Politics Editor Job at Dallas News Corp. in Austin

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Job Title

Politics Editor

Business Title

Politics Editor

Education

Bachelor's Degree

Location

Austin Bureau (TDMN) - Austin, TX 78701 US
Downtown Dallas (TDMN) - Dallas, TX 75201 US (Primary)

Salary Grade

Job Type

Full-Time

Exemption Type

Exempt

Travel

Some Travel

Job Description

Texas politics is at the center of the debates over immigration, education reform and social issues. It’s a dynamic political environment populated with complex and compelling characters who draw national attention.

The Dallas Morning News is seeking an experienced politics editor to lead the six-person team that covers this fascinating landscape. The team is centered in Austin and has journalists in Dallas and Washington, D.C.

The ideal candidate will have a strategic vision for how The Dallas Morning News can distinguish its coverage by going deep on the most important issues, driving conversations that help our readers understand key issues, breaking urgent and trending political news from key players while developing coverage that is innovative and informative.

A key focus is on how political leaders and entities based in Texas impact life in North Texas – whether that’s our state Legislature in its biennial session, state executives such as Gov. Greg Abbott, Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick and Attorney General Ken Paxton, the political elites that lead the major parties, or our congressional delegation that holds significant sway inside the DC beltway.

The ideal candidate will have experience growing and developing journalists of varying experience levels. Our emphasis is on accountability, and this editor needs to be adept at helping reporters develop a mix of mid- and long-term investigative and accountability work, as well as knowing what breaking and trending stories demand attention immediately. They should be an inclusive thinker, who can weed out bias and tone in writing and story ideas.

They will have a digital-first approach to journalism and will be proficient at helping reporters find and develop stories that are urgent, aggressive, revelatory and inspiring and that affect and define the quality of life in Texas. They will focus on content that meets audience needs and brings in new readers.

The editor will need to understand the political landscape in Dallas, Texas and Washington with the goal of covering politics with a North Texas focus. The editor must demonstrate a talent for close collaboration with reporters and editors throughout the newsroom as well as the planning and organizational skills for managing elections, events and advance coverage in stressful and shifting circumstances.

This role will be based in either Dallas or Austin, but time would be spent in both markets.

Our politics team includes four reporters based in Austin who focus on the levers of power that drive political decisions, one reporter in Washington, D.C., whose focus is on how what happens there shapes life in North Texas, and a veteran political reporter who pulls it all together for readers.

The Politics Editor reports to the assistant managing editor for news.

Responsibilities

• Oversee the Austin bureau, a reporter in Washington, D.C., and a political reporter in Dallas.
• Guide reporters to find creative storytelling approaches that resonate with readers.
• Help reporters grow and develop their skills.
• Craft a strategy that focuses on strong accountability reporting and distinctive coverage.
• Maintain a political calendar and long-range budget.
• Edit stories with a digital emphasis.
• Ensure stories are reported fairly, accurately and thoroughly, with sharp, compelling writing.
• Ensure stories are focused on impact and people, and feature a variety of grassroots and expert sources reflecting the state’s diverse population.
• Communicate with other teams during news events that require cross-team collaboration.
• Work closely with the audience, visual, graphics and interactive teams on stories.
• Write headlines that sell a story across platforms.
• Adhere to company values and newsroom guidelines, including standards of journalism ethics.

Job Requirements

• At least 10 years’ related experience in newspaper reporting and editing is ideal, as well as a bachelor’s degree in journalism or a related field.
• Experience leading a team of reporters.
• Demonstrated strong writing and editing skills.
• Prior political reporting or editing experience is preferred.
• Familiarity with Texas and Texas politics is a plus.
• Applicants must be able to lead people, manage assignments and coordinate efforts with other departments in fast-moving situations and to develop talent.
• An inclusive and diverse leadership style is mandatory.