Regional Editor -- Southwest Virginia

Job Description

Cardinal News is seeking a Regional Editor to guide and support a growing team of journalists in Southwest Virginia, including two staff reporters and a network of freelancers. This is a key leadership role for someone who’s passionate about elevating local voices, producing high-impact journalism, and strengthening coverage in communities that have long been underserved by traditional news outlets.

You will be responsible for ensuring Cardinal is telling the important stories of a nine-county region in the western part of Virginia. You’ll work directly with two full-time reporters — one based in or near Wise County and the other one in Bristol, with both focused on accountability and enterprise reporting. You’ll provide day-to-day editing support, from shaping pitches to refining drafts and ensuring the final product meets Cardinal’s editorial standards.

You’ll also play a critical role in expanding and strengthening our freelance network — identifying regional writers, photographers, and subject-area experts, and helping them bring their best work to publication. You’ll provide mentorship and editorial guidance that helps newer voices grow and seasoned contributors thrive.

This is a chance to help shape the future of nonprofit, community-based journalism in rural Appalachia — and to support journalists who are listening to and serving the people who live there.

What You’ll Do

• Edit and support two full-time reporters based in Southwest Virginia.
• Guide stories from pitch to publication, ensuring clarity, impact, and journalistic integrity.
• Coach reporters in accountability journalism, enterprise development, public records usage, sourcing, and multimedia storytelling.
• Recruit, develop, and edit freelancers and contributors across the region.
• Help identify story gaps, trends, and underreported issues within the region.
• Ensure coverage reflects the real concerns and lived experiences of local communities.
• Collaborate with the editorial leadership team to align coverage with Cardinal’s mission and values.
• Occasionally edit or contribute to larger team projects, explainers, and regional series.

What You’ll Bring

• Strong editing background, with at least 3–5 years of newsroom or editorial leadership experience.
• Experience editing or managing enterprise and accountability reporting.
• A deep appreciation for the power and complexity of rural and regional journalism — and a track record of supporting reporters who work in these areas.
• Excellent line editing and story structuring skills, with a sharp eye for accuracy, fairness, and voice.
• Commitment to coaching and development — especially for early-career journalists and freelance contributors.
• Ability to collaborate with remote teams, stay organized, and manage multiple projects on deadline.
• Comfort working with multimedia content and an interest in exploring nontraditional storytelling formats.
• Enthusiasm for community engagement, listening journalism, and solutions-oriented reporting.
• A deep belief in journalism as a public service — especially for communities too often overlooked.

Preferred (But Not Required)

• Familiarity with Southwest Virginia and/or the Appalachian region.
• Experience with freelance newsroom operations.
• Background in nonprofit or mission-driven newsrooms.
• A working understanding of the economic, political, and cultural dynamics unique to rural Appalachian communities.

About Cardinal News

Cardinal News is a nonprofit digital news organization serving communities in Southwest and Southside Virginia. We were founded in the fall of 2021 to report the untold stories of these regions and strengthen the voices of the people in our communities who have been sidelined in the commonwealth’s political, economic and cultural conversations — simply because of where they live.

We were named Startup of the Year by the Institute for Nonprofit News in 2021, and LION Business of the Year by LION Publishers in 2025. We are continuing to grow rapidly, with expansion projects underway to deepen our reporting and broaden our local news network to better serve our communities.

We want our team members to feel supported in their work. We budget for training, travel, and the tools necessary to lead and produce strong journalism. Our benefits include:

• Competitive pay
• Paid holidays and vacation time
• Health, dental, and vision insurance
• Contributions to health savings accounts
• A matching 401(k) plan
• Short- and long-term disability insurance
• A collaborative, mission-driven team

To Apply

Send a résumé, brief cover letter, and 3-5 examples of stories you’ve edited (or led as a manager) to jobs@cardinalnews.org. In your letter, let us know why this role and region matter to you — and how you’d help lead coverage that reflects the people of Southwest Virginia.

We Value Diverse Perspectives

Cardinal News is an equal opportunity employer. We welcome applicants of all backgrounds and do not discriminate on the basis of race, color, religion, gender, age, disability, sexual orientation, or any other status protected by law.

We also recognize that not all candidates will check every single box. If you have most of the qualifications listed above and are passionate about regional accountability journalism, coaching others, and serving rural communities, we’d love to hear from you.

Job Requirements

What You’ll Bring

• Strong editing background, with at least 3–5 years of newsroom or editorial leadership experience.
• Experience editing or managing enterprise and accountability reporting.
• A deep appreciation for the power and complexity of rural and regional journalism — and a track record of supporting reporters who work in these areas.
• Excellent line editing and story structuring skills, with a sharp eye for accuracy, fairness, and voice.
• Commitment to coaching and development — especially for early-career journalists and freelance contributors.
• Ability to collaborate with remote teams, stay organized, and manage multiple projects on deadline.
• Comfort working with multimedia content and an interest in exploring nontraditional storytelling formats.
• Enthusiasm for community engagement, listening journalism, and solutions-oriented reporting.
• A deep belief in journalism as a public service — especially for communities too often overlooked.

Preferred (But Not Required)

• Familiarity with Southwest Virginia and/or the Appalachian region.
• Experience with freelance newsroom operations.
• Background in nonprofit or mission-driven newsrooms.
• A working understanding of the economic, political, and cultural dynamics unique to rural Appalachian communities.

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