Company: Lookout Eugene-Springfield Location: Eugene-Springfield, OR
About Lookout Eugene-Springfield: Lookout Eugene-Springfield is the second market launched after Lookout Santa Cruz, a modern, community-centric, mobile-first digital news source dedicated to delivering high-quality, trustworthy, and non-partisan local news and information. Our standards are high, as shown by our 2024 Pulitzer Prize win for Breaking News. Our mission is to foster greater citizen knowledge and participation within the community through robust journalism. We built Lookout Local to be a model, and one that can rebuild local news in communities well beyond Santa Cruz. We now expand our innovative model with Lookout Eugene-Springfield, the first step as we move forward with wider expansion in 2026-2027.
As we expand to Eugene-Springfield, we are looking for an Executive Editor who can lead our newsroom and shape our reader-centric news products.
Position Overview: The Executive Editor will shape the multiple news and information products offered by Lookout Eugene-Springfield, applying and growing the Lookout Local journalism model. We base our revival of local journalism on our ability to produce excellence every day, and through the day, serving readers' evolving needs with a wide range of meaningful and local/personal journalism.
The editor will lead in hiring a newsroom of skilled, diverse and experienced journalists. This role requires a demonstrated leader who excels in creating a culture of excellence and collaboration. The ideal candidate will be adept with current and emerging digital tools, and will work closely with the publisher and business group to form a cohesive team that meets the needs of readers and the diverse communities served.
A key partner of the publisher and business group in forming a single team to meet the needs of readers and the communities served, the Executive Editor reports both to the Lookout Eugene-Springfield publisher and Lookout Local's CEO and is a member of the company's overall executive team. Applying Lookout Local's journalism/business/community models, and proven publishing technology, the Executive Editor's role is to lead reader and community impact in the market.
The ideal candidate brings a good knowledge of the Eugene-Springfield area and Oregon.
Responsibilities:
Leadership and Team Management:
Hire, lead and manage a newsroom of skilled journalists, fostering a culture of excellence and collaboration.
Mentor and develop journalistic talent, ensuring high standards of reporting and storytelling.
Editorial Direction:
Shape and guide the editorial vision and strategy for Lookout Eugene-Springfield, applying Lookout's overall model and high standards of reporting, editing and presentation.
Ensure the production of high-quality, engaging, and reader-centric news and information products.
Direct an aggressive editorial calendar and content planning that meet both reader and business objectives.
Digital Expertise:
Eagerly apply current digital tools and emerging technologies that grow our impact in news delivery and reader engagement.
Drive innovation in digital storytelling, ensuring content is optimized for various platforms and devices, and reaches diverse audiences, including increasing integration of video and audio storytelling.
Collaboration with Business Side:
Partner with the publisher and business team to align editorial and business goals.
Work collaboratively to create products and initiatives that meet the needs of readers and support business objectives.
Community Engagement:
Engage with the community to understand their needs and interests, ensuring the newsroom's work reflects and serves the community.
Represent Lookout Eugene-Springfield at public events and forums, building strong relationships with community members.
Editorial Integrity and Standards:
Uphold the highest standards of journalistic integrity and ethics.
Ensure all content is accurate, fair, and non-partisan.
Qualifications:
Proven, substantial leadership experience in a similar role within a news or media organization.
Strong background in digital journalism and familiarity with current digital tools and platforms.
Excellent editorial judgment and storytelling skills.
Demonstrated ability to create and sustain a collaborative, high-performing newsroom culture.
Experience working closely with business teams to align editorial and business strategies.
Passion for Lookout Eugene-Springfield's mission and a deep understanding of the local community.
Exceptional communication and interpersonal skills.
Ability to thrive in a fast-paced, dynamic environment.
What We Offer:
Competitive salary and performance-based incentives.
Full-time benefits include highly competitive medical, dental, and optical benefits, and 401(k) with matching.
Good PTO allowances
Equity, in the form of stock options.
An opportunity to make a significant impact on the revival of local journalism.
A collaborative and mission-driven work environment.
Application Process: Please send your resume and cover letter to jobs@lookoutlocal.com and put Eugene, Executive Editor in the subject line.
Equal Opportunity Employer: Lookout Eugene-Springfield is 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.
Join us at Lookout Eugene-Springfield and be a part of our mission to provide vital local journalism to the communities we serve!