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Audience Editor

The award-winning investigative news publication Capital & Main is seeking an audience editor to join our newsroom of talented and passionate journalists.

 

The ideal candidate will be an experienced journalist and digital strategist with a track record of expanding audience and growing presence on social media channels. This team member will play a central role in our audience growth and engagement efforts through social media, video and newsletters, and should have a deep interest in innovation and the use of new formats and platforms.

 

As a key member of our editorial team, the audience editor works with staff reporters, editors and freelance contributors to amplify the reach and impact of a wide range of investigative, news and narrative stories, videos and social media content.

 

This staff position will be part-time (75%) with full benefits, but could develop into a full-time position. Residence in the Los Angeles area is preferred but not required. 

 

Key responsibilities:

 

  • Develop and execute short- and long-term strategies that engage and expand audiences
  • Write social media copy, design graphics and post content to Instagram, Facebook, TikTok, Bluesky, LinkedIn and other platforms on a daily basis
  • Write and distribute a weekly newsletter and execute new strategies to grow its reach and engagement
  • Work with editors, writers and visual journalists to optimize story framing and headlines, develop social strategy and engagement plans and ensure stories and projects resonate with target audiences and stand out in the news cycle
  • Post short-form video across social media channels
  • Coordinate with partner newsrooms on collaborative posts and promote social media content through outreach to influencers and paid advertising
  • Maintain an authoritative and distinctive voice for our organization across social media
  • Track performance, produce regular reports with audience and social media analytics and use them to develop actionable recommendations 



Skills and qualifications: 

 

  • At least five years of experience working in audience engagement or social media strategy for a journalism or media organization
  • Demonstrated experience in significantly expanding an organization’s followers and engagement on social media
  • Strong news judgment and commitment to strict editorial and ethical standards for journalistic outlets
  • Clear written communication, including the ability to produce clean, accurate copy that is tailored to individual social platforms and frames our journalism in compelling ways 
  • Deep and up-to-date understanding of best practices for major social media platforms, including Instagram, TikTok, Facebook, Instagram, YouTube, X, Bluesky, Reddit and others
  • Experience with headline writing, search engine optimization and social media optimization
  • Proficiency with software for graphic design and video editing, including Canva, Adobe Suite, Descript, CapCut, in-app software on TikTok and Instagram and email marketing platforms including MailChimp
  • Familiarity with social media management, analytics tools and paid social promotion tools
  • Excellent interpersonal communication skills and a collegial, team-oriented mindset
  • Well-tuned organizational skills and the ability to manage and prioritize multiple projects and deadlines

 

Capital & Main strives to increase diversity, equity and inclusion in all aspects of our work. We strongly encourage applications from people of diverse backgrounds, including members of historically marginalized and underrepresented communities. 

 

Capital & Main offers excellent benefits, including family health care with no premiums.

 

The salary range for this 75%, part-time position is $65,00 to $75,000, depending on experience.

 

Please send a resume and cover letter to Executive Editor Tony Barboza tbarboza@capitalandmain.com

 

About Capital & Main

 

Founded in 2013, Capital & Main reports on two of the greatest challenges of our time: inequality and climate change. We produce investigative reporting, accountability journalism, feature stories and reported columns in California and across the country on these topics and other issues of public importance including health care, immigration, worker safety, racial justice, threats to democracy, hate and extremism. Our stories are co-published in hundreds of outlets, including USA Today, Newsweek, the Guardian, the Los Angeles Times, Fast Company, the American Prospect and Rolling Stone. Our reporting has earned numerous awards and has been viewed millions of times across our website and social media platforms. 

  

How to Pitch to Capital & Main

 

Help us cover some of the most consequential issues of our time. The award-winning investigative news publication Capital & Main is seeking to work with:

  • Freelance writers
  • Freelance photographers, videographers
  • Freelance graphic designers

 

What you need to know about us:

Founded in 2013, Capital & Main reports on inequities related to class, race, immigration, gender, corporate accountability, climate change and energy, education and health, both in California and nationally.

Our stories are co-published in a wide range of outlets, including USA Today, Newsweek, the Guardian, Fast Company and the American Prospect. In 2020, Capital & Main produced the largest American reporting project on inequality, with nearly 100 stories over the course of 12 months. We also launched a major new reporting initiative on climate change as well as two original podcasts on COVID-19. Last year the publication won more than 40 regional and national awards, including Online Journalist of the Year and Best Internet-Only News Website in Southern California.

 

We are a small team but we work with a wide range of freelance writers and photographers from all backgrounds.

 

Pitch FAQs

Where do I send my pitches?
Send your pitches to storypitches@capitalandmain.com

If  you are a videographer, photographer or a graphic designer please send your pitch and contact information to Marco Amador at camador@capitalandmain.com.


When should I pitch?
We publish daily and accept pitches all the time.

 

Do you accept opinion or personal essays?
Not from first-time writers, unless we specifically commission one.

I’m ready to pitch, what do you need from me?
Email at storypitches@capitalandmain.com with your full name, contact information, links to past work experience, and a summary of your story idea with a rough word count and the sources/research you plan to use.

If  you are a videographer, photographer or a graphic designer please send your pitch and contact information to Marco Amador at camador@capitalandmain.com.

 

How to pitch

Send your pitches to storypitches@capitalandmain.com with the following information:

  • Your full name
  • Contact information including email and phone number
  • Link to website(s) that show your past work
  • A very concise summary of your story idea
  • Make sure your story idea fits along the focus of our coverage on inequality related to class, race, immigration, gender, corporate accountability, climate change and energy, education and health.

If  you are a videographer, photographer or a graphic designer please send your pitch and contact information to Marco Amador at camador@capitalandmain.com.

Topics/Stories we seek

At Capital & Main, our freelance journalists report on inequality related to class, race, immigration, gender, corporate accountability, climate change and energy, education and health both in California and nationally.

Your story should include:

  • Anecdotal narratives from everyday people impacted by the issue(s) covered in the story
  • As much original reporting as possible, including remarks from experts, elected leaders, government workers, businesses, etc.
  • Opposing viewpoints
  • Supporting documents; additional data is highly encouraged
  • No anonymous sources

We do not accept:

  • Personal essays, anecdotes
  • Opinion pieces
  • Previously published material 
  • Unfounded hearsay or rumors

Here are some examples of the stories we cover and publish.

Homelessness:
Homeless Deaths in Los Angeles Rose by More than 30% in 2020
Homelessness in Los Angeles Expected to See Dramatic Rise Due to Pandemic
Attacking Homelessness After COVID’S End


Inequality:
California’s Essential Workers Get Bumped Down Vaccination Line
Data Reveals Dramatic Gap Between COVID Vaccinations and COVID Deaths Among Latinos in L.A. County
As Los Angeles COVID Vaccines Roll Out, Black and Latino Cases Surge

 

Environment:
City Sued for Letting Charter School Dodge Environmental Rules
Environmentalists Demand Gavin Newsom Join Biden’s Halt of Oil and Gas Drilling
Possible Exide Plant Sale Alarms Residents, Environmentalists