Rise seeks a journalist who is passionate about social justice—particularly issues facing low-income women of color—to edit our parent-written publications and to support parent writers in developing personal essays and reporting on the child welfare system to effect change in the child welfare system.
Our outstanding temporary editor is leaving; we are seeking to hire a new editor by Sept. 15.
About Rise
Rise is a NYC organization that builds parent leadership to reform the child welfare system. Child welfare systems nationwide separate families–largely poor families of color–with little dueprocess.
Rise’s magazine provides vital information and peer guidance to parents facing the system and covers major topics in child welfare so that parents across the country are informed to act as advocates in their communities.
Within Rise, reporting by parents is a vital part of how we prepare parents to get their questions about the system answered so that parent leaders at Rise can develop a reform agenda and lead policy and practice change.
Job Description
The editor:
● Runs writing workshops—at Rise and partner organizations—supporting parents through a 16-week process to develop publication-quality personal essays. This includes: recruiting parent contributors, creating a communal environment, and editing drafts in partnership with parents.
● Cultivates parent writers as journalists and develops a team that conceives of coverage, writes and reports for Rise publications, including:
○ Rise Magazine: Online and annual print magazine provides information and peer support to parents and educates professionals about parents’ experiences. The editor will lead the publication’s transition to multimedia, expanding use of video, audio and social media platforms.
○ Insights: Annual policy brief to educate professionals about parents’ priorities for policy and practice reform.
○ TIPS: Handouts guide parents in navigating the child welfare system to prevent placement or expedite reunification.
The editor also:
● Manages multiple reader engagement platforms—our website, e-newsletter, Facebook and Twitter, etc—to build readership; ● Contributes editing as needed to Rise projects such as speech-writing and fundraising. ● Connects with journalists covering the system and places parent stories in other media to build a more nuanced, accurate public narrative about child welfare as a justice issue.
Qualifications
The ideal job candidate will have:
● 3-5 years of experience reporting, writing and editing for publication;
● Interpersonal skills to work sensitively with parents writing on painful topics and to work collaboratively in an organization that prizes parent leadership;
● Technology and social media strategy skills to strengthen Rise’s readership through the website and social media;
● Passion and precision to oversee an ethical, accurate publication on a charged topic;
● Supervision skills to build and manage a diverse team of contributors;
● Capacity to work independently, seek help and tolerate a steep learning curve while working on teams in a collaborative, creative environment;
● Background covering child welfare and/or connected social justice issues.
In addition, attention to the role of language and narrative in recovery from trauma is needed to do this job well. Rise will provide opportunities for a self-directed learner to gain skills.
Compensation
Salary is commensurate with experience; Excellent benefits: medical, dental and eye coverage; 4 weeks of vacation; TransitCheks, health savings and dependent savings account, etc. Rise is a partner project of the Fund for the City of New York.
To Apply
Please email a cover letter, resume and two writing samples to info@risemagazine.org. Please do not apply without taking a close look at Rise’s website. Anticipated hire date: Sept. 15 but position will remain open until it is filled.
Candidates will be contacted for interviews on a rolling basis. We are unable to respond to all applications. Hiring process includes interview and editing test.
Rise values a diverse workforce and inclusive culture. We strongly encourage applications from women and people of color as well as people with prior contact with the child welfare system.