Deputy Editor/Staff Reporter

An award-winning biweekly paper based in Washington, D.C., Street Sense Media is seeking a deputy editor to write for, edit and help produce our bi-weekly paper. We are looking for a skilled and empathetic journalist who is excited to help lead a newsroom dedicated to covering poverty and homelessness in D.C.

In this role, you will help the editor-in-chief lead a team of five to seven part-time intern reporters, and a much larger pool of volunteer editors and writers. You will also work closely with our artist/vendors, reviewing poetry and prose for publication in our paper. You’ll be expected to file stories on occasion, and will have time to devote to enterprise reporting projects.

A successful candidate will be an excellent and collaborative journalist, but also someone who’s interested in community care and well-being. Someone who can both break important stories and offer support to people experiencing homelessness affected by those stories. Our work gets to the heart of large, complex issues that often deal with the intersection of race and social policy, local economics and poverty. At Street Sense Media, we take pride in the fact that our work makes a positive impact on the lives of people experiencing homelessness and extreme poverty every day.

What you’ll be doing:

Work alongside the editor-in-chief to plan news coverage and help coach interns and freelance reporters through their assignments

Edit and fact-check all news published in the paper

Use Adobe In-Design and Photoshop to help design the layout for the paper

Help lead weekly writing workshops with vendors (mainly people who are experiencing or have experienced homelessness) and work with vendors on their writing

Assist the editor-in-chief in editing opinion, poetry and prose submissions from vendors

Research, report on, and file one story per six weeks

Write short news briefs to help fill the paper as needed

Help oversee management of our WordPress website and social media

Help oversee the annual Homeless Crisis Reporting Project, a day of coordinated reporting on homelessness in D.C. across local media outlets each year

Lead the newsroom and issue production in the editor-in-chief's absence

Work alongside the editor-in-chief to improve the newsroom (through projects, fundraising, etc)

What you bring:

One to three years of journalism or other writing experience

Solid ethics and judgment.

Experience with graphic design and knowledge of Adobe InDesign. (Preferred but not required)

Willingness to learn and work with vulnerable communities. (Personal experience/experience working with people experiencing homelessness or living in extreme poverty is a plus).

Ability to write well and report on complex issues.

Compassionate and trauma-informed approach to reporting

Ability to consistently meet deadlines.

Interest in news leadership and/or mentoring younger writers

Willingness to innovate and problem-solve to meet the needs of readers and vendors

How we support you:

$48,000 - $52,000 per year.

Flexible hours and an opportunity for partial remote work

Friendly, casual work environment.

Colleagues who understand the importance of achieving a healthy work life balance.

Generous leave (vacation and holidays), health/dental/vision insurance, pre-tax 401K plan

Who we are:

Street Sense Media (SSM) is an evolving, mid-size, nonprofit media company committed to ending chronic homelessness by providing economic opportunities and powerful forms of self-expression to men and women living in extreme poverty. We work in a collaborative, dynamic, and collegial environment for and with the people the organization serves.

To apply: Interested candidates should send a cover letter, resume, and three writing samples (PDF or links) to jobs@streetsensemedia.org with the subject line “deputy editor.” Candidates are encouraged to apply immediately. The deadline is February 16.

We are an equal opportunity employer and encourage candidates to apply regardless of age, color, ethnic background, country of origin, religion, disability status, gender, sexual orientation, and gender identity.