News Reporter and Managing Editor, Covering the Chathams and Madison

The News Reporter and Managing Editor is chiefly responsible for researching, reporting, writing and editing daily coverage of news, features, and enterprise stories in Chatham, Chatham Township, and Madison Borough.

Responsibilities also include daily digital packaging and distribution of that content through the Chatham Courier and Madison Eagle, email newsletters, and social media accounts.

Responsibilities also include serving as production editor of the Morris Review weekly newspaper, which includes working with other editors to determine which articles will be published in the newspaper, and coordinating with our production manager and executive editor to oversee production of the newspaper.

Additional key requirements include soliciting letters to the editor and opinion columns from members of the community, processing paid obituaries, and occasionally converting press releases into brief news articles — with the addition of original sourcing. News team members are required to adhere to Associated Press style. The News Reporter and Managing Editor will be required to spend some business days in the office, and some hours on business days, evenings, and weekends on location and working from home — covering local meetings, events and breaking news, conducting enterprise reporting research and interviews, and writing and editing.

This is an opportunity to help reinvent how we cover the vibrant neighboring communities of Chatham and Madison — bringing a digital engagement focus to local journalism that connects residents to the stories and issues that matter most in their communities.

About The Ideal Candidate: Given that we are a nonprofit organization offering modest compensation, the ideal candidate for this role is likely an early-career journalist seeking hands-on experience in all aspects of the business, or a late-career professional with a passion for local news and experience in covering local towns and local government in New Jersey. That said, we are open to considering all types of candidates to creatively identify the best person available for the job. We are most interested in hearing from generally curious local news reporters and editors, proficient in editing and packaging content for digital and print distribution, and based in our coverage area. We are looking for candidates who are excited about local news and providing local town residents with essential knowledge and compelling stories that help them to be informed about and engaged in their communities.

Critical Skills Required:

• Proficient using collaborative digital news content management systems to write, edit, package and publish news and features.
• Adept at researching, interviewing, note taking, shooting photos, and writing and editing articles, photo captions and headlines on deadline.
• Comfortable taking on a wide variety of responsibilities, and pitching in to support newsroom colleagues as situations require, in a collaborative open-newsroom environment.
• Proficient using social media to connect and grow a targeted audience.
• Proficient using digital engagement metrics tools to inform coverage decisions and grow audience.

Qualifications:

• Bachelor's degree preferred.
• Local news reporting and/or editing experience required; we welcome applications from early-career journalists whose experience includes college newspapers, internships, or other community journalism, as well as seasoned professionals looking for a mission-driven environment.

Compensation: Compensation reflects our nonprofit model. We are committed to being fully transparent about our compensation structure with every candidate in our first conversation. We seek candidates who are motivated by mission as much as compensation, and who recognize that the opportunity to do meaningful, community-focused journalism — backed by a supportive nonprofit organization — is itself a significant part of the package.

What We Offer:

• Mission-driven newsroom where your work directly impacts community wellbeing.
• Opportunities to participate in shaping our digital transformation.
• The potential to grow vertically into management roles or horizontally into other departments should such opportunities arise.
• Paid time off — 10 vacation days in year one (plus increases based on tenure), five sick days, eight company holidays.
• Health insurance and dental coverage.
• 401(k) plan.
• Small team environment with long-term organizational growth potential.
• Opportunities for professional development and industry networking events.

How To Apply: We encourage applications from candidates who meet most of our requirements, even if not all. We're seeking to fill this position as soon as possible. Please email your resume and a cover letter explaining how you're a match for the role and why nonprofit journalism appeals to you

New Jersey Hills Media Group is an equal opportunity employer, and we value a diverse workforce. We encourage applications from all qualified individuals regardless of race, color, religion, gender, gender identity or expression, sexual orientation, national origin, age, marital status, disability, veteran status, or any other characteristic protected by law.

New Jersey Hills Media Group is part of a mission-driven nonprofit organization that owns and operates 13 local news websites and five weekly local newspapers serving 52 towns in Essex, Hunterdon, Morris and Somerset counties. We provide professional, fact-based, community-driven news coverage that inspires civic participation and strengthens local connections. Learn more at newjerseyhills.com.
As a nonprofit-owned organization, we prioritize community impact over profit, reinvesting all of our resources into quality journalism that serves the public good.