Community Engagement Editor

Do you value diverse viewpoints and elevated debate? Do you want to have a prominent public role in generating real discussion on the biggest and most meaningful issues in a vibrant and growing community?

The Post Bulletin Community Engagement Editor will be an audience-facing, well-connected thought leader in Rochester and surrounding counties southeastern Minnesota. In another time, this position would have been called Opinion Editor. We are taking a new approach. We want to reach out to spark lively and meaningful discussions on our pages, involving a wide variety of voices. This is a position that can make a difference, especially in these times.

Working closely with our Editor, the Community Engagement Editor will help lead public forums (physical or virtual), engage with our audience through social media, and of course edit our daily opinion pages. You will bring the relevant journalism skills (writing, editing and editorial judgment) and be comfortable meeting new people and speaking before a crowd. We feel that vibrant opinion and commentary content is a key element within our wider goal to engage readers and deepen subscriber interest and loyalty. We're committed to this position, and we want a star to fill it.

Rochester is in southeastern Minnesota, about an hour south of the Twin Cities metropolitan area and about an hour from the Wisconsin and Iowa borders. Rochester is home to Mayo Clinic and vibrant biomedical and tech sector industries. Hormel Foods and the Hormel Institute, in Austin, are also in our coverage area.

Forum Communications, the Post Bulletin's corporate parent, is constantly evolving and aims to develop new concepts and approaches to reflect readers' interests and habits. We believe in telling great stories that reflect our communities and readers, blending writing skill with compelling visuals to bring those stories to life. We aim to tell the stories our readers need and want to know. We aim to be creative, develop great content and value accurate journalism.

Candidates must be able to multitask in a fast-paced newsroom, be resourceful and provide ideas that readers will find interesting and compelling.

Responsibilities of this position include:

• Build and maintain a team of local contributors, writers and commentators who represent diverse viewpoints, perspectives and political viewpoints.
• Develop unique ways of presenting that local content and engaging with readers on digital platforms - website, e-paper, social media and newsletters.
• Build and maintain relationships with local, state and federal elected officials, newsmakers and community leaders.
• Be a thought leader and an advocate for driving community conversation and connections; interact with the public as appropriate on social platforms and public events.
• Research and conduct interviews for columns and editorials; attend relevant community meetings; edit and prepare letters to the editor, guest and syndicated columns and editorial cartoons for publication.
• Coordinate and oversee re-launch of the Post Bulletin's editorial advisory board.
• Work with local newsroom beat writers, editors and the publisher to get a feel for hot topics or emerging community issues/ trends.
• Evaluate and implement opportunities for content/ opinion exchanges with local community, political or academic organizations.
• Play an active role in the company's digital growth strategies, working collaboratively with cross-functional teams to achieve common goals.

To excel in this role, the following requirements are essential:

• Bachelor's degree in journalism, mass communications or related field.
• Newsroom and editing experience preferred.
• Five years experience in a newsroom setting or equivalent combination.
• Exceptional communication and organizational skills.
• Must be able to and juggle many different tasks in a fast-paced environment.
• Ability to work quickly and accurately using a Web-based content management system.
• Must be creative, hardworking and a self-starter.
• Knowledge of AP style and Freedom of Information and libel laws.
• Must possess a valid driver's license and a driving record that is insurable by the company.
• Must carry an acceptable level of vehicle insurance as required by the company.

About the Organization
At Forum Communications Company, our legacy is deeply rooted in harnessing the power of communication to connect and inform people in the communities we serve. Since 1917, everything we do is driven by creating and sharing information, ideas and insights.

Today, we're a leading media and technology company that's home to a family of people whose passion and purpose is fueled by collaboration and innovation We believe in supporting each other, working hard towards common goals and having fun.

Come for the perks:

Excellent employee culture, competitive pay, 401(k), company-paid volunteer time, health and wellness initiatives for all employees. Additional perks for full-time positions include comprehensive benefits package, generous paid time off, paid holidays and paid time off for birthday, paid parental and pregnancy disability leave for qualifying employees.

Stay for the people:

Family-owned and operated since 1917, development and growth opportunities, inclusive, creative culture, safe working environment, employees of all ages and backgrounds, positive collaboration.

EOE Statement
We are an equal employment opportunity employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, national origin, disability status, protected veteran status or any other characteristic protected by law.


This position is currently accepting applications.