Local Government Editor Job at Hearst Communications, Inc. in Houston

Local Government Editor

We’re seeking a Local Government editor with a sharp news sense and the ability to spearhead top-notch 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 in-depth articles and engaging headlines as news unfolds. You’ll oversee the evolution of each story, ensuring accurate updates through rigorous verification processes. Collaborating closely with our audience team, you'll drive the dissemination of news via newsletters, alerts, and social media channels.

Your leadership will be pivotal in enhancing our content with high-quality visuals, videos, and interactive elements to provide a rich, contextual narrative. Beyond managing text-based 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 in-depth reporting.
• Craft and edit coverage through a wide range of story forms (quick-hits, explainers, live blogs, data tools, long-form storytelling).
• Develop beat reporting that is audience-centered 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 can’t 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.

We’re looking for:

• 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 (quick-hits, social-first content, explainers, live blogs, short-form storytelling, long-form storytelling, videos, data visualizations and more).
• Develop beat reporting that is audience-centered 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 can’t 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 a collaborative culture rooted in diverse teams that reflect the metro’s diversity in every way.
• 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 detail-oriented with a proven ability to effectively juggle multiple tasks in a deadline-driven 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:
  • Off-platform reporting, including video
  • Subscriber visits