Editor-in-Chief, The Waco Bridge

Occupations:

Job Description:

The Waco Bridge, a new Waco community newsroom launching in 2025 and supported by The Texas Tribune, is looking for its inaugural editor-in-chief.

The ideal candidate for The Waco Bridge Editor-in-Chief role will be an experienced journalist with a deep passion for Waco, local news and community engagement. The EIC must have a strong track record of building and managing teams that produce impactful journalism, as well as thinking creatively about building audience, trust and partnerships, as well as  delivering information in multiple formats.

About This Newsroom

This nonprofit newsroom is dedicated to empowering Wacoans with high-quality local news that connects communities, fosters civic engagement and creates a sense of belonging. We will deliver accessible, free news that connects people with the information they need in Waco.

The Waco Bridge is committed to producing news and information that addresses the needs raised by the communities it covers. Its editorial strategy will be continuously informed through community conversations with Waco residents about the needs they identify as the most necessary. This includes coverage around how local decisions are made and how they impact people differently, how community is being built in Waco, and how development and growth is impacting the future of the city and its residents.

This newsroom is committed to working with integrity, inclusivity, transparency and collaboration. We are also committed to working with a sense of service so that Waco residents are better informed about what’s going on in their communities and can better effect positive change.

The Waco Bridge will uphold the highest standards of journalistic ethics and accuracy in our work. We will ensure diverse voices and perspectives are represented. We will operate with openness and honesty and build trust with our audience through clear and candid communication. We will engage with community members, organizations, fellow news outlets and others to help strengthen our collective impact. And we will emphasize solutions-focused work that will help our audience feel a sense of empowerment and agency.

The role

The editor-in-chief will build and manage a Waco-based newsroom that is focused on executing this community-oriented vision and upholding our standards. The EIC will oversee daily editorial functions of The Waco Bridge, which include beat reporting, source building, research, line editing, story production and operational partnerships. The EIC will also be responsible for building and upholding a newsroom culture that thrives on being a part of the Waco community, emphasizes the importance of ongoing community engagement and has an evolving editorial and product vision that meets the needs of a changing community. The EIC will also be responsible, in conjunction with The Texas Tribune’s senior managing  editor for local news, for executing audience and editorial strategy.

The EIC will establish editorial processes for Waco Bridge staff to deliver community-driven reporting and services. They will also meet regularly with various members of the Waco community and attend and moderate various events and conversations.

The EIC will work with our general manager and others to make a case for local funding to support the newsroom’s mission. They will play an active role in representing the organization in public forums to evangelize the newsroom’s mission, including by representing program strategy to current and prospective funders. This position reports to the Tribune’s senior managing editor for local news.

Responsibilities and priorities

• Develop, execute and evolve a vision and strategy to build The Waco Bridge newsroom into a thriving community-oriented newsroom serving Waco’s needs.
• Hire and manage a team of journalists who are dedicated to Waco and serving our mission.
• Regularly meet with Waco residents and stakeholders to ensure a two-way conversation in driving decision-making.
• Help lead product discussions and decision-making to ensure we’re transparent about our new newsroom’s progress and delivering news and information effectively.
• Create and maintain daily newsroom operations that can produce reliable community-oriented journalism.
• Conduct listening sessions and surveys in English and Spanish to understand information gaps and community news preferences.
• Uphold a daily publishing schedule to keep Waco residents regularly informed through various platforms.
• Hold the newsroom to the highest levels of transparency, accountability and consistency.
• Ensure that the newsroom has a collaborative and inclusive environment.
• Serve as an ambassador for the newsroom in the community, including speaking at public events and with potential donors.
• Manage a newsroom budget to ensure expenses are meeting forecasts.

You’re a good fit if…

• You are an experienced local newsroom leader with a passion for community engagement and building audience and trust.
• You love Waco, live there now or are willing to move there, and are passionate about supporting the community. 
• You are passionate about mentoring and coaching journalists to research, report and tell engaging and impactful stories.
• You want your newsrooms to be responsive to the needs of the communities they serve, and are passionate about creating guides and other work that empower communities.
• You love to rally support for local journalism.
• You thrive in a fast-paced startup environment where you are expected to think outside the box, build things from scratch and adjust on the fly. 
• You enjoy collaborating with others and finding new ways to serve the community.
• You prioritize building an equitable and inclusive organizational culture.
• You thrive on bringing teams together, fostering a healthy work environment and motivating people to do their best work. 

Compensation and Benefits

The salary for this position will depend on experience. The minimum is $85,000. This job is full-time and includes the following benefits:

• Medical, vision and dental insurance
• Cell phone stipend
• 20 days of paid time off each year
• 12 paid holidays
• Up to 16 weeks of paid family leave plus four weeks of additional job protection
• Annual 401(k) match of $2,000
• Remote working flexibility

How to Apply 

Apply by November 18 with a résumé, five clips showcasing work you’re proud of, and a cover letter summarizing how you would approach this job. We can't wait to hear from you.

The Texas Tribune is an Equal Opportunity Employer. We are committed to diversity and building an inclusive environment for all, and we encourage applicants of all identities, backgrounds, ages, and abilities to apply. Learn more about The Texas Tribune here.

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