News Editor

Do you have a passion for hyper-local news that informs readers’ every-day life on topics such as tourism, short-term rentals, growth and development, the cannabis industry, and entertainment options and venues? Would you relish the challenge of a fast-paced newsroom with plenty of breaking news and opportunities to cover internationally renowned events? Can you provide encouragement and guidance that helps reporters do engaging work that resonates in the community and grows our audience?

The Desert Sun/desertsun.com, the leading news organization in Southern California’s Coachella Valley and part of the USA TODAY NETWORK, is hiring a local news editor. Responsibilities of the position include being a primary editor for reporters covering communities across the Coachella Valley, who are expected to produce watchdog reporting on city halls; understand hot-button local issues and provide readers with real-time information and answers; craft sense-of-place profiles of the people and personalities who give our desert character; have their fingers on the pulse of the desert’s burgeoning restaurant and bar scene; and track business openings and closings.

You will be a champion for urgent and informative reporting that gives people answers to questions they have about their community in the moment. You also will help foster a culture that values dogged reporting and high-impact exclusive work that regularly scoops the competition. The ideal candidate will be highly organized and able to lead a team that is a watchdog on civic meetings, but also knows that many of the richest community stories happen outside city hall. This includes breaking, time-sensitive news on deadline.

The ideal candidate will have a track record of guiding innovative daily and enterprise work, be well-versed in using metrics to inform beats and coverage decisions, and love to coach reporters, setting high standards and elevating the quality of their work. A demonstrated ability to edit news stories on tight turnarounds is a must. Candidates must be able to coach both entry-level reporters and those with experience. Good knowledge of AP Style and fundamental newsgathering standards are a must. We interact daily with colleagues in multiple California newsrooms as well as a digital production team and national design studios.

This is a management position with a $65,000-$75,000 salary, depending on experience.