The Trace is hiring an editor to lead the The Gun Violence Data Hub, a new initiative that aims to increase the accessibility and use of data about gun violence by journalists.
This is an opportunity to be a founding member of an important, first-of-its-kind project to provide the media industry with the tools to uncover new truths about America’s gun violence crisis.
Core responsibilities
- Oversee all aspects of the Data Hub’s data collection efforts, external collaborations, and distribution plans
- Help formulate the Data Hub’s launch strategy and set goals for growth and impact in the project’s first years
- Lead a small team of editors, providing guidance and feedback to ensure the Data Hub meets standards for accuracy, integrity, and excellence
- Secure strategic partnerships with newsrooms, academic institutions, and independent researchers
- Be the Data Hub’s public face, appearing at conferences and events
- Foster strong, collaborative relationships with editors and reporters across The Trace’s newsroom and the journalism industry at large
- As the Data Hub’s most senior staffer, report to The Trace’s managing editor
The ideal candidate is someone with most of these attributes:
We know not every candidate has every skill (and that’s okay).
- At least 5-7 years of experience in management
- Newsroom experience and a deep understanding of journalistic standards and ethics
- Technical skills including coding or advanced data analysis are nice to have but are not a prerequisite for this role. Curiosity about new technologies, how data can inform reporting and news gathering, however, are a must
- A working knowledge of news visualizations and cleaning and analyzing large datasets, particularly in the public health realm
- An understanding of methods for acquiring data, from FOIA requests and data scraping to working with academic researchers and local newsrooms
- Familiarity leading the design, development, and publication of websites, interactives, and graphics
- The ability to provide clear, effective guidance to the colleagues they manage, and to inspire team members to be ambitious and agile
- An ambition and enthusiasm for seeking out new research and data sets we have not heard about yet
- A basic understanding of digital best practices for audience growth, including story selection and framing, headline writing, and distribution
More about the Data Hub:
The Gun Violence Data Hub is a new initiative by The Trace that aims to increase the accessibility and use of accurate data on gun violence. Its team of reporters, editors, and researchers will collect, clean, and publish datasets, and proactively work with other newsrooms, assisting journalists in their pursuit of data-informed reporting on one of America’s most urgent public health crises. Learn more in our announcement post.
Compensation and benefits
Salary will vary depending on the candidate, but the general range is approximately $115,000–135,000. This full-time position includes no-cost medical, dental, and vision insurance; 12 weeks of fully paid family leave; a 401(k) with employer matching; four weeks of vacation time, plus 10 sick days and a holiday week in December; several holidays; and professional development resources including funding to attend conferences.
A New York location would be preferred for this job, but it could be done remotely, ideally on Eastern or Central time. We have an office in Brooklyn, NY, but we also have team members in Washington, D.C., Chicago, Philadelphia, and elsewhere.
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 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 not mentioned in this listing, we encourage you to submit an application and tell us why you’d thrive in this role.
To apply
Fill out the application form here. In lieu of a cover letter, we ask that you answer a few questions about your experience and goals as well as submit your resume.
DEADLINE: We will accept applications through Friday, July 12. We may begin reviewing applications sooner, however, and will reach out to you if we like your application.
QUESTIONS? Email us at [email protected] with questions. Please do not reach out to check on the status of your application before we have contacted you; we will do our best to respond to candidates in a timely manner.
