Audience Editor

Job Description

The award-winning investigative news publication Capital & Main is seeking an audience editor to join our newsroom of talented and passionate journalists.

The ideal candidate will be an experienced journalist and digital strategist with a track record of expanding audience and growing presence on social media channels. This team member will play a central role in our audience growth and engagement efforts through social media, video and newsletters, and should have a deep interest in innovation and the use of new formats and platforms.

As a key member of our editorial team, the audience editor works with staff reporters, editors and freelance contributors to amplify the reach and impact of a wide range of investigative, news and narrative stories, videos and social media content.

This staff position will be part-time (75%) with full benefits, but could develop into a full-time position. Residence in the Los Angeles area is preferred but not required. 

Key responsibilities:

• Develop and execute short- and long-term strategies that engage and expand audiences

• Write social media copy, design graphics and post content to Instagram, Facebook, TikTok, Bluesky, LinkedIn and other platforms on a daily basis

• Write and distribute a weekly newsletter and execute new strategies to grow its reach and engagement

• Work with editors, writers and visual journalists to optimize story framing and headlines, develop social strategy and engagement plans and ensure stories and projects resonate with target audiences and stand out in the news cycle

• Post short-form video across social media channels

• Coordinate with partner newsrooms on collaborative posts and promote social media content through outreach to influencers and paid advertising

• Maintain an authoritative and distinctive voice for our organization across social media

• Track performance, produce regular reports with audience and social media analytics and use them to develop actionable recommendations

Job Requirements

Skills and qualifications: 

• At least five years of experience working in audience engagement or social media strategy for a journalism or media organization

• Demonstrated experience in significantly expanding an organization’s followers and engagement on social media

• Strong news judgment and commitment to strict editorial and ethical standards for journalistic outlets

• Clear written communication, including the ability to produce clean, accurate copy that is tailored to individual social platforms and frames our journalism in compelling ways 

• Deep and up-to-date understanding of best practices for major social media platforms, including Instagram, TikTok, Facebook, Instagram, YouTube, X, Bluesky, Reddit and others

• Experience with headline writing, search engine optimization and social media optimization

• Proficiency with software for graphic design and video editing, including Canva, Adobe Suite, Descript, CapCut, in-app software on TikTok and Instagram and email marketing platforms including MailChimp

• Familiarity with social media management, analytics tools and paid social promotion tools

• Excellent interpersonal communication skills and a collegial, team-oriented mindset

• Well-tuned organizational skills and the ability to manage and prioritize multiple projects and deadlines

Capital & Main strives to increase diversity, equity and inclusion in all aspects of our work. We strongly encourage applications from people of diverse backgrounds, including members of historically marginalized and underrepresented communities. 

Capital & Main offers excellent benefits, including family health care with no premiums.

The salary range for this 75%, part-time position is $65,00 to $75,000, depending on experience.

Please send a resume and cover letter to Executive Editor Tony Barboza tbarboza@capitalandmain.com. 

About Capital & Main

Founded in 2013, Capital & Main reports on two of the greatest challenges of our time: inequality and climate change. We produce investigative reporting, accountability journalism, feature stories and reported columns in California and across the country on these topics and other issues of public importance including health care, immigration, worker safety, racial justice, threats to democracy, hate and extremism. Our stories are co-published in hundreds of outlets, including USA Today, Newsweek, the Guardian, the Los Angeles Times, Fast Company, the American Prospect and Rolling Stone. Our reporting has earned numerous awards and has been viewed millions of times across our website and social media platforms.

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