Assistant News Editor, Cox First Media

The Assistant News Editor is a leadership role directly responsible for driving audience growth by leading coverage on key topics and overseeing the editorial operations of our local news teams. The focus is exclusively on local community reporting across the region for all three brands: the Dayton Daily News, Journal-News, and the Springfield News-Sun.
Candidates must possess excellent news judgment, deep digital content expertise, and proven management, leadership, and communication skills.
This editor will set clear, high expectations for creating informative and engaging digital content across all products and distribution channels. A deep understanding of our audience is essential, enabling the use of data and metrics to strategically shape coverage and distribution efforts. The role necessitates strong collaboration with Editorial and Audience Engagement teams to plan digital content, ensure maximum audience engagement, and meet strict deadline and budget obligations.
The role based in Dayton, Ohio, and operates within Cox First Media's hybrid work environment (in-office attendance will be required). Cox First Media includes Dayton Daily News, Journal-News and the Springfield News-Sun.
Key Requirements
1. Digital & Content Expertise

• Digital Storytelling: Expertise in leveraging diverse digital formats, including video, audio, graphics, data visualization, and summaries, to tell impactful stories.
• Journalist Development: Proven ability to coach journalists to create high-quality, engaging digital content with compelling visuals.
• Content Versatility: Demonstrated versatility in creating and executing various story types and approaches to content.

2. Strategy & Data Use

• Audience Strategy: Ability to align team coverage with newsroom strategy to deliver thorough, impactful content that supports subscriber retention and growth.
• Data Proficiency: Proficiently use analytics and performance metrics to track content success, optimize coverage, and drive audience engagement.

3. Leadership & Local Knowledge

• Team Leadership: Under the direction of the Managing Editor, lead staff to ensure comprehensive coverage of the most important local topics and community news.
• Local Familiarity: Proven ability to quickly understand and familiarize with the key communities, critical issues, and stakeholders within our coverage areas.

4. Legal & Investigative Standards

• Investigative Skills: Proficiency in records-based reporting using databases, coupled with a solid understanding of state and federal public records and open meeting laws.
• Legal Compliance: Full understanding of media law, including standards of libel and slander.
• Flexibility: Demonstrates flexibility and adaptability in handling other assignments, including managing special projects.

Minimum Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in a related discipline and 6 years' experience in a related field. The right candidate could also have a different combination, such as a master's degree and 4 years' experience; a Ph.D. and 1 year experience in a related field; or 10 years' experience in a related field.
• 1+ year of experience in management or lead role
• Minimum three (3) years of experience at a news media organization (local, digital, newspaper, TV, radio, etc.).
• Proven supervisory/management experience coaching and leading employees.
• Direct experience with digital publishing tools (CMS, metrics tools, etc.).

USD 72,200.00 - 108,200.00 per year
Compensation:
Compensation includes a base salary of $72,200.00 - $108,200.00. The base salary may vary within the anticipated base pay range based on factors such as the ultimate location of the position and the selected candidate's knowledge, skills, and abilities. Position may be eligible for additional compensation that may include an incentive program.
Benefits:
The Company offers eligible employees the flexibility to take as much vacation with pay as they deem consistent with their duties, the company's needs, and its obligations; seven paid holidays throughout the calendar year; and up to 160 hours of paid wellness annually for their own wellness or that of family members. Employees are also eligible for additional paid time off in the form of bereavement leave, time off to vote, jury duty leave, volunteer time off, military leave, and parental leave.
Applicants must currently be authorized to work in the United States for any employer without current or future sponsorship.