At Montana Free Press (MTFP), we believe in journalism that informs, holds power to account, and strengthens communities. As one of Montana’s most trusted and influential newsrooms, we’re seeking an Editor-in-Chief to shape our editorial vision, lead a high-performing team, and expand our impact across the state.

The Editor-in-Chief will also play a key role in facilitating collaborations between MTFP and other newsrooms across print, digital, and broadcast platforms. This role is essential in expanding MTFP’s reach and ensuring a robust exchange of ideas, content, and resources between our newsroom and partner organizations. The Editor-in-Chief is responsible for helping shape MTFP’s vision and implement creative, high-impact journalism projects alongside the development and audience teams. This role is central to expanding MTFP’s reputation for trustworthy, impactful journalism while driving innovation and growth in our reporting.

Principal Duties and Responsibilities:

Strategic Editorial Leadership

• Lead the execution of MTFP’s strategic editorial vision, ensuring alignment with the organization’s mission and goals.
• Shape long-term editorial projects and special initiatives, identifying opportunities for deep investigative reporting and high-impact journalism.
• Foster and maintain a newsroom culture that reflects MTFP’s core values — integrity, innovation, high-quality journalism, and ambition — while ensuring collaboration, trust, and a shared commitment to excellence.
• Leverage audience data and engagement analytics to shape coverage strategy, improve story performance, and expand MTFP’s reach across platforms.
• Ensure newsroom leadership tracks and follows up on leads that serve the public interest.
• Establish priorities and set clear and ambitious goals for editors and reporters.
• Help set editorial budget priorities and manage financial resources to meet those priorities.

Newsroom Oversight & Collaboration

• Direct and mentor the editorial leadership team — including the Local Editor, State Editor, Deputy Editor, and Projects Editor — to ensure cohesive coverage, strategic newsroom planning, and effective collaboration across beats and editorial projects.
• Provide high-level oversight of special reporting series, investigative projects, and multi-platform content, ensuring all efforts support MTFP’s standards of excellence.
• Oversee the long-term evolution of MTFP’s newsroom culture, processes, and technologies to stay at the forefront of digital-first journalism.
• Lead efforts to build and nurture diverse voices and perspectives within MTFP’s reporting and content strategy.
• Lead efforts to expand storytelling beyond traditional text formats, incorporating video, interactive graphics, social-first content, and other innovative approaches to engage new and diverse audiences.

External Partnerships & Audience Engagement

• Facilitate collaborations between MTFP and other organizations across print, digital, and broadcast platforms to broaden the impact and reach of MTFP’s reporting.
• Serve as a key editorial spokesperson and represent MTFP at public events, conferences, and within the wider journalism community.
• Partner with the development and audience teams to align editorial strategy with audience growth initiatives, membership engagement, and revenue-supporting journalism.
• Partner with MTFP leadership to identify and pursue funding opportunities that support high-impact journalism and newsroom sustainability.

Editorial Innovation & Long-Term Growth

• Lead the development and evolution of MTFP’s digital news strategy, integrating data journalism, audience engagement strategies, and newsroom technology to expand reach and impact.
• Oversee product development and optimization for newsletters, podcasts, video, and SEO-driven coverage, ensuring MTFP’s journalism is accessible and engaging across platforms.
• Champion a culture of experimentation and innovation in storytelling, ensuring MTFP evolves with changing audience habits and emerging digital formats.
• Support and oversee the Projects Editor in managing large-scale projects, partnerships, and collaborations with external organizations and media outlets.
• Collaborate with the Executive Director and other department heads to align editorial strategy with organizational growth and development.

MTFP values a strong, dynamic newsroom and is committed to offering competitive salaries and benefits. We welcome talented individuals from all backgrounds who bring curiosity, dedication, and a drive to succeed. If you’re interested in this role but don’t meet every listed qualification, we encourage you to apply anyway. We’re looking for people who are eager to grow, contribute, and make an impact — there’s no such thing as a “perfect” candidate. If this opportunity excites you and aligns with your skills and ambitions, we’d love to hear from you.

Required Qualifications, Skills, and Experience:

• 5+ years of newsroom leadership or senior editorial management experience, with a strong track record of managing teams, setting budgets, and shaping high-impact journalism.
• Proven experience in senior-level editorial leadership, including expanding audiences, growing news teams, and driving newsroom innovation.
• Proven ability to manage and prioritize news tips, ensuring timely follow-ups and effective coverage. Experience developing systems to track, vet, and assign breaking news, investigative tips, and reader-submitted story ideas.
• Experience managing high-profile projects, multi-platform initiatives, or investigative series that span extended timelines.
• Strong mentorship and leadership skills, with a commitment to fostering talent and teamwork within the newsroom.
• Ability to work collaboratively with leadership across departments to align editorial efforts with broader organizational goals.
• Excellent communication and public speaking skills and ability to represent the editorial team internally and externally.

You’re a good fit if you: 

• Have a passion for leading newsroom growth and driving industry innovation.
• Use audience data and digital analytics to inform editorial strategy and audience engagement.
• Think beyond text-based journalism and have experience experimenting with video, social-first storytelling, and interactive news formats.
• Embrace new technologies and are open to using data-driven tools to improve newsroom decision-making.

How to Apply: 

Apply via MTFP’s online hiring portal Gusto, uploading your resume and a cover letter detailing your interest and qualifications for this role. Applications will be reviewed on a rolling basis, and we encourage interested candidates to apply as soon as possible, as this position will remain open until filled.

Statement of Ethics: 

For more information about Montana Free Press and our mission, visit our website at montanafreepress.org. To read our ethics policy, visit: https://montanafreepress.org/best-practices/#code-of-ethics

About Montana Free Press

Montana Free Press is an independent, 501(c)(3) nonprofit newsroom dedicated to producing in-depth public-service journalism that holds power accountable, illuminates critical issues, and empowers Montanans with information that drives positive change. We work independently and in collaboration with other news outlets to produce meaningful news stories that have an impact on the lives and livelihoods of local communities.

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