Community Engagement Editor

Capital B is a startup nonprofit local and national news organization serving Black audiences in Atlanta, across the country, and coming soon in Gary, IN. Capital B Gary is seeking a self-motivated and creative community engagement editor to build and lead a robust listening and engagement program in Gary and the surrounding region with the 3-pronged goal of 1) building relationships and understanding among our target audience, 2) growing the reach of our journalism, and, 3) most importantly, helping our newsroom incorporate the information needs of Black residents into our editorial strategy.

This editor will be a crucial link to the communities we serve, running a listening program that includes conducting focus groups and convenings, as well as facilitating Capital B attendance at local meetings — with the help of a team of freelance community ambassadors that they will recruit and manage.

Through listening, they will also be responsible for helping everyone access our journalism by using what we learn in community sessions to think up creative ways to distribute Capital B Gary content in communities. The community engagement editor will also promote transparency and build trust by sharing with Gary residents information about Capital B’s newsgathering and story selection process.

As part of a small team, the person in this role has the powerful opportunity to help redefine how local journalism can serve Black people. They will work closely with Capital B Gary’s editor to obsessively understand what Black people in NW Indiana need and want to know about their neighborhood, city, and region, and help the team meet those needs through innovative and accessible journalism.

This position reports to Capital B’s chief audience officer and works very closely with Capital B Gary’s editor and Capital B’s managing editor of local.

Salary: $65,000-$75,000

Location: Gary, IN

Responsibilities:

Use your vast knowledge of Gary to build and lead our ongoing community listening program, where you will foster Capital B’s relationships with the communities we serve
Partner with the audience team to propel Capital B Gary's social media growth by integrating an authentic Gary touch and devising strategies to resonate with local residents online
Recruit and manage a small team of freelance community ambassadors
Manage Capital B Gary Documenters program, including editing and managing TBD editorial product derived from Documenters notes
Attend/facilitate attendance of community meetings and events to meet face-to-face with residents
Work directly with reporters and Gary editor to translate results of community listening into editorial strategy and story ideas
Work with central audience team on innovative community content distribution strategy, including developing partnerships with local groups and organizations
Plan and lead 6-8 focus groups and convenings per year
Occasional reporting, newsletter writing, and staff editing, as needed/desired
Some participation in fundraising/membership drives

What you’ll bring:

A deep connection to Gary’s Black communities, and a deep curiosity about people, places, and stories there
An obsessive understanding of local news and current events, particularly pertaining to NW Indiana
Fearlessness about meeting and engaging with new people
A passion for learning new information and sharing it
Excellent written and aural communication skills
Connections to organizations/community groups in and around Gary
Bold thinking and a track record of making big things happen
Sensitivity to the responsibilities of reporting for underrepresented communities
Ability to work both collaboratively and independently
Journalism and/or social media experience is a plus

What we’ll bring:

A compassionate, supportive workplace
Unlimited PTO + company holidays
20 weeks parental leave
12 weeks caregiver leave
401K
Dental, health, and vision insurance
Life insurance
Health and dependent care flex plans
Short-term disability
Professional development fund
Monthly phone and internet stipend

Capital B is open to candidates with a diversity of experience, and we know that some very strong candidates won’t have all of the qualifications we list. Don’t be shy — apply!