Investigative Reporters & Editors, Inc.
Editor-in-Chief
Investigative Reporters & Editors, Inc., Baltimore, Maryland, United States, 21206
Overview
ABOUT FLOODLIGHT
Make sure to read the full description below, and please apply immediately if you are confident you meet all the requirements. Floodlight is hiring an editor-in-chief to lead the organization's journalistic mission, guide its team of investigative reporters through the next phase of organizational growth and deepen Floodlight’s partnerships with local and national newsrooms. Floodlight is a nonprofit, independent newsroom that investigates the powers stalling climate action. Since launching in 2021, Floodlight has collaborated with local and national news outlets including The Guardian, NPR, ProPublica, the Los Angeles Times, the Texas Tribune, the Louisiana Illuminator and Capital B. Floodlight stories reach millions and are distributed directly to hundreds of news editors and republished through aggregation services. In 2025, hundreds of news outlets republished Floodlight stories. Floodlight’s reporting is nonpartisan and adheres to the standards of the Institute for Nonprofit News for financial transparency and editorial independence. Our team of seven consists of two reporters, an investigative producer, an audience director, a chief operating officer, an executive director and an editor-in-chief, who will retire at the end of 2025. We all work remotely, with occasional travel for reporting, in-person meetings, industry conferences or events. ABOUT THE ROLE The ideal candidate is a strong leader with extensive editing, reporting and management experience in investigative journalism and a deep understanding of Floodlight’s collaborative approach and its role in climate journalism. The editor-in-chief will manage a team of investigative journalists and work closely with a network of reporters and editors from external media partners on collaborative projects. The candidate should be tough, fair and collegial, and will lead and shape the newsroom culture while helping team members deepen their skills. Floodlight produces deep-dive investigations that reveal obstacles to climate action, and aims for stories that are locally relevant and nationally resonant. The editor-in-chief must edit and fact-check stories in multiple formats, including medium- and long-form text reporting and video scripts. Most work happens through partnerships with national and local news outlets, so experience managing media relationships is essential. Weekend and weekday collaboration across partners may be required to align schedules and expectations. Executive Team The editor-in-chief will work closely with Floodlight’s executive team. Emily Holden, founder and executive director, leads fundraising and business operations; the editor-in-chief leads editorial efforts and helps set vision and priorities. Lee Pedinoff, chief operating officer, supports fundraising and builds systems to improve newsroom performance. Rosie Gillies leads audience development, engagement and partnership efforts, in collaboration with the editor-in-chief. The current editor-in-chief plans to retire at the end of the year, with overlap for a smooth transition. Responsibilities
Work with the executive team to set and implement the strategic editorial vision in alignment with Floodlight’s goals and mission. Manage the editorial staff and audience director, including quarterly and annual performance reviews and staff recruitment. Ensure reporting meets the highest standards of editorial excellence, including leading the extensive fact-checking process and legal reviews where needed. Lead twice-a-week editorial meetings and maintain an up-to-date story budget. Oversee the editorial calendar and production of output across multiple distribution channels. Secure rights for visuals for publication and distribution of stories. Represent Floodlight publicly by speaking at news industry conferences and preparing contest entries and other activities. Write quarterly and annual editorial reports for internal and external audiences. Consult with the business staff on grant proposals and reports. Oversee expansion of partnerships with external news organizations. Ideal Candidate Qualities
5+ years experience managing a team of journalists and at least 10 years in journalism. Strong editorial judgment and skills. Strong interpersonal skills with the ability to manage, motivate and mentor a diverse team. Strong collaborative skills as liaison with partner media organizations. Exceptional organizational and project management skills with attention to detail. Excellent communication skills and the ability to weigh in on decisions with authority across the organization. Self-starter who is highly motivated and resourceful. The role will be remote with occasional travel for events and team collaboration. Salary and Benefits The salary for this position is commensurate with experience, starting at a minimum of $130,000 per year. Floodlight provides 25 days of vacation/PTO, plus 12 paid holidays, 10 days of medical/emergency/bereavement leave and 12 weeks of paid parental leave. Health insurance premiums and other qualified health expenses are reimbursed up to the federal maximum (currently $529 per month for an individual and $1,067 per month for an individual and their family). A 401(k) plan with a company match of up to 4% is provided. Floodlight welcomes applicants from diverse backgrounds and encourages members of traditionally underrepresented communities to apply, including people of color, LGBTQ people and people with disabilities.
