Engagement Editor

Engagement Editor
Reports to: Executive Editor
Location: Santa Cruz, Calif.

Lookout Local is looking for an Engagement Editor who can both grow our audience and explain — internally and externally — why what we do is vital to the overall improvement of Santa Cruz County. This is not simply an analytics job, though that is part of it. Instead, it is developing solid strategies both online and in-person that showcase and illustrate our work and processes.

The Engagement Editor serves as the owner of the official Lookout social media channels and keeps an eye on breaking news during his/her/their shift. This person also develops and enforces best practices for the personal social media accounts of the editorial staff. Additionally, the Engagement Editor will work with the larger team to produce in-person and online events on various topics.

What you’ll be doing:

Track analytics of overall editorial product, particularly how individual newsletters, initiatives or events lead – or fail to lead – to membership conversions. Produces weekly report on same. Track impact of stories, including if work leads to direct action by government agencies.

Write weekly column summarizing in narrative form – with a tongue-in-cheek attitude – about the goings on about local and county civic life. Advocates for more civic education and understanding, highlighting groups and individuals engaged in such activities.

Lead producer and manager of Lookout Santa Cruz social media channels. Serves as staff evangelist for social media, encouraging both editors and reporters to promote Lookout Santa Cruz content on individual channels. Keeps an eye out for indications of bias or unprofessionalism on same, alerting Managing Editor and Executive Editor of problematic content.

Serves as lead for in-person events/panels, working with other editors and CEO to understand organizational priorities and goals. Schedules and coordinates panelists, moderator, and venue as needed. Creates regular calendar of events, working with Executive Editor on promotion and marketing of same.

Generally works early shift, Tuesday to Saturday, back reading content and correcting minor typographical and visual issues as needed. If more significant issues or errors are spotted, alerts Managing and Executive editors, and attempts to resolve directly with reporters. If necessary, directs the reporter to write a correction/clarification or writes it directly. Serves as primary editor on Saturdays with an eye toward production of in-person and online events on that day twice per month.

Responsible for writing breaking news for social media channels and website during regular shift, handing off to reporters and editors as appropriate. Produces and publishes Lookout AM.

Your Experience & Skills

• Proven superior news editing experience of three years or more.
• Superior organizational and collaborative abilities, with excellent written and verbal communication skills.
• Curiosity.
• Deep experience in working within a CMS, editing and packaging stories.
• Demonstrated creativity and vision in shaping and producing a wide range of story formats and presentation styles across digital platforms, and crafting copy from “smart brevity” to longer-form investigations.
• Familiarity with basic web applications and multimedia types (photo, video, audio).
• Experience using data and analytics to inform content decisions.
• A strong sense of social media’s multiplying power and how it can best be used for a local news and commerce model.
• Bilingual skills and knowledge of Santa Cruz County a plus

Benefits and Application

The Engagement Editor is a full-time Lookout Local employee. We offer competitive employee benefits.

Lookout Local 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.

As we interact with the public on a regular basis, a vaccination against COVID-19 is required for employment absent documented disability or religious reasons.

Please apply, with cover letter and resume to jobs@lookoutlocal.com.