. The managing editor will work on the Alaska Desk, and be an employee of Alaska Public Media, Anchorage’s award-winning NPR and PBS station.
Job Requirements
Applicants will be expected to provide: ● A resume.
● A cover letter that addresses the candidate’s professional level work experience as it relates to all required and preferred qualifications. Essential duties and responsibilities: ● Manages and edits four Alaska Desk reporters, based at public media stations around the state. ● Oversees the statewide collaboration between all public media stations in Alaska. ● Leads special project collaborations, including podcasts or special shows. ● Leads weekly editorial calls to identify coverage themes. ● Identifies potential statewide collaboration opportunities with outside entities. ● Edits journalism across mediums. ● Other duties as assigned. Required qualifications: ● At least five years journalism experience. ● Three years management experience, preferably in journalism. ● Experience editing and providing feedback to reporters. ● Deep knowledge of Alaska issues. ● Ability to work in a team-based organization. ● Application of high journalistic standards and news judgment. ● Excellent AP writing skills. Preferred qualifications: ● Bachelor's degree ● Demonstrated interest in motivating teams around a common goal ● An understanding of the importance of collaborative journalism in public media and beyond Employee expectations: ● Detail oriented with ability to manage multiple tasks. ● Flexible, adaptable and proven ability to work in a deadline-driven environment. ● Must be able to occasionally work various hours including nights, weekends and holidays. ● Must have access to reliable transportation, including during inclement weather. Compensation: This position is contingent upon grant funding. The managing editor job is funded by a two-year grant from the Corporation for Public Broadcasting. Grant partners will work to sustain the positions at the end of the grant term, but that funding is not guaranteed.
Competitive benefits package including health, vision and dental insurance, a 401(k) match, generous parental leave, vacation time off and 12 paid holidays. Location: This position could be located at any public media station in Alaska, pending approval, with the option to work from home part of the time. How to apply: Interested candidates should apply by uploading their cover letter and resume at alaskapublic.org/careers by July 12 at 5 p.m. AST. Have questions about this position? Contact Alaska Public Media’s news director at ltownsend@alaskapublic.org.