Network Editorial Director - High Plains Civic Media Network

About this position

This newly created position is an opportunity to play a leading role in the creation of a reimagined and innovative model for providing civic news and information across the High Plains region. The model is centered on creating and working with a wide network of individual and organizational contributors to provide a steady stream of content across media platforms that well serves the needs and interest of residents of the High Plains. The development of the High Plains Civic Media Network (HPCMN) is the core strategic initiative of High Plains Public Radio (HPPR) in seeking to grow its audience and increase its daily value to residents of the High Plains region. For full details on the position's responsibilities, requirements and how to apply, as well as information on the HPCMN , visit https://www.hppr.org/great-job-opportunities-for-serving-the-high-plains.

Responsibilities include:

Audience understanding

• Developing a comprehensive and dynamic understanding of the needs, interests and perspectives of residents of the High Plains and how the HPCMN can best serve them
• Participating in the design of formal audience research projects to identify and understand audiences’ needs and interest, platform usage, news sources and levels of satisfaction
• Conducting ongoing audience polling and engagement on personal interests, community needs, coverage ideas, service satisfaction and other matters to guide the ongoing development of the HPCMN

Contributor network development

• Identifying and recruiting area individuals and organizations for multiple roles in the network, including Community Correspondents, Topical Correspondents, Regional Curators and Community Connectors
• Widening the inclusiveness of the contributor network across multiple dimensions, including geography, cultural background, life experiences, occupation, political orientation and other dimensions reflective of residents of the High Plains region
• Developing a regional perspective and regional identity across the network of contributors
• Working with public media partners on content sharing, coverage coordination, joint coverage projects and other actions to strengthen the HPCMN and increase its reach beyond the High Plains region

Platform, format and production guidelines

• Developing standards, practices and guidelines for network contributors for creating and publishing content across platforms used by the HPCMN
• Developing guidelines for various content formats and styles to be used by network contributors
• Ensuring the integrity and quality of all content published by the HPCMN in accord with its defined standards and guidelines

Coverage planning and direction

• Prioritizing coverage by the network to best serve existing and evolving civic needs and interests of High Plains residents
• Working across the contributor network to make suggestions and assignments for coverage
• Assisting network contributors in developing and shaping their story ideas into audience-focused content for publication through the HPCMN

Editorial and publishing support for contributors

• Reviewing and editing contributor submissions
• Providing instruction and guidance on journalism practices, standards and ethics
• Designing efficient, end-to-end workflows and checklists for network contributors to use in creating content
• Assessing editorial skill development needs across the contributor network (e.g. journalism basics, writing styles, digital storytelling, data use) and providing or arranging training sessions and workshops to build needed skills

Content production

• Directly producing content as needed and opportune to supplement and complement the work of network contributors
• Designing and producing newsletters, drawing on and packaging the content produced by the contributor network
• Backfilling as needed for other staff and contributors to maintain the flow of content to audiences

Audience development

• Continually tracking and assessing HPCMN’s overall audience reach and engagement across platforms through digital audience data
• Providing feedback and guidance to network contributors on the effectiveness of their audience reach and engagement using audience data
• Using audience data to evaluate the effectiveness of various content topics, formats and platforms and prioritize where and how to develop and direct the network for greater audience growth and engagement
• Working with HPPR staff on overall top-to-bottom audience funnel development initiatives, including awareness marketing, content promotion, audience engagement and conversion to financial support
• Encouraging and supporting contributors to use their own community and social networks to promote their and others’ HPCMN content

Materials to submit to apply:

• Letter of interest in the position
• Resume
• Professional references (at least 3)
• Digital publishing examples (3-5, preferably on more than one platform)
• Links to social media accounts (optional)

Where to submit: Quentin Hope, Executive Director - qhope@hppr.org

Questions and further information: contact Quentin Hope, Executive Director - qhope@hppr.org

Pay: $60,000.00 - $65,000.00 per year

Benefits:

• Health insurance
• Life insurance
• Paid time off
• Professional development assistance

Work Location: Hybrid remote in Garden City, KS 67846