Demo

Managing Editor - Quad City Times

Lee Enterprises
Davenport, IA Full Time
POSTED ON 10/11/2026
AVAILABLE BEFORE 2/8/2027
Managing Editor — Quad-City Times, The Dispatch/Rock Island Argus and Muscatine Journal

The Quad-City Times, The Dispatch/Rock Island Argus and Muscatine Journal are seeking an ambitious, rigorous and entrepreneurial leader to shape the next phase of growth for our newsrooms as Managing Editor.

This person will directly oversee day-to-day news coverage across the three publications while playing a key role in developing and executing newsroom strategy.

The ideal candidate will combine uncompromising journalistic integrity with an insatiable appetite for innovation, strengthening trusted, tradition-rich news organizations while helping them thrive in a rapidly changing, multiplatform world.

Our publications have deep roots in the communities they serve and a long history of delivering essential local journalism. The successful candidate will respect that legacy while working urgently to build the future of the organization.

The Quad-Cities and Muscatine comprise a distinctive region spanning two states and connected by the Mississippi River. The area is shaped by manufacturing, agriculture, health care, higher education, arts and culture, and consequential politics in both Iowa and Illinois. Our coverage aims to capture the vibrancy and complexity of these communities across multiple platforms and in multiple formats.

What you’ll do

  • Guide a team of reporters covering the Quad-Cities, Muscatine, eastern Iowa and western Illinois.
  • Direct ambitious daily reporting, breaking-news coverage, enterprise journalism and accountability work across all three publications.
  • Help shape our multiplatform product lineup, including newsletters, podcasts, video, visual journalism and whatever comes next.
  • Embrace a “lead from the field” model by finding meaningful ways to contribute to coverage as a reporter, writer, editor and content creator.
  • Coordinate coverage across communities while ensuring each publication retains a strong local identity and responds to the distinct needs of its audience.
  • Coach journalists, set clear expectations and cultivate a collaborative newsroom culture built around urgency, accuracy, creativity and public service.
  • Use audience insights and sound news judgment to identify coverage priorities, strengthen engagement and grow readership.
  • Build and maintain relationships with key community and company stakeholders throughout the region.
What we’re looking for

  • A proven track record of leading high-impact news coverage in a fast-paced, competitive environment.
  • Strong news judgment and a commitment to accurate, independent and courageous local journalism.
  • An appreciation for the news, politics, business and cultural landscapes of the Quad-Cities, Muscatine, Iowa and Illinois.
  • The ability to lead effectively across multiple publications, communities and platforms.
  • A relentless desire to innovate, experiment and build new products and approaches.
  • A commitment to developing journalists and creating a newsroom where people can do ambitious, meaningful work.
  • Excellent communication and collaboration skills, with the ability to work effectively with reporters, editors, audiences and other stakeholders.
Please attach your résumé, three work samples and a 500-to-750-word memo describing your vision for the role. Address the memo to Executive Editor Analisa Trofimuk and include it with your application.

Why Join Us?
Lee Enterprises offers competitive wages in a dynamic, interesting work environment with career growth opportunities. We offer an extensive benefit program that can be personalized to your needs. Our benefit program includes medical, dental, vision, short and long-term disability, company provided life insurance and supplemental life insurance. In addition, we offer a 401K retirement plan with company match. We also offer generous paid time off to allow the flexibility to balance personal life and work. This includes paid parental leave for new parents.
Lee Enterprises is a leading provider of local news and information and a major subscription and advertising platform, with daily and weekly newspapers and rapidly expanding digital products serving 114 markets across 25 states. Our core commitment is to provide valuable, intensely local news and information to the communities we serve.
Lee Enterprises is proud to be an equal opportunity employer. We respect and celebrate diversity and are committed to creating an inclusive environment for all employees.
For more information about Lee, check us out at www.lee.net.

Benefits:

Health Insurance, 401K Plan, Vacation & Paid Time Off

Salary : $38,254 - $62,032

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