Local Editor - Pee Dee

The Post and Courier, South Carolina’s statewide leader in award-winning news coverage, is seeking an energetic editor to lead and provide coverage of our Pee Dee newsroom. We are looking for a journalist to be a player/coach who will embrace our approach to insightful, enterprising coverage.

The position is based in Florence, South Carolina. The local editor will report directly to the managing editor for our statewide newsrooms while working alongside the regional publisher for Pee Dee and Myrtle Beach.

The local editor will also work with editors across The Post and Courier’s statewide network to help produce regional and statewide coverage. This position participates in regular news meetings and work closely with our audience team to elevate the impact of the journalism we produce.

You are a strong candidate for this position if you can balance multiple initiatives and projects at once, and lead reporters as they cover their beats while also reporting yourself. We are looking for a journalist who knows how to break news, writes with flair and will bring urgency to our work. Finally, you will bring a creative know-how to develop smart, quick-turn enterprise from both breaking news and issues facing Florence, Florence County and the greater Pee Dee region of South Carolina.

Journalists who join The Post and Courier will find opportunities in a Pulitzer Prize-winning newsroom to do some of the best work of their career, limited only by their ambition and curiosity.

The Post and Courier is a privately held newspaper that values its relationship with readers, believing in the idea that investing in journalism will lead to more readers and a sustainable business. We have built newsrooms throughout the state, seeking to fill a void in news deserts or areas where local news coverage has dramatically shrunk.

RESPONSIBILITIES

• Lead the newsroom as an editor, setting coverage strategy while guiding reporters and interns.
• Produce story ideas from the assigned beat or from conversations with sources and other members of the community.
• Become immersed in the public-policy of Florence and Florence County to craft informative and impactful stories about top issues and personalities.
• Delve into the growing and evolving business and arts communities to report on individuals, organizations and trends that are shaping the area.
• Strategically issue FOIAs to assist in reporting, analyze the results and effectively use these materials in published articles.
• Coordinate your assignments and schedule with editors, keeping them well-informed about developments and potential challenges.
• Effectively use social media to engage the community.
• Develop and maintain photo and digital skills.
• Produce work that is accurate in fact, tone and implication. Understands libel law and the rules governing plagiarism.
• Effectively learn and use all job technology and systems.
• Learn and follow all department and company policies and procedures.
• Meet all assigned deadlines.
• Develop a list of knowledgeable, diverse sources.
• Other duties as assigned.

Requirements, minimum education level, and experience: 

• Bachelor’s degree in Journalism, Communications or English preferred.
• Experience in AP style writing.
• Flexibility to adjust hours to cover breaking news or weekend and evening events.
• Valid driver’s license, good driving record, reliable and insured vehicle.
• Reliable access to internet service.

Knowledge, Skills and Abilities: 

• Strong writing and editing in AP style skills.
• Excellent social media skills.
• Strong written and oral communication and interpersonal skills.
• Good customer relation skills with the ability to easily and professionally speak and work with readers and the public daily.
• Ability to react quickly to breaking news.
• Ability to prioritize workload and self-manage projects, handle multiple tasks and meet strict deadlines.
• Knowledge of the community and surrounding cities a plus.
• Ability to adapt to a fast-paced ever-evolving industry and workplace.
• Strong, professional work ethic.
• Ability to work independently remotely, if necessary, in a suitable workspace that meets safety guidelines.

Physical Requirements, Work Environment and Travel: 

• Regularly required to sit for long periods of time; close eye work on computer screen; required to stand, walk, reach with hands and arms, bend and stoop; light to moderate lifting 15–30 pounds.
• The worker is frequently subject to inside environmental conditions, which provide protection from weather conditions but not necessarily from temperature changes, and is sometimes subject to adverse outside environmental conditions.
• Local travel is required. 

The Post and Courier is an equal opportunity, drug-free workplace.