Executive Editor 

Job Description:

Chron, a Houston-based, digital-first Texas news site, is seeking a new Executive Editor to run its 25-person newsroom.

 

The ideal candidate must be a newsroom leader who can think big picture about what Chron should be as a brand, and be able to inspire the newsroom to win every day in support of that editorial vision. This hire must be a tenacious editor who enjoys the pace of news and the thrill of a good narrative, and be driven to make Chron a must-read for Texas culture stories that everyone will talk about. In a world of breaking and trending news, this person should be able to quickly envision a fresh take on a story that no one else has and that the Chron audience wants to read and share.

 

This hire must understand Houston and Texas in their bones: what makes locals tick, who the personalities, places and businesses are that fire people up and get them talking. Understand how to assign and shape stories that dig into Texas culture and reflect voice, sound reporting and have a sense of fun. Keep up on what others outside of Texas are saying about the Lone Star state and be able to call out national hot takes that don’t sit right locally. 

 

This hire needs to understand audience and have past success at, and a deep understanding of, growing audiences as the land shifts continue. Never be precious or boring. Have a knack for finding the unexpected story that will connect with readers and be so good that it reaches outside of local news boundaries to go national. And be relentless about testing microbeats and new ideas to keep Chron fresh and traffic flowing.

 

What is Chron?

Once the digital home for the Houston Chronicle, Chron became its own distinctive site and newsroom in 2012. Focusing on stories that capture Texas culture and that spark conversation, Chron covers trending news, sports, food and entertainment, real estate, local TV personalities, space and other topics that impact culture and life for people living in Houston, the surrounding Gulf Coast region and throughout Texas.

 Primary Responsibilities:

Newsroom leader — Craft a bold new vision for Chron. Set the editorial direction, tone and brand voice for Chron, in concert with senior stakeholders, while executing newsroom operations that support that effort. Editorial strategist — Zero in on the most interesting story ideas from an inundated news landscape, and pivot the newsroom as needed based on traffic needs or the news cycle to make sure Chron’s coverage reflects the brand, is fast, highly readable and valuable to readers Audience-first editor — Understand audience metrics, how to package and distribute a story, who the Chron reader is, how to find new audiences and turn the casual reader into a loyalist High metabolism — Be energized by running a fast-paced newsroom that turns out high-quality, unexpected, must-read stories every day Texas fundamentals — Have a firm grasp of the issues, people and cultural moments that readers care about and that are shaping Houston and Texas Grow a team — Ability to inspire senior editors and younger reporters alike to test new franchise ideas and content beats, evolve storytelling  Eye for detail — Empower editorial lieutenants, spot opportunity, manage newsroom needs, including the budget Journalism fundamentals — Have excellent news judgement and reporting and writing skills; awareness of macro challenges affecting the national digital media landscape and ability to brainstorm solutions; facility with content management systems and AP style

 Competencies/Critical Skills:

Idea honing: collaborate daily with editors to shape ideas into compelling stories that reflect an insatiable curiosity about Texas and connect with readers across the region Top-notch leadership skills to guide the newsroom every day, assuring the editorial calendar is fed and reflects the Chron brand Excellent writing, editing and communication chops, particularly within news and feature journalism Ability to lead a team of editors and reporters daily, keeping the team motivated and inspired to grow Chron and sharpen its brand voice Facility with analytics tools and ability to unpack those metrics to spot areas of opportunity and audience growth Calm demeanor in a fast-paced, always-on news environment

 Measures of success for this position include:

Meet, and strive to exceed monthly traffic goals for the site Expand audience: Greater audience penetration within the Houston DMA, increase loyal in-DMA readers, and grow readership elsewhere in the state through experimentation of new beats and topics, story packaging and distribution Improve reader engagement across all platforms: grow video views, social following on emerging platforms, reader shares and commenting, newsletter subscribers and click-thru rates Establish clear brand identity reflected in story mix that is distinctive from other local and statewide brands

 What will it take to be successful?

Experience: Minimum of 10 years in a newsroom, with at least 5 years in a management and editorial role Skills: Strong news judgment, creativity, attention to detail, ability to write with clarity and authority. Comfortable with multimedia storytelling. Collaboration: Ability to work effectively with various newsroom teams and adapt to a fast-changing news environment. Technical proficiency: Knowledge of multimedia tools and platforms, data analysis, and metrics to inform coverage decisions. Strategy: Strong editorial perspective on the kinds of stories and audiences that Chron should pursue. Keen understanding of audience referral channels and how to optimize content for distribution across various platforms. Education: Bachelor’s degree in journalism, communications, or a related field preferred. Bilingual: Ability to speak a second language, such as Spanish, is a plus. Location: Must be based in the region or willing to relocate.

 

Our Benefits: At Hearst Newspapers we not only support our employees through personal and professional development, but we also believe in promoting each individual’s physical, financial and emotional wellbeing (and that of their family).  Our industry-leading benefits include: 

Physical Wellbeing: Medical, Dental, and Vision coverage to keep you and your family healthy. 

Invest for the Future: Competitive retirement plan with matching program in most markets. 

Generous Paid Time Off: Recharge with ample time off, including holidays and vacation. 

Paid Parental Leave: Support for growing families, with paid leave for new parents. 

Monthly Child & Dependent Care Reimbursement: Financial support for the care of your loved ones. 

Emotional Wellbeing: Be your best self with our mental wellness benefits. 

LGBTQ+ & Inclusive Health Services: Inclusive healthcare designed for every individual’s unique needs. 

Fertility Coverage & Menopause Support: Helping you along every step of your family journey. 

Pet Wellness Reimbursement & Rover Credits: We care about your pets, too – helping you keep them happy and healthy. 

And more, click here for additional benefits and details. 

 

Chron is an essential digital-first local news source serving more than 6 million unique readers a month in Houston and the surrounding region, including Galveston and the Gulf Coast. Once the digital home for the Houston Chronicle, Chron became its own distinctive site and newsroom in 2012, when HoustonChronicle.com launched. Focusing on stories that capture local culture and spark conversation, Chron covers trending sports, food and entertainment, travel, local TV personalities, real estate, space and more. Chron.com has become the go-to destination for metro and regional readers who are curious about what's new in Houston and what's affecting culture and life in the Bayou City.

About Hearst Newspapers:

With 2,500 employees across the nation, HNP encompasses a network of 24 daily and 52 weekly publications, including the San Francisco Chronicle, Houston Chronicle, San Antonio Express-News and Albany Times Union, several top digital-only news and lifestyle sites, marketing services businesses, and entertainment businesses such as King Features Syndicate. 

At HNP, we are investing in new and innovative ways to tell stories – growing newsrooms, diversifying tools, evolving platforms – to support the millions of people who trust us each month to help them make decisions, take action and be inspired.  

Be a part of something bigger – your headline awaits.

Recognizing the diverse needs of our candidates, if you are interested in applying for employment and need assistance or an accommodation to use our website or regarding the application process, please contact us by email at hnpemployment@hearst.com.  Please do not use this email address to inquire about the status of applications. We will only respond to inquiries concerning requests for a reasonable accommodation through this email address.

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