Digital News Producer

Want to help us deliver essential local news across multiple digital platforms in a privately-owned newsroom operating in a competitive news market?

Cascadia Daily News, a startup digital daily/print weekly news publication, needs a digital producer/developer to help build our products in a desirable Pacific Northwest community. We’re a young, growing publication with the largest newsroom in Northwest Washington state. Privately owned CDN is 100% chain, hedge fund and advisory board free; our news decisions are made in our newsroom.

Our ideal candidate will be a superb digital thinker, staying on top of readership trends and user experience across devices, with an emphasis on mobile. He or she would have experience with newsletter initiatives and mobile messaging.

This producer/developer must be able to work independently, with the drive and skills to deliver innovative design solutions and troubleshoot website problems.

You would join a team-oriented, enterprising work environment in a growing, university town located on the Salish Sea between Seattle and Vancouver, British Columbia, within easy reach of Mount Baker and North Cascades National Park. Our hometown is known for its stunning natural setting, a regional mountain biking obsession and a robust urban microbrewery culture. Local residence is preferred, but we are open to hybrid work arrangements.

What you will do:

Oversee the website presentation of digital media including for desktop, mobile, e-Edition and email newsletters. You understand the basics of content presentation on the front end and how to troubleshoot WordPress.

Monitor redesigned website and new vendors for glitches, improvements.

Manage user experience across digital platforms is a priority – especially for mobile users.

Create wireframes or mockups for digital products including web pages and email newsletters.

Design maps, graphics, icons and logos for digital media.

Edit and design custom WordPress themes.

Work with other developers to implement visual elements forwebsites.

Research and evaluate new design trends.

Establish and maintain CDN design standards and best practices.

Coordinate with news team to create workflow, documentation, and design standards.

Coach and mentor other newsroom team members on optimizing content for digital platforms.

Help track and manage digital content via analytics.

What it will take to be successful:

Ability to maintain contact via Slack and other tools for breaking news assignments when working from home or on location; some flexible scheduling is required. Nonstandard work hours might be a part of this role if immediate fixes are needed.

Ability to collaborate with all newsroom and business office teams and work in a fast-changing news environment.

Required skills:

A passion for digital media and journalism.

Experience in a fast-paced environment, ideally a newsroom or internet publication.

Working knowledge of AP Style.

A strong understanding of current web technologies (responsive design, WordPress themes, PHP, etc.)

Experience creating wireframes with Figma, Freeform or other similar tool.

Experience with HTML, Adobe Creative Suite, CSS, JavaScript.

Experience with audio and video editing.

Experience with newsletter builds and sends.

Demonstrable digital design skills with a strong portfolio of mobile and desktop designs.

At least two years’ professional experience.

Demonstrated confidence and creative thinking skills.

A collaborator with solid time management skills.

Preferred skills and qualifications:

Bachelor's degree in design, journalism or related field and experience in web production.

Digital illustration skills are a plus.

Home base in, or within driving distance, of Whatcom County, Washington. Some remote work will be approved.

What we offer:

Pay ranges from $65,000 to $70,000 DOE.

Competitive benefits include full health, vision and dental insurance, holiday and sick leave pay and generous 401(k) plan.

Employment by a privately owned publication that operates with strict ethical standards; is transparent and consumer-oriented in its approach to news; and is outwardly and unabashedly pro-democracy.

Competitive news environment: We’re one of the few independent publications in the country going head-to-head, successfully, with a hedge-fund newspaper chain.

A local news organization committed to incorporating the perspectives of colleagues and community members from varied experiences and backgrounds. We are committed to diversity in coverage and hiring. We employ a robust Citizens Agenda campaign to engage our readers in election coverage.

To apply: Send a letter of application, resume and work samples to Managing Editor Rhonda Prast, rhondaprast@cascadiadaily.com