Digital Producer
Sahan Journal is a nonprofit digital newsroom dedicated to reporting for immigrants and communities of color in Minnesota. Our diverse staff creates exceptional journalism: coverage that truly represents the changing face of Minnesota and recognizes that democratic engagement and power belong to everyone.
Sahan’s stories reach audiences across many platforms, including our website, social media, newsletters, text/SMS, TikTok and Reels, and community events. To reach more audiences, we share our stories with small community papers and the state’s biggest mainstream newsrooms, in print and over public radio.
Sahan Journal exists to provide communities of color with free, fair, and responsive journalism that shows everyone the way to a more equitable Minnesota.
The opportunity
Since its founding in 2019, Sahan Journal has produced groundbreaking local news coverage about education, health care, immigration policy, elections, climate, policing, entrepreneurship, labor, housing, and more. We frequently frame stories through the lenses of equity, access, and accountability.
Sahan Journal seeks a digital producer who can help us produce, publish, distribute, and report news that matters to Minnesota’s immigrants and communities of color.
The ideal candidate will have experience using a wide array of social media platforms and digital news tools, including video. Every day, Sahan Journal’s newsroom creates great reporting; the digital producer is a key person to help share that work with readers and audiences.
Successful digital news production rewards innovation, creativity, persistence, and collaboration. Applicants should subscribe to essential journalism values like accuracy, fairness, and public service.
Our highly diverse, 14-person editorial team strives to change the news narratives in communities that have been ignored—or poorly served—by mainstream news. We seek to do this work in a collaborative newsroom that reflects our talents, values, and vision.
Sahan Journal’s supportive and equitable work culture is committed to developing the potential of our staff and honoring their health and wellbeing.
Position Responsibilities
News distribution
Homepage
Build stories for the Sahan Journal homepage
Update and rearrange the homepage throughout the day with fresh content
Explore layout and presentation options for the Sahan Journal website
Recirculate evergreen stories (holiday or seasonal coverage, etc.) for social media
Pitch, report, and write stories (when available)–especially ideas inspired by audience insights and trends
Embed and optimize social media and multimedia storytelling on the homepage (e.g., collating tweets into one "article," adding social media components in the body of an existing article)
Social media
Distribute and post Sahan Journal’s news, photography, and content across social-media platforms like Instagram, Facebook, and X.
Craft accurate, compelling social copy and visuals
Schedule and maintain posting rhythms
Create original content on occasion for social media platforms
This may include short videos for TikTok and Instagram, photo stories for Instagram, short interviews with community members, etc.
Work with reporters to produce content for social-media platforms
Where possible, optimize Sahan’s news and content for feeds and apps such as Google News, Apple News, NewsBreak, SmartNews, and others.
Create regular Instagram versions of news stories, with a focus on clear, graphical explanations of complex news
Occasionally and where appropriate, engage with audiences in comments and question threads
Work in Adobe products: Photoshop and Illustrator (occasional photo cropping/video editing)
Engagement
Help conduct community tabling, meet-Sahan sessions, and other regular listening opportunities
Participate in election coverage and community information projects
Newsletter
Help compile, edit, and produce newsletters
Help other editorial staff to build and distribute newsletters, as needed
Create original content for newsletters, including short interviews, service, community and arts events, and more
Desired skills, knowledge, and abilities
Note: Few (if any) candidates will have extensive experience with every element of digital publishing or every visual editing tool. If you have many of the experiences and skills listed below—and the enthusiasm to learn more—please apply!
Experience and a portfolio in journalism: reporting, writing, and producing news
Social and multimedia skills. Familiarity with writing and posting news on social media (Facebook, X, Threads, Reddit, and more)
Experience sharing information on social-media platforms, live-tweeting events, and gathering photo or video in the field
Experience creating and editing video for platforms such as TikTok, Instagram, YouTube, and more
Experience with digital publishing and blogging platforms
Familiarity with visual editing tools, such as Adobe Creative Suite, Frame.io, Canva, or others
Sound news judgment and the ability to work on a tight deadline
Adherence to journalism values including accuracy, equity, fairness, and respect.
Commitment to a supportive and equitable work culture
Strong capacity to work independently and take initiative, while collaborating well with coworkers and accepting direction
Bonus if you can work competently in a language widely spoken in Minnesota, such as Spanish, Hmong, Somali, Karen, Oromo
Salary and benefits
Salary begins at $60,000 (paid hourly) and will be based on prior experience and skillset
Employee medical and dental benefits 100 percent employer paid; dependents at 50 percent
Health Savings Account
401(k) plan ( $1.00 match for each $1.00 you contribute, up to a maximum of 4 percent of your annual income)
Paid Time Off: 20 days / 4 weeks
Sick Time Off: 6 days
Sahan Journal does not offer standard federal holidays (Thanksgiving, Christmas, Eid, etc.), reflecting the diverse preferences of our staff. Instead, all employees are eligible for 6 floating holidays to be used at personal discretion.
Cell phone stipend
Professional development resources
Relocation stipend available
Sahan Journal currently offers a hybrid work model, with both remote work (from home) and in-person days at our office in St. Paul
Location
Sahan Journal is a regional news organization. We are building our staff to reflect the state and communities we cover. Once hired, the digital producer will be expected to live in Minnesota, with the ability to work around Minneapolis, St. Paul, and the Twin Cities.
How to apply
To apply, please send a resume, five writing clips, and a cover letter describing your experience and what excites you about working at Sahan Journal. Please include links to multimedia, social media, or video work. (If you apply through a site like LinkedIn, please provide all the application materials mentioned above.)
If you have many of the requested skills and experiences, but not all of them, please apply!
Send resume, clips, and cover letter to jobs@sahanjournal.com. The deadline for applications is February 26, 2024.