Local Government Editor

Local Government Editor

Were seeking a Local Government editor with a sharp news sense and the ability to spearhead topnotch breaking news and accountability reporting in Houston City Hall Harris County and the suburbs. This person will lead a team of reporters responsible for explaining how what happens in the corridors of power impacts readers daily lives.

As the Local Government editor you will oversee the creation and curation of indepth articles and engaging headlines as news unfolds. Youll oversee the evolution of each story ensuring accurate updates through rigorous verification processes. Collaborating closely with our audience team youll drive the dissemination of news via newsletters alerts and social media channels.

Your leadership will be pivotal in enhancing our content with highquality visuals videos and interactive elements to provide a rich contextual narrative. Beyond managing textbased stories you will guide your reporters in covering news through diverse formats. Your role is to ensure our local government and quality of life coverage is both comprehensive and compelling.

Key responsibilities

• Shape and lead our coverage of city and county politics public policy and quality of life issues with an eagerness to jump on breaking news and the ability to shape indepth reporting
• Craft and edit coverage through a wide range of story forms (quickhits explainers live blogs data tools longform storytelling)
• Develop beat reporting that is audiencecentered and cultivates sourcing obtains public records and delivers scoops. Develop the talents of staffers offering constructive criticism of their work and doing evaluations of reporters
• Coordinate daily with reporters in the field to ensure we produce useful content that Houstonians cant get anywhere else. We aim to break news first and best
• Work collaboratively with other Chronicle team leaders (including the Capitol Bureau editors) the visuals team the data team and the audience team to bring stories to life

Were looking for:

• Shape and lead our coverage with an eagerness to jump on breaking news and nuanced expertise to develop deeper indepth accountability work
• An editor with a proven track record of using metrics to find insights that can shape coverage and help us learn how best to serve our audiences
• Craft and edit coverage through a wide range of digital story forms (quickhits socialfirst content explainers live blogs shortform storytelling longform storytelling videos data visualizations and more)
• Develop beat reporting that is audiencecentered and cultivates sourcing obtains public records and delivers scoops.
• Develop the talents of journalists offering constructive criticism of their work and doing evaluations of reporters and editors
• Coordinate daily with reporters in the field to ensure we produce useful content that Houstonians cant get anywhere else
• Work collaboratively with other Chronicle team leaders the visual team the data team and the audience team to bring stories to life
• Coach best practices in SEO digital tactics and evolving digital storytelling trends.
• Work to build collaborative culture rooted in diverse teams that reflect the metros diversity in every way. This value must carry from culture to sourcing stories and more.
• Have at least 10 years of experience as a senior reporter and/or editor. Knowledge of Houston and Harris County politics and quality of life issues is preferred but not required. (Experience with politics and government in another city if not Houston is strongly preferred)
• Be detailoriented with a proven ability to effectively juggle multiple tasks in a deadlinedriven environment
• Deeply understand journalism ethics and legal standards and an openness to learn and adapt as language changes
• Ability to translate complicated subjects into clear conversational copy
• Strong communication skills and a collaborative approach to working with colleagues

Success is measured by

• Daily cadence of news coverage that consistently beats competitors.
• Primary KPIs:
  • Total visits
  • Conversions
• Secondary KPIs:
  • Offplatform reporting including video
  • Subscriber visits
    
    

About the Houston Chronicle:

The Houston Chronicle recognized for its Pulitzer Prizewinning journalism serves its 2.3 million residents with content and marketing solutions across two of Houstons largest websites HoustonChronicleandChron along with our magazine television and newspaper brands. Our mission is to spark conversations that inspire action to create a better Houston. All our content and the innovative business solutions we provide invite Houstonians to join conversations about a community weve been committed to covering and helping prosper for more than 120 years. The community we all call home.

About Hearst Newspapers:

With 2500 employees across the nation HNP encompasses a network of 24 daily and 52 weekly publications including the San Francisco Chronicle Houston Chronicle San Antonio ExpressNews and Albany Times Union several top digitalonly news and lifestyle sites marketing services businesses and entertainment businesses such as King Features Syndicate.

At HNP we are investing in new and innovative ways to tell stories growing newsrooms diversifying tools evolving platforms to support the millions of people who trust us each month to help them make decisions take action and be inspired.

Be a part of something bigger your headline awaits.

Recognizing the diverse needs of our candidates if you are interested in applying for employment and need assistance or an accommodation to use our website or regarding the application process please contact us by email at Please do not use this email address to inquire about the status of applications. We will only respond to inquiries concerning requests for a reasonable accommodation through this email address.

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