Texas Political Editor

TEXAS POLITICAL EDITOR

Texas, Austin Preferred | Full-Time | $90,000 - $105,000

Join Courier Newsroom - an organization that drives journalism and empowers communities.

At Courier Newsroom, we’re reinventing local media to inform and empower communities through impactful reporting. Our mission is rooted in civic engagement and equity—and we’re growing fast.

We are presently looking for a Texas Political Editor to lead our political coverage in
Texas, executing our content strategy in conjunction with Courier’s VP of Political Content, and overseeing Courier Texas’ local political correspondents.

COURIER Newsroom is committed to building an inclusive workplace that values diverse perspectives and lived experiences. We strongly encourage women, people of color, individuals with disabilities, LGBTQ+ candidates, and those from all backgrounds to apply. As an equal opportunity employer, we strive to break down barriers and ensure every team member feels seen, heard, and supported.

RESPONSIBILITIES

This position will initially be responsible for a mix of reporting on the Texas legislature and statewide politics, and editing/management of our local correspondents. As we build out our Texas newsroom and expand across the state, however, the role will evolve into a full-time editing and management role providing guidance to our local political correspondents so they can connect important policy decisions to the day-to-day lives of Texans. This role will also launch and write an weekly aggregated political newsletter to amplify our political coverage. In addition, this role requires fostering and maintaining relationships with key political stakeholders in the state.

This is a remote position, and the ideal candidate will reside in the Austin area, but candidates in other locales across Texas will also be considered.

Specific Responsibilities include:

• Develop a deep understanding of the mission and core audience for the state and best practices for communicating with that audience.
• Regularly brainstorm and pitch story and content ideas that align with our key issue beats.
• Assign stories to and take pitches from local political correspondents and edit stories they file, while also reviewing their videos and multi-media content.
• Work with the VP of Political Content as well as local political correspondents to ensure a steady flow of political coverage throughout each week.
• Work with our local political correspondents in Texas to develop, produce, and grow personalized journalistic products, such as newsletters or video series.
• Work collaboratively with our local newsletter editors in Texas, the Texas Social
  Media Manager, and our Texas Organizing Director to ensure the state team collaborates and develops content that is strategic, compelling, informative, and helps grow our audiences.
• Author a weekly political newsletter amplifying our political reporting.
• Take lead on republishing political reporting from other sites that allow republishing
• Build connections with political and community leaders/staff in the state, leaning on our Texas Organizing Director for support as needed.
• Utilize resources and editorial guidance provided by senior political and partnership leadership.
• Ensure all political coverage graphics and videos are branded with consistency and match community/local news content as well.

The ideal candidate will have some of the following:

• 5-7+ years’ experience in political reporting/editing or multi-media content creation.
• Experience editing and managing reporters.
• Desire to be a part of a new media model that meets people where they are—most often on social platforms—and looking to leverage their talents to protect democracy through left-leaning, factual, relevant information rooted in shared values and well-being.
• Experience using Facebook, Instagram, TikTok, and other social platforms.
• Able to produce compelling social media posts that deliver key information to our audience in five seconds or less.
• Comfortable in front of a camera.
• Experience using Canva or Photoshop.
• Experience editing videos.
• A grasp of AP Style
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills with a strong sense of
  voice and tone.
• Have experience with or a willingness to learn WordPress.
• Be able to pivot/switch direction as priorities and projects change.
• Be comfortable in a startup environment.
• Demonstrate an eagerness to collaborate as part of a cross-functional state
  team and COURIER’s broader political reporting team.

Courier Newsroom offers the following benefits:

• Unlimited Paid Time Off (PTO), 11 paid holidays a year
• An Employee Assistance Program (EAP)
• Full suite of health benefits
• $500 home office reimbursement
• 401k
• Flexible working arrangements