Editor in Chief

The Emancipator seeks a visionary editorial leader to shape and drive the publication forward.

About The Emancipator.

The Emancipator is a multimedia digital publication that reimagines the first abolitionist newspapers in the United States for a new day, with a focus on exploring and explaining solutions to racial inequality. Just as 19th-century anti-slavery publications reframed and amplified the quest for abolition, the new Emancipator centers critical voices, debates, and evidence-based opinion to reframe the national conversation on racial equity and hasten racially just outcomes. We are driven by a commitment to understanding how systems work to allow everyone to live and thrive. Joy and possibility underline our ethos.

About You.

The ideal candidate has experience with setting a bold editorial strategy and knows how to lead and inspire a team.

You have management experience and a knack for inspiring and nurturing your team. Collaboration is your love language, but you're also assertive in setting the tone and tenor as a confident, strong leader. You know how to manage a budget and have the ability to think creatively when it comes to making strategic financial decisions.

You're creative, period. You are skilled at working with scholars to translate research findings, complex data and jargon into compelling, accessible prose. When you get a pitch, your brain scans it and outputs the best editorial format for the topic, be it commentary, analysis, solutions story, comic strip, photo essay, social-first explainer, tweet thread or something else entirely.

You're a veteran of this industry, ready to do something new and take your skills to the next level. You've got ideas you've been sitting on for years, and have been waiting for the freedom and license to build an editorial experience and platform unlike any other. You are prepared to cover breaking news with a different lens, one that brings context and solutions to the fore. You have ideas on how to enhance our reach and impact.

You're comfortable with speaking for the brand, whether that be in public appearances, media interviews, on a podcast or sharing your vision with potential partners and funders.

You have the rolodex to build collaborative partnerships with newsrooms and community leaders.

The executive editor reports to the publisher.

Responsibilities:

Develop and expand our editorial vision
Run daily editorial meetings, setting the priorities for onsite and social content
Meet regularly with the publisher to discuss issues, plans, and other business relating to The Emancipator and its strategic priorities
Lead edit on all editorial content and enforce deadlines
Calibrate the editorial workflow process as needed to optimize efficiencies
Plan and execute on an editorial calendar
Develop and identify new talent
Manage a freelance editorial budget
Supervise and meet regularly with the digital producer and social media producer, providing constructive feedback and making recommendations for improving the quality of content across all platforms
Develop and produce national events that level-up our content and build our brand, in collaboration with the publisher and events lead
Manage interns or fellows
Provide art direction on visuals, including commissioning original photography and illustration
Identify new content, platforms, distribution channels and technologies to maximize impact and increase readership Collaborate with (incoming) audience development director to drive editorial performance, growth and engagement across all Emancipator platforms

Required Skills

Bachelor’s degree or equivalent required and 10-15+ years of relevant experience.
Must be able to demonstrate strong past experience in editorial management and leadership; the ability to respond to shifting audience needs; and an ability to work to tight deadlines in a fast-paced environment.
A willingness to adapt and be audience focused, with a curious mindset and a commitment to creating an inclusive work environment.
Serious candidates may be asked to submit a memo outlining their vision.