Managing Editor, Local News
Summary: We are looking for an experienced editor and people manager who believes strong editorial judgment becomes more valuable—not less valuable—in an AI-powered newsroom. You'll lead a team of News Producers, make critical editorial decisions, and help build a new model for local journalism where AI supports reporting, but editorial judgment remains at the center of everything we publish. If you’re a builder looking to help create the future of local news, apply today.
About Us
Local news is the most trusted source of information in the United States (73% of Americans believe and trust local news compared to ~30% who trust national outlets). Yet local news remains a highly fragmented industry burdened by a labor-intensive business model that struggles to capture its share of the $169 billion annual advertising market. At Surround News, we're building a different future. Our AI-powered platform fuels a growing network of wholly owned local news outlets. By combining technology with strong editorial oversight, we're creating trusted local news brands that can scale nationally while remaining deeply relevant to individual communities. The Role We're hiring a Managing Editor to lead the editorial quality of our growing network of local news outlets. This role will oversee a team of News Producers and serve as the primary steward of our editorial standards, news judgment, writing quality, and brand voice. You will be responsible for ensuring that every story we publish meets our standards for accuracy, relevance, clarity, and trustworthiness. You'll coach producers, refine editorial workflows, improve AI-generated content, and help define what great local journalism looks like at scale. This is not a traditional newsroom role. You'll be helping build a new model for local news—one that combines technology, automation, and strong editorial oversight to produce high-quality journalism efficiently.
What You'll Do
Lead Editorial Quality
- Manage and mentor a team of News Producers
- Train team members on effective use of AI tools in editorial workflows
- Establish and enforce editorial standards across dozens of local news outlets
- Create style guides, editorial playbooks, and quality-control processes
- Ensure our outlets remain focused on information readers genuinely care about
Improve Human + AI Workflows
- Identify recurring quality issues in AI-generated content
- Partner with product and engineering teams to improve editorial systems
- Create feedback loops that make our technology smarter over time
- Help design workflows that increase both efficiency and journalistic quality
Define and Protect the Brand
- Ensure coverage reflects our mission of trusted, community-focused local journalism
- Develop standards for headlines, story framing, sourcing, and attribution
- Monitor reader feedback and identify opportunities to strengthen trust
Who You Are
- Experienced editor, journalist, or newsroom leader with 5+ years of relevant experience
- Wants to build at an exciting, early stage AI Startup
- Exceptional writing and editing skills
- Excellent news judgment and understanding of what makes a story meaningful to local audiences
- Comfortable working with AI tools and interested in the future of journalism
- Organized and process-oriented without becoming bureaucratic
- Excited by building something new rather than maintaining legacy systems
Why Join Us
- Lead editorial strategy at one of the most ambitious local news startups in the country
- Shape how AI and journalism work together
- Build standards and systems that will influence hundreds of local outlets
- Work directly with company leadership on the future of the business
- High ownership and autonomy
- Compensation: $90,000–$115,000, depending on experience.
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