The San Francisco Standard is seeking a dynamic and enterprising editor to help oversee political coverage in our fast-growing, fast-moving newsroom. In this role, you will assist our politics editor in managing a small team of reporters focused on San Francisco government and elections.
The ideal candidate has experience covering politics, as an editor or senior reporter, in the Bay Area or at the state level. You should be familiar with the most important local elected officials, candidates, organizations and donors, and be well-versed in the major issues facing San Francisco, including crime, corruption, homelessness, the housing shortage and the decline of downtown as a business district. Can you find in these topics fresh story ideas and angles that grab the attention of the 90% of San Franciscans who don’t follow politics day-to-day? That’s our mission.
Your duties will include assigning and editing breaking news, features and investigations while helping to shape strategy and planning around major events such as the upcoming elections. You’ll be asked to participate in live in-person and virtual events, so comfort speaking onstage/on-camera is a plus. We would also prefer a candidate who is able to juggle some reporting and writing alongside editing and managing.
While we prefer candidates with experience editing and/or managing, we are open to a first-time editor who shows aptitude for those tasks and will learn on the job. The Standard is an in-person newsroom; this is not a remote role.
Requirements:
- 5-plus years of experience covering politics in California.
- Outstanding skill at writing copy and headlines and generating compelling story ideas and angles
- Comfort using data to inform (but never dictate) coverage decisions
- Strong working knowledge of the legislative process and structure of local government
- Ability to thrive in a fast-paced newsroom and juggle multiple deadlines
- Flexibility to cover events that happen outside ordinary business hours
- Bachelor’s degree preferred but we will consider applicants with relevant alternative experience
We are an in-person newsroom; this is not a remote role.
To apply, please submit a resume, cover letter and several work samples.
The pay range for this role is $90,000-140,000. Actual compensation packages are based on several factors that are unique to each candidate.