Deputy Managing Editor, Culture & Community

Position Summary: 

MPR News is seeking a Deputy Managing Editor (DME) to manage the Culture & Community Team. This leader possesses tactical and strategic news leadership skills that will help the newsroom grow its audience across multiple channels. As the DME, you will report directly to the Managing Editor, News and collaborate with the news leadership team to guide editorial direction and deliver fact-based, unbiased news that builds trust and informs, includes and inspires. You will champion producing impactful journalism and develop diverse stories produced by your team that are reflective of all voices across Minnesota. You will also develop your team’s enterprise reporting that helps our audience understand issues and topics in their community and beyond. In addition, as DME, you will engage news and community partners throughout the region on coverage plans and content sharing with an eye on strategic growth opportunities for MPR News as we work to innovate and create the future of public media.

In your role as DME, you will develop detailed plans to reach concrete goals, guide journalists to realize those plans, and prepare coverage plans and analysis that are measurable. You will elevate enterprising storytelling in the newsroom and work with reporters and editors to hone their impactful journalism on multiple channels.

As DME, some of your primary day-to-day focus will be to manage your editors and team reporting workflows, publishing content on various channels including audio, video, digital and social, and developing content and coverage plans with other newsroom stakeholders.  You may be called on to fill in for other editors as well as manage special reporting projects.

You must have a command for mentoring and motivating others and raising the bar on exceptional journalism production of daily news and enterprise reporting. Because your team and their beats often are the main story of the day, you must work urgently and diligently with your team to turn stories quickly in breaking or major news situations to best serve the audience. You are a lead coach for reporters and others in the newsroom. You can inspire and elevate the skills of reporters, and develop other editors, as well as grow the capabilities of interns and fellows. Superb communication skills and fierce accountability for the team’s delivery and performance of engaging, audience-centric, high-quality journalism is required.

Expected Compensation Range: $120,000 - $135,000 USD annualized. Exact rate determined by experience and education related to the role, organizational compensation structure, and internal equity.

Work Location: On-Site St. Paul, MN

Application Process: Applicants must be authorized to work for ANY employer in the U.S. We are unable to sponsor or take over sponsorship of an employment Visa at this time.

Application Deadline: Until filled.

Position Responsibilities:  

• Build coverage plans and content strategies for diverse communities that grow MPR News’ reach and audience across multiple channels
• Supervise, coach and hold accountable staff on performance and deadlines of writing, delivery and reporting, including rich narrative storytelling in audio and text
• Manage and collaborate with internal and external news partners as assigned  
• Assigns stories (or other segments)
• Coordinate across newsroom teams on publishing, strategy, production, visual journalism, data journalism and legal review as needed
• Contribute to setting coverage priorities with other editors
• Participate in all applicable editorial meetings
• Responsible for extending knowledge and expertise to others

Required Education and Experience: 

• Bachelor’s degree in journalism, English, or similar field or related work experience
• Five years editing or other similar supervisory news experience
• 10 years journalism reporting or producing experience
• Experience leading a team and/or major news processes and coverage plans

Required Skills, Knowledge and Abilities:  

• Experience maintaining high journalistic standards under deadline pressure, including standards of objectivity, balance and fairness
• Proficient in news gathering, AP style editing, and fact-checking
• Ability to inspire, mentor, and build successful teams
• Experience covering diverse and complex issues, within a broad spectrum of communities and perspectives
• Multichannel journalism and news gathering experience, including audio, digital, social
• Ability to handle coverage for breaking and challenging news events
• Ability to seek out and incorporate findings using audience engagement tools/methods
• Capable of fostering a culture of equity and inclusion in support of organizational goals

Preferred Skills and Experience: 

• Prior audio editing experience a plus
• Command of audience engagement and growth strategies across channels
• News leadership or management experience
• Data journalism experience or training
• Knowledge of Spanish, Somali, Hmong or other popular languages used in Minnesota 
• Proficiency with social media channels
• Experience working with digital content management systems

Reporting to this Position: Editors & Interns

Physical Demands and Working Conditions: 

• Must be able to perform the essential duties of the position with or without reasonable accommodation. 
• Ability to manage some work outside of standard office hours as needed. 
• Physical Demands:  
  • Required to move about in an office environment and sit for extended periods of time 
  • Required to move about in the community 
  • Frequent use of hands for data entry/keystrokes and simple grasping 
• Working Conditions:  
• Moderate noise level 

APMG offers a comprehensive benefits package including Medical plans with HSA and FSA options, Dental, Vision, Life and AD&D, Short-Term and Long-Term Disability, Paid Parental Leave and Paid Caregiver Leave after 1 year, Vacation (3 wks./per year, pro-rated, based on hours worked), Sick time (12 days, pro-rated, based on hours worked), Holiday Pay (10 holidays + 2 floating holidays each year), Volunteer Time (8 hours per year), Long-Term Care and Critical Illness insurance options, Employee Assistance Program, 403(b) Retirement Plan, and more.

Diversity creates a healthier atmosphere: All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, age, national origin, protected veteran status, disability status, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, marital status, genetic information, or any other characteristic protected by law. 

We are committed to hiring a breadth of diverse professionals and encourage members of diverse groups to apply.

Equal Opportunity Employer
This employer is required to notify all applicants of their rights pursuant to federal employment laws. For further information, please review the Know Your Rights notice from the Department of Labor.