Local Editor

Date Posted	January 21, 2026
Industry	Digital Media
Specialty	Local News
Required Education	Bachelor's Degree
Job Status	Full-time
Salary	48,000-58,000

Description:

Patch is looking for energetic, creative and self-driven journalists to cover the local stories that matter in communities across America. 

About you: Covering community news isn’t just a job for you, it’s a calling. From city hall decisions to neighborhood businesses, school board votes to breaking news, you know local journalism plays a critical role in daily life. You believe informing people about what’s happening locally is the most important job in journalism.

You follow smart routines, know how to prioritize, and bring curiosity, drive, and a sense of humor to the job. If you’re comfortable working independently, managing multiple deadlines, and pivoting quickly when news breaks, then Patch is the place for you.

As we expand our team of journalists across the U.S., we are seeking candidates with reporting experience, strong news judgment, and the ability to independently generate story ideas relevant to their communities. To apply, please submit your resume and a brief introduction outlining your journalism experience, current location, and the specific community or beat you would be interested in covering as a Patch reporter. Please also include a few sample story ideas you would explore in that beat, demonstrating your understanding of the community and the types of stories you would plan to cover. We’d also love to hear about any of your proudest accomplishments in reporting breaking news.

About Patch: Patch is recognized as a leading provider of local news and information, serving over 1,200 communities across the United States. We are a mission-driven organization with an entrepreneurial culture that rewards creative self-starters and is committed to success.

Responsibilities:

• Develop content for approximately five local news websites, ensuring coverage of important events, stories, and issues within your communities.

• Report and write daily stories on local government, schools, businesses, crime, and community events.

• Identify and cultivate sources within your communities to gather news and information effectively.

• Determine the most relevant and engaging stories for your audience.

• Plan and prioritize story mix, balancing breaking news, features, and enterprise reporting.

• Consistently monitor for breaking news and report on urgent events as they happen.

• Collaborate with fellow Patch editors in a fast-moving, remote newsroom environment.

• Promote content through social media platforms.

Most important skills to have:

• Experience covering breaking news.

• Strong writing and reporting skills.

• Able to work independently.

• Proficiency in social media platforms and understanding of SEO principles to promote content and maximize audience engagement.

• An innate curiosity about local news and a passion for storytelling.

• Able to collaborate effectively within a team.          

Compensation

The annual salary range for this position is $48,000 - $58,000, commensurate with talent and experience. 

Benefits

• Competitive medical, dental, and vision coverage 

• Ancillary benefits

• 401(k) 

• Unlimited discretionary time off (DTO)

• 10 paid holidays a year

• Paid parental leave 

• Annual growth and development reviews

• Training and mentorship

Patch serves our communities by providing trustworthy local journalism, covering the most important issues, and celebrating the people and stories that make each town unique. Patch favors talent, drive, diversity and capacity to grow over credentials and homogeneity.

Patch Media is an equal opportunity employer. We do not discriminate on the basis of race, color, religion, national origin, citizenship, age, disability, sex, marital status, veteran status, sexual orientation, genetic information, or any other characteristic protected by applicable law. Our commitment to equality extends to all aspects of employment, including recruitment, hiring, placement, promotion, training, compensation, benefits, and general treatment.