Writer/Editor, The Stockton Record

The Stockton Record/recordnet.com, part of the USA TODAY Co., seeks an ambitious writer/editor to serve as a player/coach at one of the Central Valley's most storied print and digital mastheads

You'll be physically based in Stockton - and if you're the right candidate, that's the only way you'd have it. Stockton is home to some 320,000 people and is among America's most diverse cities - full of vibrant culture, a global smorgasbord of food options and an endless supply of great stories. Its local government and public schools remain mired in controversy and allegations of corruption. A political operator runs a large-scale local influence network posing as news. Local journalists here have to rely on tough skin and fierce determination. There are few places where the need for professional journalism is greater.

In short, somebody could win the Pulitzer covering Stockton. It might be you and your team.

The prevailing candidate will lead by example, pursuing high-interest and impactful journalism while serving as a mentor and assigning editor to fellow journalists.

As a player/coach you will divide your time to maintain a consistent flow of quality journalism, some of which you will pursue and some of which you'll provide guidance for, from idea to publication, to deliver stories that engage on key issues and interests within the community. This will mean working with reporters to hone ideas into focused stories driven by readers' interests and needs. You will help to cultivate a high-performing team and intentionally create a culture of collaboration and belonging.

As a hands-on digital leader, you will make effective use of social media, SEO and trends garnered from metrics. You'll watch analytics throughout the day, adapting to the audience in real time; and you'll be a voracious consumer of content strategy reports that show trends in our coverage and readers' interest. The successful leader in this role is adept at translating raw data into the language of journalism and motivating front-line journalists. Dedication to transparency and accountability is key, as well as an eye for meaningful enterprise and quick-turn watchdog stories with a focus on solutions.

Player/coach journalists are part of a team in Gannett's Center for Community Journalism, a nationwide leadership, editing and planning structure supporting small and mid-sized newsrooms. They may work across multiple newsrooms and even across state lines, so curiosity and commitment to remote teams and other communities is essential. The CCJ is designed to prioritize what matters most to local communitie

The player/coach reports to the group editor and supervises frontline journalists within the wider context of the CCJ.