Crime/Breaking News Editor (AJC)
Cox Enterprises, Atlanta, Georgia, United States, 30383
Empower people today to build a better future for the next generation
The AJC’s mission is to be the most essential and engaging source of news and information for the people of Atlanta, Georgia, and the South. To achieve that mission, we are investing and transforming our organization from a storied daily newspaper into a modern media company.
As the Atlanta Journal-Constitution (AJC) transforms from a storied newspaper into a modern media company with influence in Atlanta, Georgia, and all over the South, we seek an experienced editor to lead and help evolve the newsroom’s crime and breaking news teams. The teams consist of a talented group of journalists who range from a few years into their careers to veterans with decades of expertise on their beats. The journalists in these key roles are dedicated to serving the AJC’s audience with urgent, immediate breaking news coverage, thoughtful enterprise that tells the human stories behind crime stats, and illuminating watchdog work that holds public officials accountable.
The ideal candidate has experience covering courts, crime, and legal matters, both from a breaking news and enterprise capacity, and has managed teams that cover those topics. This person should have a working understanding of open records laws, legal search, media law, and courtroom procedures.
This editor should be able to offer sound and timely guidance when coverage involves sensitive topics and should have the discernment to know when to involve the newsroom’s senior leadership and/or lawyers.
The ideal candidate will be a proven leader who loves the energy of breaking news and has a demonstrated knack for guiding reporters to break exclusive news and elevate quick-turn coverage into longer form enterprise and investigative work. The breaking news and crime teams are tasked with being both urgent and immediate, thoughtful and strategic.
As the AJC expands and evolves to meet the growing appetite of an increasingly digital and mobile audience, this editor should help reporting teams tell stories in a variety of innovative ways, including with audio and video.
This editor must champion diversity and have a demonstrated ability to ensure accurate, comprehensive coverage that reflects the community, with particular care given to ensuring historically underrepresented voices and communities are served. The person in this full-time, Atlanta-based position will also lend guidance as needed to the weekend reporting team, led by a weekend editor, cops reporters, and a rotating roster of weekend reporters.
This editor will play a key role in live coverage of major breaking crime or courts news, collaborating with leaders throughout the newsroom as news merits. The ideal candidate is a prolific multitasker with sound news judgment and excellent editing/writing skills who can work independently in a fast-paced newsroom environment.
QUALIFICATIONS
Bachelor’s degree in a related field with 6+ years of experience in media/journalism with at least 1 year of experience in a management or leadership role.
May also have a master’s degree with 4+ years of relevant experience, a Ph.D with 1+ years of relevant experience, or 10 years of related experience with no degree. 3 or more years of leadership experience is preferred.
Recent experience leading teams that cover crime and public safety and breaking news.
Demonstrated strong news judgment, sense of urgency, excellent editing ability, and collaborative spirit.
Demonstrated ability to lead teams to follow standards and execute large-scale breaking news.
Reliable transportation and home Internet access.
While this position allows hybrid work, it will be based in metro Atlanta and will require some days in the AJC’s office. Some weekend and night work may be required as news events merit.
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As the Atlanta Journal-Constitution (AJC) transforms from a storied newspaper into a modern media company with influence in Atlanta, Georgia, and all over the South, we seek an experienced editor to lead and help evolve the newsroom’s crime and breaking news teams. The teams consist of a talented group of journalists who range from a few years into their careers to veterans with decades of expertise on their beats. The journalists in these key roles are dedicated to serving the AJC’s audience with urgent, immediate breaking news coverage, thoughtful enterprise that tells the human stories behind crime stats, and illuminating watchdog work that holds public officials accountable.
The ideal candidate has experience covering courts, crime, and legal matters, both from a breaking news and enterprise capacity, and has managed teams that cover those topics. This person should have a working understanding of open records laws, legal search, media law, and courtroom procedures.
This editor should be able to offer sound and timely guidance when coverage involves sensitive topics and should have the discernment to know when to involve the newsroom’s senior leadership and/or lawyers.
The ideal candidate will be a proven leader who loves the energy of breaking news and has a demonstrated knack for guiding reporters to break exclusive news and elevate quick-turn coverage into longer form enterprise and investigative work. The breaking news and crime teams are tasked with being both urgent and immediate, thoughtful and strategic.
As the AJC expands and evolves to meet the growing appetite of an increasingly digital and mobile audience, this editor should help reporting teams tell stories in a variety of innovative ways, including with audio and video.
This editor must champion diversity and have a demonstrated ability to ensure accurate, comprehensive coverage that reflects the community, with particular care given to ensuring historically underrepresented voices and communities are served. The person in this full-time, Atlanta-based position will also lend guidance as needed to the weekend reporting team, led by a weekend editor, cops reporters, and a rotating roster of weekend reporters.
This editor will play a key role in live coverage of major breaking crime or courts news, collaborating with leaders throughout the newsroom as news merits. The ideal candidate is a prolific multitasker with sound news judgment and excellent editing/writing skills who can work independently in a fast-paced newsroom environment.
QUALIFICATIONS
Bachelor’s degree in a related field with 6+ years of experience in media/journalism with at least 1 year of experience in a management or leadership role.
May also have a master’s degree with 4+ years of relevant experience, a Ph.D with 1+ years of relevant experience, or 10 years of related experience with no degree. 3 or more years of leadership experience is preferred.
Recent experience leading teams that cover crime and public safety and breaking news.
Demonstrated strong news judgment, sense of urgency, excellent editing ability, and collaborative spirit.
Demonstrated ability to lead teams to follow standards and execute large-scale breaking news.
Reliable transportation and home Internet access.
While this position allows hybrid work, it will be based in metro Atlanta and will require some days in the AJC’s office. Some weekend and night work may be required as news events merit.
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