Managing Editor

The Alton Telegraph, a subsidiary of Hearst Newspapers, seeks a highly motivated Editor to join our dynamic newsroom with the primary responsibilities of planning the content of the publication, supervising the work of the editorial department and overseeing the publication production. This Editor will be a player/coach, as they guide the newsroom while producing content of their own. This position also acts as the assistant editor for our Edwardsville paper, backing up the Editor, with the Edwardsville Editor being backup for this position.

As an Editor for the Alton Telegraph, you can expect the following:

Prepare, rewrite and edit copy to improve readability, or supervise others who do this work.
Create digital and print content considering audience appeal.
Verify facts, dates, and statistics, using standard reference sources.
Read copy or proof to detect and correct errors in spelling, punctuation, and syntax.
Review and approve proofs submitted by reporters prior to publication production.
Supervise and coordinate work of editorial department
Plan the contents of publications according to the publication's style, editorial policy, and publishing requirements.
Work with Audience Development team to create digital content based on audience data.
Allocate print space for story text, photos, and illustrations according to space parameters and copy significance, using knowledge of layout principles.
Oversee publication production, including artwork, layout, computer typesetting, and printing, ensuring adherence to deadlines and budget requirements.
Assign topics, events and stories to individual writers or reporters for coverage.
Confer with other departments and management regarding placement and emphasis of developing news stories.
Determining how money will be spent to get the work done, and accounting for these expenditures.
Working with the Alton editor to further the success of both publications. Backing up the Alton editor when out for sickness or vacation, with the Alton editor being their backup.

Qualification and Skills

Bachelor's degree
At least 5 years’ experience working in the field
At least two years management experience
Knowledge both in maintaining and driving a digital-first thinking in the newsroom to being able to study and determine trends based on analytics.
Knowledge of the structure and content of the English language including the meaning and spelling of words, rules of composition, and grammar.
Knowledge of media production, communication, and dissemination techniques and methods. This includes alternative ways to inform and entertain via written, oral, and visual media.
Knowledge and use of AP Style.
Selecting and using training/instructional methods and procedures appropriate for the situation when learning or teaching new things.
Motivate, develop and direct people as they work, identifying the best people for the job. Manage one's own time and the time of others. Using a computer application to lay out pages, type text, insert pictures, format, edit, print, save, and retrieve word processing documents.
Requires meeting strict deadlines.
Knowledge of content manager systems for both print and online.

About the Alton Telegraph

The Telegraph is passionate and committed to its role as the watchdog and trusted source of news, entertainment and advertising for the Alton community and the River Bend region of Madison, Jersey, Calhoun, Macoupin and Greene counties in Illinois.