Criminal Justice Editor

Description:

Criminal Justice Editor — Cleveland.com / The Plain Dealer

Cleveland.com and The Plain Dealer are seeking an innovative, hands-on editor to lead our dynamic criminal justice team, driving coverage that goes far beyond the police blotter. We don’t just report on the latest crimes — we seek to explain the “why” behind violence, explore the politics of prosecution, and illuminate human stories buried in court filings.

In an era when cities are defined by their crime statistics, understanding criminal justice has never been more important. Our team has examined the MetroHealth trauma center’s efforts to quell violence, put juvenile carjackings in context, and detailed how local and state police work together to curb illegal guns.

The ideal candidate is a collaborative, forward-thinking newsroom leader — someone who thrives on developing reporters, experimenting with AI-driven storytelling, and inspiring a team that produces deeply reported, high-impact journalism across digital, audio, video, and print.

This is an exciting opportunity to help shape public understanding of Cleveland’s criminal justice system — and to make a difference in how our communities see safety, equity, and accountability. Join Ohio’s largest newsroom and help us redefine what meaningful crime coverage looks like.

The base salary range is $75,000 to $85,000 per year. 

Key Responsibilities

• Lead & Edit: Manage a team covering Cleveland and its suburbs, shaping coverage on crime, courts, and justice reform.
• Strategize: Oversee daily content planning and production for cleveland.com, optimizing stories for web, social, podcasts, newsletters, and print.
• Collaborate: Partner across newsroom teams on breaking news, investigations, and enterprise projects.
• Coach & Develop: Provide thoughtful editing, mentorship, and career development for reporters.
• Manage Operations: Handle scheduling, budgeting, goal-setting, and annual performance reviews.

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in journalism, communications, or related field
• Minimum of 5 years of newsroom experience, including reporting, editing, or team leadership
• Strong understanding of criminal justice, courts, and legal processes
• Proven ability to coach reporters and elevate storytelling
• Excellent organizational, communication, and leadership skills
• Eagerness to innovate with AI and emerging newsroom tools
• This job requires reliable transportation to meet with sources or cover events.  

Apply

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