Managing Editor

The Grand Forks Herald has been the #1 trusted source of local news for Grand Forks, ND, East Grand Forks, MN, and the surrounding region since 1879, helping connect residents with the stories that shape their communities. Known for high-quality journalism, the Herald earned eight first-place awards from the North Dakota Newspaper Association in 2024 - including best use of social media - reflecting its commitment to engaging, impactful reporting.

Grand Forks is a vibrant, growing community with a rich cultural and economic landscape. Home to the University of North Dakota, the region celebrates a truly legendary Fighting Hawks hockey legacy that brings the community together and draws attention from sports fans across the country. The local economy is strong and diversified, with expanding business sectors, a supportive entrepreneurial environment, and a revitalized downtown that has become a hub for commerce, entertainment, arts, and dining. With a high quality of life, affordable cost of living, and a blend of college-town energy and small-city charm, Grand Forks offers an exceptional place to live, work, and grow.

The Grand Forks Herald is part of Forum Communications Company, a fifth-generation, family-owned media organization with more than 20 publications across the Upper Midwest, collectively reaching more than 5 million readers each month.

Job Summary

The Managing Editor leads the day-to-day newsroom operation, guiding content strategy, execution, and performance across print and digital platforms. This role partners closely with the Executive Editor to shape editorial direction, ensure high-quality journalism, and deliver timely, relevant content that serves and grows the audience. The Managing Editor is both a strategic leader and hands-on editor, fostering a collaborative, innovative newsroom culture while driving accountability, audience engagement, and operational excellence.

Essential Functions

• Lead daily newsroom operations, directing editorial staff and workflows to ensure timely, accurate, and impactful content delivery across all platforms.
• Supervise, coach, and develop newsroom employees, including hiring, onboarding, scheduling, performance management, and ongoing professional development.
• Serve as a hands-on “player-coach,” modeling strong journalism standards, editorial judgment, and adaptability in a fast-paced environment.
• Collaborate with the Executive Editor to set editorial priorities, plan coverage, and respond to breaking news with urgency and accuracy.
• Oversee story budgeting, assignment, and execution to ensure alignment with audience interests and organizational goals.
• Edit complex and high-impact stories, guiding reporters to strengthen reporting depth, clarity, accuracy, and storytelling quality.
• Lead and contribute to enterprise and investigative reporting efforts across platforms.
• Drive audience growth and engagement by leveraging analytics, reader insights, and evolving digital best practices.
• Champion multimedia storytelling, encouraging the use of video, visuals, social media, newsletters, and emerging digital tools.
• Ensure consistent quality and cohesion across digital and print products, including coordination with production teams to meet deadlines and standards.
• Foster a positive and inclusive newsroom culture grounded in collaboration, accountability, transparency, and continuous improvement.
• Build and maintain strong relationships across departments and with external partners to support organizational goals and community engagement.
• Represent the organization in the community through events, partnerships, and public-facing opportunities.
• Maintain prompt and reliable attendance.

Non-Essential Duties and Functions

• Performs additional duties as assigned.

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in Journalism, Communications, or a related field required.
• Minimum of five (5) years of newsroom experience, including editing and leadership responsibilities; or an equivalent combination of education and experience.
• Demonstrated leadership experience with the ability to inspire, coach, and manage a high-performing team.
• Strong news judgment and deep understanding of journalistic ethics, AP style, media law (including libel), and public records practices (e.g., FOIA).
• Proven ability to manage multiple priorities and deadlines in a fast-paced, deadline-driven environment.
• Exceptional communication, organizational, and decision-making skills.
• Strategic mindset with the ability to align daily execution with long-term editorial and business goals.
• High level of digital proficiency, including content management systems, analytics tools, and social media platforms.
• Experience with multimedia storytelling and audience engagement strategies strongly preferred.
• Working knowledge of supervisory practices, employment policies, and performance management principles.

Expected compensation for this role is between $50,000 - $62,000, based on qualifications and experience.

ABOUT THE COMPANY

Forum Communications Company is a family-owned media and technology leader with more than a century of delivering trusted, quality journalism and innovative business solutions. Storytelling is at the heart of who we are, but today, we’re so much more than a newspaper. As one of the Upper Midwest’s leading media organizations, we’re driving the future across print and digital news, sports streaming, technology, broadcasting, commercial printing, and full-service agency advertising.

Forum Communications Company offers the following to all Full-Time and 32-Hour Benefited employees:

• Health, dental, and vision packages
• Paid maternity and parental leave
• Company-paid short-term disability and life insurance
• Additional options for critical illness, accident, and hospital indemnity coverage
• Retirement benefits with company match
• Generous PTO and paid volunteer hours

We are an equal employment opportunity employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, national origin, disability status, protected veteran status or any other characteristic protected by law. FCC currently does not offer employer sponsorship.

Notice of AI Use in Job Application Review

As part of our commitment in creating a fair, efficient, and consistent hiring process we may use artificial intelligence (AI) to help our recruiting teams organize, summarize, and analyze information provided by candidates, including resumes, application responses, and other materials submitted during the application process.AI may be used to identify patterns, highlight relevant skills, and experience, and assist in comparing a candidate’s qualifications with the requirement of a specific role. These tools are to improve efficiency and consistency while supporting more informed hiring decisions, which will ultimately be made by the hiring team.