Deputy managing editor/senior reporter Position Available In Buncombe, North Carolina
Tallo's Job Summary: The Deputy Managing Editor/Senior Reporter position at Asheville Watchdog offers an annual salary of $75,000-$80,000, along with generous benefits. The ideal candidate will have a track record in reporting and editing, with a focus on investigative journalism. Responsibilities include producing impactful stories, generating investigative ideas, and collaborating with the team. Applicants should send their materials to Managing Editor Keith Campbell.
Job Description
Asheville Watchdog is looking for a skilled journalist to join our award-winning team in western North Carolina as deputy managing editor/senior reporter. We’re seeking a “player-coach” who will be equally adept at reporting and editing and who should expect to spend roughly 25 percent of his or her time editing and 75 percent reporting and writing.
The successful candidate will have a track record of building sources quickly, writing quickly and cleanly, and be equally comfortable with shoe-leather reporting and using data and public records. He or she will be adroit at shaping story ideas and guiding stories through revisions that take our journalism to a higher level.
We’re a small, highly collaborative team, so the successful candidate must have a record of working well with others. That person will join a dynamic, nonprofit newsroom whose mission is to inform and engage the citizens of Asheville and surrounding communities by providing fair, factual, and trustworthy in-depth news stories about local government, institutions, issues, and people. We’re renowned for producing high-impact work, and our reporters and editors have won Pulitzer Prizes and other national awards throughout their careers. Since we launched our site in early 2020, we’ve consistently punched above our weight, which has led to dramatic audience growth and engagement. We expect this hire to help us continue that trajectory.
The position pays an annual salary of $75,000-$80,000, and comes with a generous mix of paid time off plus all federal holidays, and a stipend to assist in paying for health insurance. We expect the successful candidate to be comfortable working remotely as we don’t have a physical newsroom. We provide our employees a laptop, cellphone and other work tools. Asheville is renowned for its art and food scene, craft breweries and outdoor activities in the beautiful Blue Ridge mountains. It’s also rich with accountability and investigative story possibilities.
The position reports to Managing Editor Keith Campbell. Applicants should send a résumé, a one-page cover letter, and five samples of their reporting work (no shared bylines) to Campbell at kcampbell@avlwatchdog.org. The job’s responsibilities include:
Producing a steady stream of high-impact stories that hold power to accountGenerating investigative story ideasIdentifying and securing public records to drive reportingCollecting and analyzing data to report exclusive, high-impact stories Collaborating with our other reporters on shorter turnaround stories and longer-term projectsAssisting in assigning stories and visuals and editing contentBulletproofing stories before publicationAssisting in distributing and promoting The Watchdog’s content through various channels, including social media and our news alert systemRepresenting The Watchdog at public eventsThe ideal candidate will have:
A bachelor’s degree or commensurate work experience A minimum of five years of reporting and editing experience, with an emphasis on investigative and accountability journalismExcellent line editing skillsAptitude with public record-based analysis and reportingExcellent writing skillsA thorough understanding of journalism ethicsKnowledge of digital strategy is a plusCompetitive drive, and grace under deadline pressure
