About Beacon Media:

Founded in April 2019, The Beacon first started publishing in Kansas City in March 2020 during the COVID-19 pandemic. In June 2021, we launched a second newsroom in Wichita to become a regional nonprofit news network. The goal of The Beacon is to create a sustainable, non-profit news organization that engages the public, collaborates with other media and produces the highest level of accountability and solutions-driven journalism in Kansas and Missouri.   https://kcbeacon.org/about/

The Beacon Values: 

1. Shining a light: We believe that transparency about what is happening in our community and government ultimately leads to a better society for all. We also believe that if we demand transparency from others, we must model it ourselves as journalists — transparency in funding, journalistic practices, and our policies are integral to earning trust. 
2. Power in independence: Our unique impact as journalists lies in our ability to tell the complete story, without consideration of profit, ideology, or advocacy. We can tell the truest story, and make the greatest possible difference if we take no predetermined position on the topics we cover. We work hard to build a business model that safeguards our independence. 
3. Local first: We put down roots in the communities we cover and work with our readers as well as for them. We cover local people, institutions, and systems like they’re as important as the president (because they are). We aren’t interested in national stories unless there is a clear local or regional angle. 
4. Anti-racism: We acknowledge and condemn the ongoing legacy of racism in the U.S. and the institution we are a part of — the press. We commit to standing against racism as we build our organization and conduct our work. 
5. Impact: Writing stories is not enough. We are on a mission to get the full truth to the maximum number of people at the moments of greatest consequence. We do everything we can to bring stories, people, and stakes alive for readers so they can engage in informed action and debate

Key Responsibilities

• Cultivate an open newsroom culture of collaboration, quality, innovation, data-driven decision-making, accountability, and intelligent use of resources; retain and attract talent, and ensure community engagement is reflected in everyday coverage

• Manage and mentor editors in each location to produce strong, community-oriented accountability journalism with impact; act as editor when needed to ensure editorial needs are fully met in all locations
• Collaborate with the ELT, particularly Audience leadership, to ensure the product is in line with the mission and values of the organization
• Identify and define key performance indicators (KPIs); in conjunction with the ELT and other stakeholders, define strategic priorities; set annual organizational and employee goals; inspire and support employees to achieve or exceed targets in support of the mission 

• Develop and implement an editorial strategy that drives traffic, engages readers, and supports revenue growth, including identifying new content verticals and formats, and partnering with other departments to optimize content distribution

• Create an annual newsroom department budget for approval, and ensure sound financial management within that budget with accurate regular reports, KPIs and financial summaries
• Work closely with audience and revenue leaders on strategies to grow the publication’s readership and editorial ambitions
• Identify and manage all editorial risks that could significantly impact The Beacon
• Ensure the newsroom has management systems and structures in place to operate effectively, with accountability and safety, and that all professional standards are met

• Seek out and develop new income streams and products to ensure sustainability 
• Work closely with journalism partners — including ProPublica, Report For America, the Solutions Journalism Network, and others — to ensure continued support for our editorial ambitions

• Serve as a visible advocate for The Beacon in the community, including speaking at public events

Preferred Qualifications

• Degree in Journalism, Communications, or equivalent combination of education and/or experience
• Two or more years of experience as a local newsroom leader who has supervised teams, developed, and overseen strategic editorial decisions, strong budgeting and P&L skills, and a track record of high-impact journalism 

• Strong leadership skills, with a track record of building and managing high-performing teams.
• Proven success within a highly flexible, visible, entrepreneurial culture; comfort working under tight timelines in a fast-paced environment; leading in a hybrid work environment for employees in geographically dispersed locations
• Committed to diversity, equity, and inclusion, and experience creating and implementing initiatives to promote these values.
• Excellent communication and interpersonal skills, with the ability to work collaboratively with colleagues at all levels of the organization
• Deep understanding of the local news climate, including emerging trends and technologies.
• Visionary editorial leadership and the ability to convert that vision into action 
• Comfortable with change; flexible and agile in a constantly transforming startup environment
• Significant experience supervising teams and overseeing strategic editorial decisions, and a track record of high-impact journalism
• Passion for local accountability journalism and independent media

You may see a list of job requirements and feel that you do not have the exact combination of skills listed here, but are still interested in this role, we suggest you apply anyway.  Please tell us about your other assets not mentioned here that may be valuable to this role.

The Beacon is committed to building an equitable and inclusive organization that represents the people and communities we serve. We encourage members of traditionally underrepresented communities to apply, including women, people of color, veterans, LGBTQ people, people with disabilities, or other marginalized groups.  We are committed to reaching out to talent across a broad range of backgrounds and experiences.

• Job Type: Full-time
• Location:  Kansas City, MO or Wichita, KS (Remote/Hybrid available within the Kansas City or Wichita metro areas)
• Travel: 10%
• Compensation:  $110k , with competitive benefits package

All your information will be kept confidential according to EEO guidelines.