KQED seeks a supervising senior editor to help lead the newsroom in deciding and executing editorial priorities on coverage of race and equity. The social construct of race permeates our society and institutions, and we see a need to identify and name the ways that white supremacy has a role in our journalism and find solutions to break those patterns and create an anti-racist newsroom. This is a brand-new role in our newsroom, and we are looking for a supervising senior editor who can work with us to help define the needs of this role.

This supervising senior editor will be a newsroom leader who pushes our coverage to get beneath individual events to examine the patterns, policies, power structures and habits driving those events. This supervising senior editor will work as part of our newsroom leadership to take our editorial priorities and help decide how to greenlight stories and projects with those guiding principles in mind. The role spans all KQED coverage and reports to the Director of News. This opportunity calls for a journalist with a deep understanding of how racism and inequity are perpetuated through journalism and storytelling -- someone who can identify the points in the editorial workflow where all editors and reporters need to develop and use cultural competency in the service of our community.

This supervising senior editor will work closely with the director of news, managing editor of digital news, senior editors, editors, reporters and producers throughout the newsroom. One of this supervising senior editor’s responsibilities is to generate and shape story ideas and execute edits with members of the newsroom. This supervising senior editor will join an editorial team that collectively creates a common vocabulary around race and equity so the newsroom can have meaningful conversations about race and inequity and how those show up in our coverage.

The supervising senior editor will also work with KQED’s audience development and insights teams to analyze audience metrics that show how the newsroom coverage is reflecting all of the communities of the Bay Area.

One of our core beliefs at KQED is that we are better together, and that we commit to grow and improve each day, and hold ourselves accountable when we fall short of that commitment. And when we do not stick to our values, our actions will disproportionately hurt the most marginalized people in society — including Black, Indigenous, and all people of color, people with disabilities, and LGBTQIA+ people. We believe that these communities must be centered in the work we do. We strongly encourage applicants from all marginalized communities. The journalist in this role will support efforts to ensure that the newsroom has an inclusive culture.

KQED’s newsroom is one that both welcomes dissent and values an environment of collaboration, kindness and trust. That trust helps to create the baseline for a productive creative process that KQED strives to support and maintain. We are also a newsroom that encourages, even enforces, that our people take breaks.

If you are committed to anti-racism, inclusion and great storytelling, please consider applying -- even if you don’t think you have some of the skills on this list.

Essential Functions:

• Manage a team of KQED senior editors and guide them to frame stories and coverage with a deep understanding of systemic racism and income inequity
• Set daily and long-term production deadlines through participation in meetings and ongoing conversations
• Design, set scope and lead teams in limited series work and realistically map workflow
• Lead blue-sky brainstorming for collaborative project work for teams
• Lead teams in group editing on long-form audio stories
• Provide clear guidance and feedback to staff. Assess performance of staff by establishing standards and working to encourage professional development
• Communicate continuously, collaboratively and effectively with KQED senior leadership
• Fills in for other editors and on other desks as appropriate

Additional Duties:

• Collaborate with Marketing, Corporate Sponsorship, and Development teams
• Assist in recruiting and hiring new team members
• Represent KQED internally and externally

Knowledge/Experience Required:

• Audio production and editing proficiency
• Exemplary communication and collaboration skills
• Commitment to mentoring, coaching and developing journalistic talent in a newsroom organization. Ability to identify on the job learning opportunities
• Strong cultural competency and ability to lead a diverse staff
• Strong writing, producing and editing skills

Knowledge/Experience Desired:

• Familiarity with design thinking practices and principles and their application in story conception
• Experience in building highly functioning and diverse creative teams
• A minimum of two years’ experience as an editor or manager in journalism
• Proficiency in audience data and able to incorporate analysis of that data into editorial decision-making
• Interest in or knowledge of the Bay Area, its people, culture and issues of importance to those who live here

 

Let us tell you more about our benefits:

Whether you’re single, married, have children, are in a domestic partnership or anything in between, we have you covered. Employees at KQED enjoy a family-friendly workplace offering 20 days of paid time off, 11 paid holidays, paid parental leave, family medical leave benefits, comprehensive health/vision/dental and commuter benefits as well as a 403(b) plan. KQED encourages diversity, openness and offers training to support personal and professional development. In addition, we are proud to offer Employee Resource Groups, wellness programs as well as free KQED membership.

The mission that drives us:

KQED is for everyone who wants to be more.    
Our television, radio, digital media, and educational services change lives for the better and help individuals and communities achieve their full potential.

KQED serves the people of Northern California with a community-supported alternative to commercial media.    
We provide citizens with the knowledge they need to make informed decisions; convene community dialogue; bring the arts to everyone and engage audiences to share their stories. We help students and teachers thrive in 21st-century classrooms, and take people of all ages on journeys of exploration- exposing them to new people, places and ideas.

We celebrate diversity, embrace innovation, value lifelong learning and partner with those who share our passion for public services.

https://kqed.applytojob.com/apply/SyozlSoyVe/FullTime-Supervising-Senior-Editor-Race-And-Equity