Capital B is a startup nonprofit local and national news organization serving Black audiences in Atlanta, across the country, and coming soon in Gary, IN. Capital B Gary is seeking a self-motivated and creative community engagement editor to build and lead a robust listening and engagement program in Gary and the surrounding region with the 3-pronged goal of 1) building relationships and understanding among our target audience, 2) growing the reach of our journalism, and, 3) most importantly, helping our newsroom incorporate the information needs of Black residents into our editorial strategy.

This editor will be a crucial link to the communities we serve, running a listening program that includes conducting focus groups and convenings, as well as facilitating Capital B attendance at local meetings — with the help of a team of freelance community ambassadors that they will recruit and manage.

Through listening, they will also be responsible for helping everyone access our journalism by using what we learn in community sessions to think up creative ways to distribute Capital B Gary content in communities. The community engagement editor will also promote transparency and build trust by sharing with Gary residents information about Capital B's newsgathering and story selection process.

As part of a small team, the person in this role has the powerful opportunity to help redefine how local journalism can serve Black people. They will work closely with Capital B Gary's editor to obsessively understand what Black people in NW Indiana need and want to know about their neighborhood, city, and region, and help the team meet those needs through innovative and accessible journalism.

This position reports to Capital B's chief audience officer and works very closely with Capital B Gary's editor and Capital B's managing editor of local.

Salary: $65,000-$75,000

Location : Gary, IN

Responsibilities:

• Use your vast knowledge of Gary to build and lead our ongoing community listening program, where you will foster Capital B's relationships with the communities we serve
• Partner with the audience team to propel Capital B Gary's social media growth by integrating an authentic Gary touch and devising strategies to resonate with local residents online
• Recruit and manage a small team of freelance community ambassadors
• Manage Capital B Gary Documenters program, including editing and managing TBD editorial product derived from Documenters notes
• Attend/facilitate attendance of community meetings and events to meet face-to-face with residents
• Work directly with reporters and Gary editor to translate results of community listening into editorial strategy and story ideas
• Work with central audience team on innovative community content distribution strategy, including developing partnerships with local groups and organizations
• Plan and lead 6-8 focus groups and convenings per year
• Occasional reporting, newsletter writing, and staff editing, as needed/desired
• Some participation in fundraising/membership drives

**
What you'll bring:**

• A deep connection to Gary's Black communities, and a deep curiosity about people, places, and stories there
• An obsessive understanding of local news and current events, particularly pertaining to NW Indiana
• Fearlessness about meeting and engaging with new people
• A passion for learning new information and sharing it
• Excellent written and aural communication skills
• Connections to organizations/community groups in and around Gary
• Bold thinking and a track record of making big things happen
• Sensitivity to the responsibilities of reporting for underrepresented communities
• Ability to work both collaboratively and independently
• Journalism and/or social media experience is a plus

**
What we'll bring:**

• A compassionate, supportive workplace
• Unlimited PTO + company holidays
• 20 weeks parental leave
• 12 weeks caregiver leave
• 401K
• Dental, health, and vision insurance
• Life insurance
• Health and dependent care flex plans
• Short-term disability
• Professional development fund
• Monthly phone and internet stipend

Capital B is open to candidates with a diversity of experience, and we know that some very strong candidates won't have all of the qualifications we list. Don't be shy — apply!