Editor in Chief

Date Posted	August 15, 2025
Industry	Digital Media, Nonprofit
Specialty	Not Specified
Required Education	Bachelor's Degree
Job Status	Full-time
Salary	$62,000-$67,000

Description:

Editor in Chief Role

The Editor in Chief manages all newsroom operations, directs a team of three reporters and guides the mission of publication.

Who We Are

The Ithaca Voice is an award-winning daily digital news site serving the city of Ithaca, New York, and surrounding communities in Tompkins County. In addition to the existing website and daily newsletter, we recently launched a weekly podcast. Incorporated in 2014, The Voice has been a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization since 2019. We are committed to serving democracy for our readers with in-depth local reporting and resources to keep our community safe, informed and better able to engage in civic life.

Location

We are in the heart of the Finger Lakes in Ithaca, New York. Named America’s Best Town to Visit in 2025 by CNN, Ithaca, with its engaged community, is home to Cornell University, Ithaca College and Tompkins-Cortland Community College. The Finger Lakes region, which has more than 150 waterfalls, is known for its wineries and cideries, outdoor activities, arts and entertainment, restaurants and regional history.

The Ithaca Voice is a full-time office environment. Remote access is available as needed. Our office is in the center of downtown Ithaca, just off The Commons shopping and restaurant district.

Responsibilities

●      Set the editorial vision, voice and standards for the publication

●      Hire, develop, mentor and evaluate reporters, freelancers and interns

●      Ensure team members adhere to all established legal and ethical guidelines

●      Stay current with best journalism practices and trends

●      Approve the publication's layout, design, style and tone

●      Determine which stories, articles and photographs to publish

●      Generate content ideas, oversee content creation and assign stories and beats

●      Edit all articles before publication

●      Review all content before publication for accuracy, clarity, quality, tone, etc.

●      Write articles for publication

●      Post and monitor stories on the website and social media activity

●      Collaborates with the Managing Director in strategic decisions such as hiring editorial staff, promoting professional development, developing budgets and strategizing overall operations, including fundraising and community relations

●      Serve as ex-officio member of the Ithaca Voice Board of Directors

Qualifications

●       Outstanding writing and editing skills

●       Proven experience in project management, particularly newsroom leadership

●       Excellent organizational and communication skills

●       Familiarity with WordPress, digital publishing and content management systems

●       Knowledge of media law and ethical guidelines

●       College degree in relevant field or the equivalent experience

Additional Qualifications to Consider

●       Proven leadership skills to manage, guide and motivate a diverse team of writers, freelancers and interns.

●       Excellent editorial skills include a keen eye for detail, grammar, punctuation, syntax and style to ensure content is clear, concise and consistent.

●       Strong decision-making abilities to determine the suitability of content for publication, oversee the editorial calendar and make strategic decisions regarding the direction of content.

●       Strong communication and interpersonal skills to liaise with writers, readers, donors, sponsors and other stakeholders, ensuring all content aligns with the organization’s vision and goals.

●       Project management abilities to juggle multiple tasks and deadlines, ensuring the timely and efficient production of high-quality content.

●       Balance various perspectives and be responsive to reader criticism and feedback.

●       Knowledge of legal and ethical guidelines in publishing to avoid plagiarism, defamation and other legal issues.

●       Understanding of digital trends, artificial intelligence and SEO strategies to ensure content is optimized for online platforms.

Compensation

Salary range: $62,000-$67,000

Benefits:

●      Health

●      Dental

●      Vision

●      Life insurance

●      401(k) w/3% match

●      Paid vacation, sick leave and federal holidays

How to Apply

Qualified applicants must send a cover letter, résumé and three published news clips demonstrating their experience and expertise in newswriting to admin@ithacavoice.org, subject: “Editor Application.”

Application deadline is October 1, 2025, with an expected start date of December 15, 2025.