What are the responsibilities and job description for the Deputy News Editor / Reporter position at Valley News?
About the role
We’re looking for a rising newsroom leader — someone who is ready to help shape the future of local journalism while still doing the work that makes it matter.
This is an important role in a newsroom that is evolving quickly: expanding digitally, deepening its community connections, and reimagining how local news is delivered across platforms. It’s a position for a journalist who can edit with clarity, report with urgency and lead with curiosity. You’ll work closely with the editors and senior leadership to guide daily coverage, elevate storytelling and help a talented staff do their best work — while continuing to report stories that resonate across our community.
Why this role matters
At the Valley News, a daily website and six-day a week paper, we believe local news is essential to our communities’ health, vitality and connection — and we’re investing in its future.
- We’ve rebuilt our digital tools and storytelling capabilities from the ground up.
- We’re expanding into podcasts, newsletters and new audience experiences.
- We’re experimenting with AI — carefully, transparently and always with human oversight.
- We’re proud to be part of a family-owned news group that recognizes what it takes to be a leader in local news.
This role sits at the center of it all.
What you’ll do
Help lead and elevate coverage
- Work with other editors to shape daily and enterprise coverage across beats.
- Edit stories for clarity, impact and fairness.
- Push for ambitious, people-centered journalism that reflects our community.
Report stories that matter
- Produce your own reporting — from breaking news to deeper enterprise.
- Pursue stories that go beyond meetings and into real lives, as our newsroom strives to do every day.
- Experiment with formats: narrative, audio, visual and digital-first storytelling.
Mentor and develop talent
- Work closely with early-career reporters.
- Help guide story framing, sourcing and reporting strategy.
- Be a steady, thoughtful presence in a fast-moving newsroom.
Drive digital growth
- Think beyond the print cycle — help lead a 24/7 digital-first workflow.
- Contribute to newsletters, social strategy and audience engagement.
- Identify new storytelling opportunities across platforms.
Collaborate across the organization
- Work with audience, product and business leaders in our company.
- Contribute to special projects, elections coverage and community initiatives.
- Help us listen better — to readers, sources and each other.
Who you are
- A journalist with 3–8 years of experience who’s ready for the next step. If you don’t have that level of experience, that’s ok. We want to hear from you, too, if you feel like this is the job for you.
- A strong reporter who still wants to be in the field.
- An emerging editor who enjoys helping others succeed.
- Curious, collaborative and energized by change.
- Comfortable working across print and digital platforms.
- Someone who believes deeply in the value — and future — of local news.
What we offer
- A chance to help lead a respected, award-winning newsroom.
- Real opportunity for growth.
- A collaborative, ambitious staff that values new ideas.
- The ability to shape how local journalism evolves in your community.
- A newsroom that is actively investing in tools, training and innovation.
- Competitive salary and benefits.
- A great place to live. The Upper Valley — home of Dartmouth College — is a beautiful region that stretches along the Connecticut River in New Hampshire and Vermont. You’ll find innovative leaders, vibrant towns, a thriving arts scene and a high quality of life.
Our philosophy
We believe the best local journalism:
- Starts with people.
- Builds trust through accuracy and accountability.
- Reflects the full life of a community.
- And constantly evolves to meet readers where they are.
We’re not standing still — and this role is for someone who doesn’t want to, either.
To apply, submit a cover letter and some of your best work to Publisher Rich Wallace at rwallace@vnews.com.Tips: Provide a summary of the role, what success in the position looks like, and how this role fits into the organization overall.