Summary:

The Mercury News and East Bay Times are looking for a sharp, ambitious editor to help lead coverage of one of the Bay Area’s most important and complicated regions.

The East Bay is a place of power, pressure and change: major cities and small communities, deep wealth and deep inequality, housing fights, public safety debates, political shifts, schools under strain and neighborhoods being reshaped in real time. We want an editor who can see the story before everyone else does, move quickly when news breaks and help reporters turn daily developments into coverage that matters.

This is not a passive editing job. It is a leadership role for someone who wants to make things happen.

You will work closely with reporters, editors, visual journalists and audience teams to drive urgent daily coverage, smart follow-ups, accountability work and ambitious enterprise. We need someone with excellent news judgment, strong deadline instincts and a coaching style that helps reporters produce their best work.

The right editor will know when to move fast, when to slow a story down, when to push for one more question and when to elevate a good idea into something memorable. We’re looking for someone who can guide coverage with clarity, confidence and curiosity, while keeping accuracy, fairness and reader trust at the center of everything we publish.

Candidates must be based in the East Bay and able to work at least three days a week from a combination of the Concord and Oakland offices.

What you will do:

• Manage and coach journalists with a range of experience, helping them produce urgent daily coverage, strong enterprise, accountability stories, explainers, and centerpiece work for digital and print audiences

• Provide strong, thoughtful editing on deadline, with a focus on accuracy, fairness, clarity and impact

• Help set coverage priorities for the East Bay, including breaking news, public safety, local government, housing, education, courts, transportation, politics and community life

• Work with reporters to develop enterprise ideas, sharpen story framing and identify follow-up coverage that moves beyond incremental updates

• Collaborate with editors across the newsroom, as well as visual, digital and audience teams, to make sure our strongest work reaches readers in the most effective way

• Use audience data and newsroom priorities to guide coverage decisions without losing sight of public-service journalism and reader trust

• Help plan coverage across platforms, including digital, newsletters, social, print and front-page presentations

What you will bring:

• At least three years of editing experience, preferably in a daily newsroom

• Slack, Zoom, Google Workspace, and WordPress. Experience with analytics tools and digital publishing systems is a plus

• Excellent news judgment and the ability to make quick, sound decisions under deadline pressure

• A strong record of coaching reporters, improving stories and developing ambitious coverage

• Strong organizational, planning and communication skills

• A competitive mindset and a collaborative leadership style

• Comfort with audience metrics and digital publishing strategy

• A commitment to accuracy, fairness, accountability, and serving diverse Bay Area communities

• A bachelor’s degree in journalism or a related field is preferred, though equivalent experience will be considered

• In our diverse region, fluency in a second language is a plus

Benefits and Compensation:

The salary OR salary range is $80,000 - $90,000 + Cell stipend and mileage reimbursement. Pay is based on several factors including but not limited to geographic location, education, work experience, time in role, certifications, etc. In addition to your salary, the Company offers eligible employees a variety of benefits including medical, dental, life and disability insurance, 401k, as well as paid time off and select paid holidays (all benefits are based on eligibility). Please click the following link for more detailed information: www.mymedianewsgroup.com

Who we are:

As the Bay Area's top source for local news, the Bay Area News Group reaches more than 5 million people weekly through a powerful combination of print and digital products. Our publications include The Mercury News serving Silicon Valley and the Peninsula; the East Bay Times serving Oakland, Walnut Creek, Pleasanton and the rest of the East Bay; and more than 20 weekly publications. We connect with a diverse and engaged audience, offering a premiere local news report and comprehensive advertising and marketing solutions across web, mobile and print platforms. The Bay Area News Group is a subsidiary of MediaNews Group, which has 49 Pulitzer Prizes and a nationwide audience, delivering award-winning content across 800 platforms and leading the transformation of the news industry.

“4x Built In Best Places to Work Winner - 2023-2026”  

EEO Statement:

We are an equal opportunity employer. All applicants will be considered for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, veteran, or disability status.

How To Apply:

• Please submit an online application along with your resume for this position here. In addition to your resume, please include a cover letter

Closing Date:

• Continuous recruitment until the position is filled

Conditions of Employment: 

• A full pre-employment[background check and MVR will be conducted as part of the selection process. Must be willing to submit and pass the necessary required checks

• Must possess and maintain a valid driver’s license and have reliable transportation

• This position entails occasional in-person training sessions and/or meetings. The employee will be responsible for transporting themselves to the site

• Must be available for shift work. May be required to work various hours for coverage outside of normal business hours

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