Who we are:

We are a 41-year-old alt-weekly with a long history of community-first storytelling and rigorous reporting that helps readers navigate the place they live. After a period of shrinking staff due to financial constraints, INDY is once again growing and now boasts its largest newsroom in years. Its team covers Wake, Durham, and Orange Counties and is looking for its next leader to oversee a six-person newsroom and open the outlet’s next chapter.

The editor in chief role checks all the boxes: amazing colleagues, an invigorating work environment, a storied history of producing hard-hitting news, and the chance to shape INDY’s future. Our office is located in Durham, North Carolina, and we offer competitive salaries and benefits, work/life balance, and a vibrant, thriving local community.

INDY Week covers issues across the Triangle, showcasing its challenges, successes, and what makes this place unique. Our stories examine the tensions and opportunities of the Triangle’s explosive growth, affordable housing and holding those in power to account, and explores the area’s thriving culture and scenes.

In May of 2023, INDY joined with The Assembly, a statewide outlet on power and place, as part of a growing network of reporters covering North Carolina. As part of that network, this role will also work with other editors across the state to build a strong local news ecosystem by elevating local stories and localizing statewide stories.

Who you are:

An experienced editor and potentially an existing newsroom leader ready to be ambitious and creative about stories, community engagement, and editorial initiatives. You are passionate about journalism that prizes both accountability and reporting that helps readers navigate their communities. You’re a strong manager and have demonstrated experience leading a team and thinking strategically about growth. You love to work collaboratively with colleagues to create stories that are factual, contextual, and have a clear voice. You can nurture a workplace culture prioritizing inclusivity, diversity, and excellence. You have a love of the Triangle, of North Carolina, and of its people–or at least, a willingness to immerse yourself and learn.

Job Duties:

Assign stories, review pitches, and manage news budgets for a daily digital product.
Commission and edit daily stories, enterprise work, and special projects, while ensuring that editorial strategy is establishing a clear and vibrant voice for INDY.
Manage a team of two editors, four reporters, and a creative director.
Actively support a product and audience team as it improves SEO and social, newsletter strategy, and reader engagement at the top, middle, and bottom of INDY’s funnel.
Work with INDY’s creative director to produce a free-to-access biweekly print newspaper while maintaining a digital-first strategy.
Work with INDY’s publisher and senior leaders across the organization to develop long-term financial and editorial goals for INDY.
Coordinate with reporters and editors across the broader network of outlets to elevate INDY stories to statewide audiences, and localize statewide stories for the Triangle.

Ideal Qualifications

Extensive experience in journalism, ideally including time spent reporting and editing. Management experience is preferred.
Able to write with a clear, engaging voice that connects with readers, and to self-edit.
Demonstrated experience in conceiving and executing editorial strategy.
Able to work both independently and collaboratively.
Preexisting knowledge of and experience reporting in North Carolina, particularly the Triangle, is a plus.

Salary and Benefits

Starting salary is $70,000, but there is some upward flexibility. We’ll ask you to be upfront during the interview process with your needs and we’ll do the same about our abilities.

We offer a competitive benefits package, including health, dental, and life insurance, 12 weeks of parental leave, and 20 days of PTO a year.

This position will report to The Assembly’s Senior Regional Editor Emily McCord and will work closely with the rest of our team.

How to Apply

To apply, submit answers to the following questions:

Tell us about a story or editorial project you have worked on. What made it exceptional?
What role should the INDY play in local journalism in the Triangle? What community and reporting gaps should it aim to fill?
What makes a good story great? What role should editors play in that process?
What excites you most about this role? What makes you nervous?

Email your answers and a resume, along with three writing samples or clips to jobs@indyweek.com.

We will begin reviewing applications on a rolling basis starting August 19th.

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