SFO JOB OPP - Managing Editor- newsdesk.org

Managing Editor- newsdesk.org
journalism for democracy
a project of independent arts & media
p.o. box 420442 • san francisco, california 94142
415.738.4975 • info@newsdesk.org • www.newsdesk.org/ • www.artsandmedia.net/
News You Might Have Missed
YOUR LOCAL NEWSDESK: Build the Network
Focus on: Important but overlooked news
Managing Editor: News You Might Have Missed
Wanted: Experienced, talented daily news professional ready to take
the entrepreneurial plunge in nonprofit journalism.
Hours: Full-time (36 hours/week)
Location: Downtown San Francisco
Salary: $33,750/yr. + benefits (starting; $45,000 with full funding)
About Us: The mission of Newsdesk.org is to strengthen democracy by
empowering
journalists and the communities they serve. We produce and promote
commercial-free,
nonpoliticized coverage of important but overlooked news and
underserved communities,
and are building a networked, entrepreneurial model for public media
in the 21st century.
Newsdesk.org is a 2009 Ashoka Changemakers finalist, and has published
News You
Might Have Missed — our unique roundup of important but overlooked
news from
around the world — each Wednesday since February 2002.
About the Job: This is a transitional position linked to our two-year
strategic plan. For
the first three months, the Managing Editor will focus heavily on
frontline research,
writing and editing, and then begin to take on broader oversight and
management duties
as the project grows. The position is funded in part by the Ethics &
Excellence in
Journalism Foundation. The wages are that of a nonprofit startup; this
will change, but it
must be earned by the whole team.
Duties & Responsibilities: Oversee (initially by doing it yourself)
all writing, editing
and online publishing required to take News You Might Have Missed from
weekly to
daily, and develop related content as part of a larger, revenue-
earning syndication project.
Long-term, successful syndication is the key to implementing a two-
year strategic plan to
grow the project, build a stable of contributors, and advance the
larger network vision.
Specific tasks include:
Production Oversight/Coordination
• Set and maintain production and editorial standards
• Establish and maintain production schedule
• Coordinate diverse contributors, including student interns and paid
freelancers
Research, Writing, Editing, Production
• Maintain/update standards for identifying important but overlooked
news and
underserved communities
• Track news sources and issues; maintain and update source list
• Fact-check all material for publication
newsdesk.org
journalism for democracy
a project of independent arts & media
p.o. box 420442 • san francisco, california 94142
415.738.4975 • info@newsdesk.org • www.newsdesk.org/ • www.artsandmedia.net/
News You Might Have Missed
YOUR LOCAL NEWSDESK: Build the Network
Focus on: Important but overlooked news
• Write all headlines, blurbs and captions for Web site and newsletters
• Write (or assign) all articles and news briefs for News You Might
Have Missed
• Working with Project Director, set and maintain standards for house
style/voice
• Comprehensive copy editing and proofreading of all content
• Moderate and respond to comments on site when appropriate
Qualifications:
• Minimum three years in daily (preferred) or weekly news media
• Relevant experience writing and editing hard news, with a track
record of
producing succinct, context-rich copy day in and day out
• BA or MA in journalism/media
• Body of work demonstrating talent and professionalism in news
reporting
• Experience writing and editing for an online audience
• Experience working with diverse contributors and partners in a highly
collaborative environment
• Demonstrated track record as a self-starting, enterprising newshound
TO APPLY
Send an email with a cover letter, resume, three references, and URLs
for three writing
and three editing samples to:
ed-search@newsdesk.org
* Application Deadline: October 12, 2009
* No phone calls or faxes
Independent Arts & Media is committed to workplace diversity, and will
not discriminate
according to race, creed, ethnicity, gender or sexuality.