News Editor

News Editor, the National Catholic Reporter

This position is responsible for overseeing national and international news coverage for the National Catholic Reporter, working with NCR staff reporters, including our Vatican correspondent, interns/fellows and a team of freelance writers to cover breaking news, features and analysis about the church.

The News Editor works in correlation with other NCR editors (executive, managing, EarthBeat/environment, culture & spirituality, digital) to make coverage decisions for the publication, and serves on the editorial-writing team. This editor can also occasionally contribute content on the Catholic Church, social trends, politics and public policy issues. This person reports directly to the executive editor.

The News Editor’s responsibilities include:

• Work with NCR staff reporters/correspondents, freelancers and fellows to develop reporting ideas; expand roster of freelancers in key areas nationally;
• Make story assignments, review and edit manuscripts, provide feedback on articles being considered for publication; prepare articles for publication;
• Working with the executive editor, develop coverage plans, with an emphasis on NCR’s mission of transparency and accountability and coverage of those on the margins;
• Maintain and expand area of expertise, especially the U.S. Catholic Church, social trends, politics and public policy issues; bring and continue to cultivate a network of sources, especially within institutions such as national and state bishops’ conferences, Catholic colleges and universities, parishes, Catholic think tanks and advocacy groups;
• Write occasional editorials in area(s) of expertise; occasionally contribute stories;
• Occasionally post breaking news and/or wire stories, using Drupal;
• Work to expand NCR's presence on social media and with multimedia content; interact regularly on social media platforms that grow traffic and reach across generations;
• Represent the publication through speaking engagements and media appearances;
• Work from a home base and through pre-approved travel;
• Maintain high standards of accuracy, accountability and integrity;
• Other duties as assigned by executive editor.

The ideal candidate for this position will be able to demonstrate:

• Bachelor's degree or higher, five years of experience reporting and editing on Catholic issues, with a known range of contacts in the field;
• A successful track record of editorial management and leadership;
• Knowledge of the Catholic Church, social issues and political issues;
• Experience as an assigning editor on a variety of story forms including breaking news, profiles, investigations and interactive formats;
• Proficiency in Microsoft Office, Google Workspace (Gmail, Drive, shared documents, etc.) and familiarity with Slack or similar tools;
• Capacity to achieve fluency in a content management system (NCR currently uses Drupal);
• Ability to work collegially with a geographically-dispersed staff; excellent communication skills;
• Capacity to self-motivate, to work both independently and as part of a team;
• Ability and willingness to travel; residence in or near a major urban center a plus.

Compensation and benefits:

This remote position will be full-time, with the opportunity to work in person at NCR headquarters in Kansas City, MO or our Washington DC office. Salary is commensurate with experience and other relevant factors, in the range of $70,000 – $80,000 annually. NCR offers the following benefits for full-time employees (employees working 24 hours or more per week):

• Health Insurance plan options (90% employer paid premium)
• Dental and Vision plan coverage (90% / 75% employer paid premium)
• Life Insurance and Long Term Disability
• Group Annuity Program (403B) with company match
• Supplemental Insurance option (Aflac)
• Employee Assistance Program (EAP)
• Paid parental leave (up to 12 weeks)
• Generous paid vacation (up to 20 days per year)/sick/personal time, plus 11 paid holidays
• Flexibility for work/life integration; summer hours (between Memorial and Labor Days)

To apply:
Interested parties should submit a resume with career history, along with a cover letter explaining their interest and describing their qualifications. All nominations, applications and inquiries should be directed electronically to jobs@ncronline.org by June 24, 2024.

All communications will be treated confidentially. Applications will be reviewed as they are received, on a rolling basis. For selected candidates, steps in the hiring process may entail a brief writing assignment and a series of virtual (Zoom) interviews with a hiring committee and CEO/Publisher.

National Catholic Reporter Publishing Company has a mandatory COVID-19 vaccination policy for its employees. Reasonable accommodations or exemption will be considered for medical-related or sincerely held religious objections.

The National Catholic Reporter Publishing Company is an equal opportunity employer, and prohibits discrimination and harassment of any type and affords equal employment opportunities to employees and applicants without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, pregnancy, age, national origin, disability status, genetic information, protected veteran status, or any other characteristic protected by law.

About NCR:
The National Catholic Reporter Publishing Company is a non-profit, independent, lay-led news organization that reports on the Catholic Church and wider moral issues facing the human family. It publishes the National Catholic Reporter bi-monthly in print and daily at NCRonline.org. It also publishes Global Sisters Report and EarthBeat online. These publications are committed to shaping a world that recognizes the sacredness and dignity of every human being, regardless of religious belief, gender, race, ethnicity, sexual orientation. Throughout our history, NCR has been a voice for the voiceless, disadvantaged and marginalized. It has held authority, secular or religious, accountable.