The Trace seeks a hands-on, collaborative, and imaginative editor to lead and support a team of our reporters as they develop high-impact stories.

This is an opportunity to join our growing nonprofit newsroom at a critical point in its evolution. As the only media organization dedicated to reporting on gun violence, we use the power of journalism to improve public understanding, increase accountability, and identify solutions that can lead to safer homes and communities for all. The story editor will assign and edit articles and projects spanning the range of topics that intersect with gun violence — firearm trafficking and gun law enforcement, police violence and prosecutorial abuses, economic disparities and trauma care access, city funding priorities and emerging interventions, and so on. 

Some of those stories will be co-published with partner organizations ranging from national magazines to local and neighborhood outlets in Chicago, Baltimore, and New Orleans, to name a few. (Articles by The Trace have appeared in 175 different outlets, so far.)

This position will run a small team of reporters, so candidates should have a track record of managing and motivating colleagues or a strong desire to move from reporting to editing. Prior work editing or reporting stories on racial justice, or about communities most affected by gun violence, is a plus. 

At The Trace, we are committed to producing journalism that is equitable and inclusive. We welcome applications from journalists of all experience levels and strongly encourage applications from people of color, women, people with disabilities, and LGBTQ+ people. 

We are looking for an editor with the talent and motivation to excel at the following responsibilities: 

  • Work closely with a small team of reporters to identify and develop stories that have the maximum potential for impact. 
  • Shepherd stories from concept to pitch to draft to polished, published article.
  • Collaborate with other editors on framing and prioritization, ensuring we are making the best use of talent and resources.
  • Think carefully about how readers consume and interact with Trace stories, and collaborate with The Trace’s engagement team to ensure our journalism reaches audiences poised to act on it.
  • Play a central role in the development of our strategy for local reporting, which will focus on cities disproportionately affected by gun violence and underserved by traditional crime coverage.

The ideal candidate is:

  • Innately collaborative and loves working with reporters. 
  • A thoughtful, incisive editor with creative ideas about reaching new audiences.
  • Skilled at giving clear, effective guidance to the colleagues he or she manages and absorbs feedback eagerly.
  • Flexible when circumstances call for it — but relentless in ensuring the accuracy, fairness, and clarity of every piece of coverage he or she touches.
  • Interested in how the work of national news outlets can be distributed effectively and have impact at the local level.

We know that all of the attributes and interests listed here won’t apply to all candidates. If you think you’d be a great fit and have skills and qualifications we may have left out of this listing, we encourage you to submit an application and tell us why you’d thrive in the role. 

In light of the COVID-19 pandemic, everyone at The Trace is working from home until it makes sense to return to an office. Much of our staff is based in NYC, but this position can be based anywhere in the continental U.S. 

To apply

Please send your resume; four samples of your best work; and a memo (two pages, tops) sketching how you’d approach the job to [email protected].

Applications will be evaluated on a rolling basis, with a deadline of November 8.

The Trace offers competitive salaries and benefits, including no-premium health insurance for 2020.