Investigations Editor

Job Description

Join our small but mighty team, known for punching above our weight with data-driven investigative journalism that informs crucial conversations about race and equity.

At the Investigative Project on Race and Equity, we’re all about facts, not opinions. Our work exposes systemic racism by uncovering discriminatory practices and shining a light on abuses of power that drive racial and economic disparities. Through data and deep-dive investigations, we tell stories that inform people about social issues—and we build and analyze databases to bring systemic injustice into focus.

We have an opening for a seasoned investigative journalist to join our team as Investigations Editor. This position is ideal for someone who’s driven to uncover injustice, likes to be a player coach when needed and is excited to mentor the next generation of reporters. If you’re energized by working with rising talent, thrive in building community among journalists and will do whatever it takes to keep an investigation on track and hold yourself, and your peers, to the highest standards of journalism, this might be for you.

As our Investigations Editor, you’ll lead a talented team of reporters in ambitious investigative projects about social and economic issues facing Chicago and communities of color. Our organization is rooted in collaboration, providing training and building editorial partnerships to help newsrooms across the city amplify stories from underrepresented communities. This role is tailor-made for a collaborative leader who can build powerful partnerships, helping both our team and other newsrooms elevate investigative reporting across the city and beyond. You’ll work alongside various media organizations, educational and cultural institutions sharing resources, insights and strategies to maximize impact.

Job Overview:
We seek a dedicated, experienced and collaborative Investigations Editor to lead our editorial team in producing impactful, data-driven journalism. The Investigations Editor will play a crucial role in shaping content strategy, creating and managing editorial processes and ensuring the quality and integrity of the reporting. This role requires a strong journalistic background and a commitment to service leadership.

Compensation: Salary is $80,000. Benefits include three weeks paid vacation, health-care coverage and a flexible schedule. The editor will have the ability to work remotely but must live in the Chicago area. 

To apply: Send a cover letter, resume and 3-5 clips of investigative or enterprise work that you've written and/or edited to info@raceandequityproject.org. In your cover letter, describe an investigation or enterprise project that you worked on where something surprising or revelatory was uncovered, either through FOIA requests, interviews or data analysis. Describe how you knew you were onto something impactful, and what it took to bring the story to light.

Job Requirements

Editorial Leadership:

• Provide strategic direction and vision for the investigative team in alignment with the organization's mission and goals.

• Collaborate with reporters, writers and editors to identify and prioritize key investigative projects and stories. 

• Oversee the planning, execution and evaluation of all investigative content, ensuring deadlines and high journalistic standards are met.

• Foster a culture of excellence, creativity and innovation within the editorial team.

• Develop and execute content strategies that are revelatory, engaging and support the nonprofit mission.

Editorial Management:

• Manage a team of reporters, apprentices and other editorial contributors, providing guidance, feedback and mentorship.

• Coordinate editorial workflows, deadlines and assignments to produce efficient and timely investigative content.

Quality Control:

• Review and edit articles for accuracy, clarity and adherence to journalistic standards.

• Collaborate with media partners on story selection, reporting and editing and data interpretation.

• Oversee fact-checking, verify data and reporting sources and ensure legal compliance.

Community Engagement:

• Collaborate with the engagement team to ensure editorial content is packaged for online platforms and social media to expand the audience and enhance engagement.

• Foster connections and collaborations with local communities and key stakeholders.

• Participate in outreach efforts to build and maintain relationships with readers and supporters.

Collaboration:

• Collaborate with the executive director and the fundraising team to support grant applications and donor relations, as needed.

• Serve as the liaison to the Advisory Council’s Collaborations Committee.

Qualifications:

• Proven experience landing investigative and enterprise projects.

• Bachelor's degree and/or significant experience in journalism, including five years as an editor or investigative reporter.

• Strong editorial judgment and ethical principles.

• Excellent writing and editing skills.

• Experience with data-driven journalistic investigations and computer-assisted reporting.

• Familiarity with digital publishing tools and content management systems necessary to manage editorial content.

• Exceptional communication, teamwork and project management skills.

• Commitment to nonprofit journalism and the mission of the Investigative Project.

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