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ABOUT FLOODLIGHT
Make sure to read the full description below, and please apply immediately if you are confident you meet all the requirements. Floodlight is hiring an editor-in-chief to lead the organization's journalistic mission, guide its team of investigative reporters through the next phase of organizational growth and deepen Floodlight’s partnerships with local and national newsrooms. Floodlight is a nonprofit, independent newsroom that investigates the powers stalling climate action. Since launching in 2021, Floodlight has collaborated with local and national news outlets including The Guardian, NPR, ProPublica, the Los Angeles Times, the Texas Tribune, the Louisiana Illuminator and Capital B. Floodlight stories reach millions and are distributed directly to hundreds of news editors and republished through aggregation services. In 2025, hundreds of news outlets republished Floodlight stories. Floodlight’s reporting is nonpartisan and adheres to the standards of the Institute for Nonprofit News for financial transparency and editorial independence. Our team of seven consists of two reporters, an investigative producer, an audience director, a chief operating officer, an executive director and an editor-in-chief, who will retire at the end of 2025. We all work remotely, with occasional travel for reporting, in-person meetings, industry conferences or events. ABOUT THE ROLE The ideal candidate is a strong leader with extensive editing, reporting and management experience in investigative journalism and a deep understanding of Floodlight’s collaborative approach and its role in climate journalism. The editor-in-chief will manage a team of investigative journalists and work closely with a network of reporters and editors from external media partners on collaborative projects. The candidate should be tough, fair and collegial, and will lead and shape the newsroom culture while helping team members deepen their skills. Floodlight produces deep-dive investigations that reveal obstacles to climate action, and aims for stories that are locally relevant and nationally resonant. The editor-in-chief must edit and fact-check stories in multiple formats, including medium- and long-form text reporting and video scripts. Most work happens through partnerships with national and local news outlets, so experience managing media relationships is essential. Weekend and weekday collaboration across partners may be required to align schedules and expectations. Executive Team The editor-in-chief will work closely with Floodlight’s executive team. Emily Holden, founder and executive director, leads fundraising and business operations; the editor-in-chief leads editorial efforts and helps set vision and priorities. Lee Pedinoff, chief operating officer, supports fundraising and builds systems to improve newsroom performance. Rosie Gillies leads audience development, engagement and partnership efforts, in collaboration with the editor-in-chief. The current editor-in-chief plans to retire at the end of the year, with overlap for a smooth transition. Responsibilities
Work with the executive team to set and implement the strategic editorial vision in alignment with Floodlight’s goals and mission. Manage the editorial staff and audience director, including quarterly and annual performance reviews and staff recruitment. Ensure reporting meets the highest standards of editorial excellence, including leading the extensive fact-checking process and legal reviews where needed. Lead twice-a-week editorial meetings and maintain an up-to-date story budget. Oversee the editorial calendar and production of output across multiple distribution channels. Secure rights for visuals for publication and distribution of stories. Represent Floodlight publicly by speaking at news industry conferences and preparing contest entries and other activities. Write quarterly and annual editorial reports for internal and external audiences. Consult with the business staff on grant proposals and reports. Oversee expansion of partnerships with external news organizations. Ideal Candidate Qualities
5+ years experience managing a team of journalists and at least 10 years in journalism. Strong editorial judgment and skills. Strong interpersonal skills with the ability to manage, motivate and mentor a diverse team. Strong collaborative skills as liaison with partner media organizations. Exceptional organizational and project management skills with attention to detail. Excellent communication skills and the ability to weigh in on decisions with authority across the organization. Self-starter who is highly motivated and resourceful. The role will be remote with occasional travel for events and team collaboration. Salary and Benefits The salary for this position is commensurate with experience, starting at a minimum of $130,000 per year. Floodlight provides 25 days of vacation/PTO, plus 12 paid holidays, 10 days of medical/emergency/bereavement leave and 12 weeks of paid parental leave. Health insurance premiums and other qualified health expenses are reimbursed up to the federal maximum (currently $529 per month for an individual and $1,067 per month for an individual and their family). A 401(k) plan with a company match of up to 4% is provided. Floodlight welcomes applicants from diverse backgrounds and encourages members of traditionally underrepresented communities to apply, including people of color, LGBTQ people and people with disabilities.
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