Bridge Michigan seeks executive editor to oversee innovation, daily news

The Center for Michigan seeks a dynamic, collaborative and strategic editor to co-lead one of America’s great civic news organizations, Bridge Michigan, and help it reach larger audiences in new platforms.

The newly created position, Executive Editor for Innovation and Daily News, will guide innovation and expansion, oversee daily content and work in a team that loves what it does and is committed to improving Michigan and building a better newsroom.

Bridge Michigan is a nonprofit with secure long-term funding and huge aspirations. We mix deep explanatory and investigative reporting with daily government, politics and policy news. We are committed to service, have won hundreds of awards, and endeavor to be Michigan’s most dependable and successful news source.

The Executive Editor for Innovation and Daily News will co-lead a growing newsroom of 15 journalists with the Executive Editor for Impact and Enterprise, and be part of an executive team that works on long-term strategy and growth.

Job Description

This is a new position and a different approach to a typical newsroom hierarchy. We think the job could be one of the most rewarding in media.

The Executive Editor for Innovation and Daily News is a hands-on position, overseeing the production of daily editions and newsletters, working with reporters and helping accelerate our transition into other media such as podcasts, a YouTube channel or enhanced newsletters.

The successful applicant will work alongside the Executive Editor for Impact and Innovation, who oversees long-term enterprise and investigations, a separate team of reporters, news strategy and staff professional development.

Both executive editors will partner in improving Bridge Michigan’s people-first culture, public outreach, journalistic excellence and management of two deputy editors who will soon be hired. We are proud of our values and try to incorporate them in all we do.

This is a job for a dynamo: An editor with a proven leadership record; an entrepreneurial learner and thinker; an ace organizer who is great with copy; a caring manager who brings out the best in employees; a cultivator of future talent and a bona fide newshound who respects the very best journalism traditions but isn’t hidebound to them.

We embrace a culture of ‘yes’ and shaking things up that need shaking.

Position Requirements

• At least seven years experience leading a newsroom or large news team.
• Demonstrated creative mindset and enthusiasm for online media.
• Experience as a multi-platform storyteller, with passion for the written word as well as other media, such as audio, video, photography, podcasts, storytelling through social media and whatever comes next.
• Knowledge of Michigan or at least curiosity of it. This job is not remote.
• A proven record of delivering exclusives and tight stories with grace and panache.
• Excellent news judgment, knowledge of state government and politics a big plus.
• Experience working with news analytics, social media, SEO and the science of readership and engagement and how data can inform the editorial process.
• A commitment to journalism as a public service, leading with fairness while maintaining Bridge Michigan’s brand of zealous nonpartisanship.
• An entrepreneurial and problem-solving spirit and ability to stay cool and pivot when the best-laid plans fall apart.
• The ability to grow talent and expand the pipeline of underrepresented groups into journalism.

The full-time position will be expected to work out of the Center for Michigan’s Ypsilanti and/or Lansing offices in a hybrid work-from-office/work-from-home environment, spending 2-3 days a week in the office working with other Center and Bridge Michigan staff. The position reports to the Center for Michigan’s Chief Executive Officer.

How to apply

Diversity Pledge Institute has been engaged to assist with this talent search. If you’re interested in joining, please send a resume, clips/links to portfolio and cover letter to jobs@thedpi.org with “Bridge Michigan” in the subject line.

About The Center for Michigan and This Position

Bridge Michigan is a publication of the nonpartisan, nonprofit Center for Michigan. All staff of Bridge Michigan are employees of the Center for Michigan.

Founded in 2006, the Center for Michigan is a nonprofit organization dedicated to making Michigan better through high-quality, nonpartisan journalism and engagement.

The Center for Michigan offers competitive salaries and flexible work arrangements. The targeted total compensation for this position begins at $140,000 annually. Our offices have a casual environment and we respect work-life balance. Benefits at the Center for Michigan include:

• medical, vision, and dental insurance
• 4-6 weeks of maternity/paternity/adoption leave
• minimum three weeks paid time off per year

The Center for Michigan is an equal opportunity employer, committed to diversity in our workforce and creating an inclusive environment. As we are working towards building an organization that better reflects the communities we serve, we especially encourage members of traditionally underrepresented communities to apply, including people of color, women, members of the LGBTQIA+ community, and people with disabilities. 

All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment. The Center for Michigan will not discriminate in its employment practices due to an applicant’s race, color, religion, national origin, sex (including pregnancy, gender identity, and sexual orientation), age, disability/handicap, height, weight, marital status, familial status, veteran status, citizenship, or any other classification protected by federal or state law or local ordinance.