ProPublica is an independent, nonprofit newsroom that produces investigative journalism in the public interest.
Applications are being reviewed on a rolling basis. While the anticipated application deadline is December 31st at 11:59 PM ET, the role may close earlier if a candidate is hired. We encourage interested applicants to apply as soon as possible.
ProPublica is seeking an accomplished senior-level investigative editor to help oversee and elevate the accountability journalism produced by editors and reporters on our national staff and serve as part of ProPublica’s masthead leadership team.
The assistant managing editor, national, will supervise teams of editors and reporters and, depending on the candidate, may also directly supervise one or more investigative reporters. The ideal candidate enjoys the challenge of helping editors and reporters envision the most ambitious and creative paths for their projects; deeply understands and embraces ProPublica’s accountability mission; has a facility for high-level story honing and writing; and is dedicated to helping our editors grow and develop. We’re looking for an experienced editor with sound news judgment who is equally comfortable and adept weighing in on what’s working, or not, in a long-form narrative as in a complicated, multipart investigation.
This position involves juggling a variety of high-level projects, weighing in on story selection and direction, providing top-level guidance and editing, as well as working with staffers from other ProPublica teams, from data and research to video and audience.
The assistant managing editor, national, will report to the managing editor of the national staff.
What you would be doing:
- Supervising teams of national reporters and editors working on revelatory, important stories and projects.
- Providing support and guidance to ensure projects are conceived of and told as ambitiously and creatively as possible.
- Working with editors and reporters to select stories with the potential for impact, and helping them overcome reporting hurdles
- Editing, including identifying and fixing structural issues and elevating writing when necessary.
- Helping teams collaborate with researchers, data visualization reporters, engagement reporters, audience and visual staffers, and story producers.
- Coaching editors to stretch and develop their skills and ambitions.
- Serving as a champion for accountability journalism.
- At least 10 years experience overseeing investigative and/or accountability reporting and has managed teams of reporters and editors.
- A track record as an editor of landing revelatory stories about abuses of power.
- A passion for and experience with accountability journalism.
- The ability to juggle many different responsibilities, meet deadlines and handle pressure while remaining calm.
- Exceptional organizational skills.
- A collaborative mindset. As a leader, you should work seamlessly with staffers throughout the newsroom.
- The ability to adroitly handle fast-breaking stories, monthslong reporting projects and exquisitely written narratives.
This job is full time and includes benefits.
We’re open to remote candidates based and authorized to work in the United States. Candidates in the New York City region will be expected to work in our office at least two days a week. We also have offices in Washington, D.C.; Atlanta; Chicago; Phoenix; and Berkeley, California. Though not currently in place, an in-person requirement could be introduced at these locations in the future.
The expected salary range for this position is $200,000 to $250,000.
This is a good-faith estimate of what we expect to pay for this position. The final salary figure will take into account a person’s experience, accomplishment and location. ProPublica is committed to paying its staff equitably, and these ranges should not be considered career salary limits or caps.
What you should send us:- The most important part by far is your past work. We’d like to see examples of projects that show how you work as both a direct editor and as a top editor. Specifically:
- (1) Send us links to the investigative stories you directly edited that you are most proud of. These should be stories where you worked directly with a reporter to shape and guide the focus of an investigation. Don’t be shy — tell us what worked (numbers and evidence of impact welcome) and how you’d do it differently next time. Editing is about far more than moving around words. Show us how you think.
- (2) Send us a project or story in which you made a significant difference as a top editor. This should be where you honed the structure or narrative or where you identified missing elements necessary before publication. Let us know how your contributions elevated the work.
- Your resume.
We will begin reviewing applications as we receive them, but we will continue to consider candidates as long as the posting remains live on our site.
Questions? Send an email to [email protected].
No phone calls, please.
We know there are great candidates who may not fit into what we’ve described above or who have important skills we haven’t thought of. If that’s you, don’t hesitate to apply and tell us about yourself.
We are an equal opportunity employer and prohibit discrimination and harassment of any kind. All employment decisions are made without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, national origin, age or any other status protected under applicable law. We are dedicated to building an inclusive newsroom and encourage people from all backgrounds to apply.
Skills Required
- At least 10 years of experience overseeing investigative and/or accountability reporting
- Experience managing teams of reporters and editors
- Track record of editing revelatory stories about abuses of power
- Passion for and experience with accountability journalism
- Ability to manage multiple responsibilities, meet deadlines, and handle pressure calmly
- Exceptional organizational skills
- Collaborative mindset and ability to work seamlessly across the newsroom
- Ability to handle fast-breaking stories, long-term reporting projects, and written narratives
- Authorization to work in the United States
- Examples of investigative stories directly edited and a project demonstrating significant top-editor contributions
- Resume
What We Do
ProPublica is an award-winning independent nonprofit newsroom that produces investigative journalism with moral force. We dig deep into important issues, shining a light on abuses of power and betrayals of public trust — and we stick with those issues as long as it takes to hold power to account. Our investigative journalism does more than expose wrongdoing and injustice; we intend for it to spark real-world change. With a team of more than 100 dedicated journalists across the country, we produce reporting that has contributed to the passage of new laws; reversals of harmful policies and practices; and accountability for leaders at local, state and national levels.
