The Center for Michigan seeks a dynamic, collaborative and strategic leader to help Bridge Michigan, one of America’s great civic news organizations, reach new audiences and revolutionize how stories are told and experienced.

The Executive Editor for Innovation position is ideal for a news executive with vast experience and big ideas about building an audience, engaging readers, telling good stories in new ways and managing dynamic newsrooms.

The position will help guide innovation, oversee newsletter and multimedia strategy and lead experimentation in distributing our award-winning content and better connecting with readers.

This is a great job for someone with experience in audience development, membership and traditional journalism who wakes up every day bursting with ideas and a sense of joy for our mission.

Bridge Michigan is a nonprofit with secure long-term funding and huge aspirations. We mix deep explanatory and investigative reporting with daily government, politics and policy news. We are committed to service, have won hundreds of awards and endeavor to be Michigan’s most dependable and successful news source.

Job Description

The Executive Editor for Innovation is a hands-on position that will help innovate our suite of newsletter options, work with reporters to tell stories in different formats, repurpose content to reach audiences on social media, brainstorm engagement events to lower the barrier between readers and our content and help accelerate our transition into other media such as podcasts, a YouTube channel or something else entirely.

This is a job for a journalist with a proven leadership record, an entrepreneurial learner and thinker, an ace organizer, a caring manager who brings out the best in employees, a cultivator of future talent and a bona fide newshound who respects the very best journalism traditions but isn’t hidebound to them.

The successful applicant will work alongside the Executive Editor for Impact and the Director of Growth Strategy on editorial strategy, engagement and audience.

The two Executive Editors will partner to lead a growing newsroom of 15 journalists and be part of an executive team that works on long-term strategy and growth. We are committed to building a team and providing resources to carry out your vision to help us grow and thrive.

The entire Center for Michigan team is expected to dedicate themselves to improving Bridge Michigan’s people-first culture, public outreach and journalistic excellence. We are proud of our values and try to incorporate them in all we do.

Position Requirements

At least seven years of experience leading a newsroom or large news team.
Demonstrated creative mindset and enthusiasm for online media.
Experience as a multi-platform storyteller, passionate about the written word and other media, such as audio, video, photography, podcasts, storytelling through social media and whatever comes next.
Knowledge of Michigan or at least curiosity about it. This job is not remote.
A proven record of delivering exclusives and tight stories with grace and panache.
Excellent news judgment knowledge of state government and politics is a big plus.
Experience working with news analytics, social media, SEO and the science of readership and engagement and how data can inform the editorial process.
A commitment to journalism as a public service, leading with fairness while maintaining Bridge Michigan’s brand of zealous nonpartisanship.
An entrepreneurial and problem-solving spirit and ability to stay cool and pivot when the best-laid plans fall apart.
The ability to grow talent and expand the pipeline of underrepresented groups into journalism.

The full-time position will be expected to work out of the Center for Michigan’s Ypsilanti and/or Lansing offices in a hybrid work-from-office/work-from-home environment, spending 2-3 days a week in the office working with other Center and Bridge Michigan staff. The position reports to the Center for Michigan’s Chief Executive Officer.

How to Apply

URL Media has been engaged to assist with this talent search. If you’re interested in applying, please submit an application to this link.Include a resume, a cover letter and samples of your work that best demonstrate how you are perfect for this job, which could involve a traditional portfolio, examples of newsletters, video or podcasts or something else entirely.

About The Center for Michigan and This Position

Bridge Michigan is a publication of the nonpartisan, nonprofit Center for Michigan. All staff of Bridge Michigan are employees of the Center for Michigan.

Founded in 2006, the Center for Michigan is a nonprofit organization dedicated to making Michigan better through high-quality, nonpartisan journalism and engagement.

The Center for Michigan offers competitive salaries and flexible work arrangements. The targeted total compensation for this position begins at $140,000 annually. Our offices have a casual environment and we respect work-life balance. Benefits at the Center for Michigan include:

Medical, vision and dental insurance
1% 401(k) match
4-6 weeks of maternity/paternity/adoption leave
Minimum four weeks paid time off per year
Eight paid holidays
Annual professional development and subscription allowances

The Center for Michigan is an Equal Opportunity Employer committed to diversity in its workforce, creating an inclusive environment and building an organization that better reﬂects its communities and encourages members of traditionally underrepresented communities to apply, including people of color, women, members of the LGBTQIA+ community and people with disabilities.

All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment. The Center for Michigan will not discriminate in its employment practices due to an applicant’s race, color, religion, national origin, sex (including pregnancy, gender identity and sexual orientation), age, disability/handicap, height, weight, marital status, familial status, veteran status, citizenship or any other classification protected by federal or state law or local ordinance.

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Executive Editor for Innovation