Executive Editor - Ashland WI

Executive Editor

The Executive Editor oversees all content initiatives with a primary focus on growing and sustaining digital audience while continuing to serve loyal print subscribers. A supreme understanding of, and experience with, digital platforms, social media strategy, search engine optimization, and newsletter targeting are essential. The best candidates also will have a collaborative spirit and knowledge of total operation, including audience/circulation, sales and production. Performance will be measured by subscriber growth, engagement and retention as well as the impact our content has in the community – audience reach and public service. Importantly, this top newsroom position requires a rock-solid, fundamental understanding of what is required to deliver journalism of the highest order.

The role reports to the publisher.

Executive Editor Responsibilities

• Collaborate with other members of the newsroom management team to design workflows that lead with digital delivery and follow with smooth and efficient print packaging. This will require leading cultural change in the newsroom.
• Understand and lead training that focuses on target audiences. “Serving the whole community,” is not an audience strategy. Where are growth opportunities, who are the underserved, and what are unique approaches to journalism that serve both?
• Understand how to use measurement tools and analytics to judge performance. Make data-driven decisions and set internal goals that are thoroughly explained to staff. Hold regular training sessions so that newsroom staff always know where the team stands against goals.
• It’s not all about the numbers. Charge the team with having an impact in the community – finding ways to represent the underserved in the community, for example, even when that means challenging community leaders to do better. Assess the potential impact of all investigative work, and pick those shots wisely as this work requires significant use of precious resources. But, make no mistake, it is our responsibility to have a steady diet of this high-level work.
• Through research, networking and an intrinsic hunger for being on the front end of change, be a company champion for emerging platforms, best practices and new audience behaviors. Be able to connect these with our approach to journalism.
• Be self-motivated to collaborate with peers in other departments as well as editors at other APG sites.
  
  

Essential Skills And Experience

• Minimum of three years of experience leading a news team.
• Strong English language skills, both written and verbal.
• Experience with digital analytics (Google Analytics preferable).
• Results driven – we are looking for accountable success.
• Interpersonal skills – the ability to get along with and earn the respect of a wide variety of people at all levels of seniority.
• Community engagement experience – in person and on social networks, being a professional ambassador for the news organization in the community.
  
  

Education

• Bachelor’s degree required.
• Preferred: Additional professional development training in areas such as social media, analytics or project management.
  
  

Benefits will be the same as offered to other company associates and may change periodically. APG offers a choice of two medical plans with varying levels of employee cost-sharing, and employee-paid Dental and Vision options. There are three (3) company-sponsored and paid benefits, including Short-Term Disability, Long-Term Disability, and a Term Life Insurance Policy. Associates become eligible to enroll in the benefit plans on the first of the month following 60-days of employment.

APG offers six paid holidays (Thanksgiving, Christmas, New Year’s, Memorial Day, Independence Day, and Labor Day). Full-time Associates are eligible to accrue PTO at our normal accrual rate if full-time. PTO increases per company policy based on hours of service.

Employment is at-will and either party can terminate the employment relationship at any time with or without cause and with or without notice. Adams Publishing Group is an equal opportunity employer and drug-free workforce.

We are an equal opportunity employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, disability or veteran status.