Managing Editor

Date Posted	May 19, 2026
Industry	Newspapers
Specialty	Local News
Required Education	Bachelor's Degree
Remote / Telecommute	Hybrid
Job Status	Full-time
Salary	$55,000-$60,000

Description:

About: Appen Media Group (AMG) is a family owned news media company located in the Northern suburbs of Atlanta. The company was founded in 1990 by Ray and Christina Appen, two veteran newspaper executives formerly with Knight-Ridder/Miami Herald. While they continue to work in the company, it is now led by their son, Publisher Hans Appen, and Executive Editor Dan Whisenhunt. Appen Media Group purchased the company the executive editor founded, Decaturish.com, in 2024. 

Salary: $55,000-$60,000. Employees who meet all our expectations are also eligible for performance bonuses. 

Appen Media Group is a growing digital and print publication, serving hundreds of thousands of readers both online and in print. As other papers are cutting back on print and coverage, we are expanding. We plan to grow our digital and print revenue so we can serve more readers and tell the untold stories of their communities. 

We need a managing editor to steer our ship and execute the executive editor’s vision for our company. Appen Media Group is flipping the script about the future of journalism. We see opportunities and possibilities where others see insurmountable obstacles. The managing editor will have the chance to be on the ground floor of helping Appen Media Group build something truly special. 

This is not a traditional managing editor role. We want someone who will buy into our mission and who is willing to put in the work to see it succeed. Appen needs a managing editor who is willing to challenge conventional thinking about journalism and who approaches the job with an entrepreneurial spirit. They must care about journalism and how journalism is funded in equal measure. 

At Appen, we believe in hard-hitting journalism that holds powerful people accountable and protects the powerless. The managing editor should have a backbone and a willingness to help our team pursue the hard stories in the face of adversity. This person should have a keen eye for enterprise-level, high-impact reporting that can make a difference in our communities. 

All journalists at Appen Media are expected to follow the Society of Professional Journalists’ code of ethics. 

Here are our minimum qualifications: 

– A bachelor’s degree or master’s degree in journalism, or a journalism adjacent field like communications, law, or creative writing. People who have a business degree and journalism experience will also be considered. 

– At least six to 10 years of relevant journalism experience and three years of managerial and editing experience. 

– Someone who can provide references from at least two direct reports. 

– A demonstrated track record of producing enterprise-level reporting at print and digital publications. 

– A demonstrated ability to stay highly organized and keep reporters on task while managing multiple, overlapping deadlines. 

– Someone comfortable working in a hybrid work environment who will remain highly engaged in a virtual newsroom. 

– A proven track record of optimizing content for search engines and understanding digital audience analytics. 

– Someone who is proficient in following Associated Press style guidelines. 

– Familiarity with content management systems, including Wordpress and Blox/Blox NXT.

– Someone with superior communication skills who knows how to work collaboratively and disagree respectfully. We are not looking for a “yes” person or a people pleaser. We are looking for someone who can provide honest feedback in a respectful way, who is also willing to compromise when needed. 

Here are our preferred qualifications: 

– Someone who has participated in or spearheaded successful fundraising campaigns for a local news organization. 

– Someone who has won journalism awards individually or as part of a larger team. 

– Someone who is social media savvy and willing to help distribute our content via various platforms. 

– Someone who is familiar with and interested in email marketing and design, and familiar with Active Campaign. 

– Someone who is familiar with the Atlanta area and the stories and people affecting our region.

Job duties: 

– Editing stories for both print and online publication. The managing editor is usually, though not always, the first person to see copy when a reporter files it. 

– Assigning stories as needed. The managing editor will assign stories to the Appen Media team as needed. 

– Editing and proofing all Appen Media print products. The managing editor will help the executive editor edit all print editions before they go to press and will identify any major issues that require correction before publication. 

– Coordinating election coverage. The managing editor will take a lead role in organizing and executing across all Appen Media publications. This will include compiling lists of candidates, creating Q&As and helping to organize forums.

– General assignment reporting as needed. The managing editor will provide general assignment reporting as needed, not limited to: profiles, meeting coverage, event coverage, election coverage and breaking news coverage. The managing editor will be responsible for two to four stories each week. 

– Social media posting as needed. The managing editor will help the executive editor and other team members maintain an active social media presence on Meta platforms and Bluesky. 

– Coordinating enterprise reporting. The managing editor will help the executive editor work with the reporting team to develop enterprise stories. 

Benefits: 

• Health insurance

• Hybrid work environment 

• Three weeks of paid leave annually 

Appen Media is looking to fill this role quickly. 

– This job has a proposed start date of July 6.

Please send a resume and cover letter to dan@appenmedia.com. Please include "managing editor" in the subject line.