Position Summary

The Editor & Publisher of The Courier Herald is the editorial heart and community face of Dublin and Laurens County. This is one of the most important roles in the Georgia Trust for Local News. It is the leader whose name is on the masthead, whose phone the mayor calls, and whose journalism shapes how a community understands itself. They are the first line of defense for GTLN in the communities we serve.

The Editor & Publisher leads with journalism. They set the editorial vision for their market, coach and develop reporting staff, and ensure the newsroom is producing work that is accurate, impactful, and deeply rooted in the community’s information needs. At the same time, they bring enough business fluency to be a credible partner to local civic leaders and business owners by opening doors, building relationships, and cultivating the community support that sustains our work.

This role requires a deep commitment to GTLN’s mission of strengthening community newspapers, fostering local engagement, and building stronger, more connected communities. It is not a desk job. The best Editor & Publishers are out in the community as much as they are in the newsroom. They are present, trusted, and essential.

Responsibilities and Priorities

Editorial Leadership

• Set the journalistic vision and editorial standards for the Dublin and Laurens County market, including neighboring GTLN markets (including weeklies), ensuring coverage is accurate, fair, impactful, and centered on community needs.
• Assign and edit stories, manage the editorial calendar, and maintain a consistent publishing cadence across print and digital platforms.
• Champion digital-first storytelling and audience engagement, pushing the newsroom to meet readers where they are.
• Uphold the highest standards of journalistic ethics and accountability journalism across all coverage.
• Partner with peer Editor & Publishers across the GTLN network to share best practices and collaborate on network-wide initiatives.

Community Presence & Relationships

• Serve as the primary face of GTLN in Dublin and Laurens County. The Courier Herald’s Editor & Publisher should be known, trusted, and visible across civic, cultural, and business life.
• Build and maintain relationships with community leaders, elected officials, nonprofit partners, and local organizations.
• Represent The Courier Herald at community events, public meetings, and civic gatherings, reinforcing the organization’s commitment to the communities it serves.
• Serve as the first point of contact when community members, business owners, or civic leaders have questions, concerns, or ideas about GTLN’s work in the market.

Audience Growth

• Own The Courier Herald’s audience metrics with a relentless focus on growing the number of readers who rely on GTLN journalism as part of their daily lives.
• Champion newsletter growth, digital engagement, and subscription acquisition
• Use data and reader feedback to shape coverage decisions and product development, ensuring the newsroom is serving genuine community information needs.
• Collaborate with GTLN’s Platform Lead to implement network-wide audience strategies at the local level.

Team Development

• Recruit, hire, coach, and retain reporting and editorial staff, building a team that reflects the communities it covers.
• Set clear expectations, provide regular feedback, and create an environment where journalists can develop their skills and do their best work.
• Foster a newsroom culture grounded in GTLN’s values: accountability, collaboration, innovation, and deep community commitment.

Business Awareness

• Support GTLN’s Revenue Lead in cultivating relationships with local businesses and advertisers, serving as a credible community champion for the value of local journalism.
• Maintain a working understanding of The Courier Herald’s financial picture, including revenue performance, key cost drivers, and progress toward sustainability goals.
• Participate in regular financial and operational reviews with GTLN’s Executive Director and Deputy Executive Director.
• Identify and surface opportunities for new coverage, partnerships, or community initiatives that could strengthen both the journalism and the business.

Minimum Qualifications

• Strong belief in the value of local journalism and its essential role in community life.
• At least 5 years of journalism experience, with demonstrated editorial leadership at a community, regional, or digital news organization.
• Proven ability to lead and develop a newsroom team with clear goals and high standards.
• Experience producing and editing journalism that drives community impact and audience engagement.
• Deep comfort with digital platforms, audience analytics, and the tools of modern local journalism.
• A natural community builder who is energized by being present and engaged in the places they serve.
• Strong communicator who builds trust with staff, community members, and organizational partners.
• Commitment to equitable, inclusive journalism and leadership practices.
• Willingness to be a visible, consistent presence in Dublin and Laurens County. This is a hybrid role.

How We’ll Measure Success

The Editor & Publisher’s north star metric is audience growth. Success in this role means the newsroom’s work is visibly strengthening civic life in Dublin and Laurens County. More people are reading, trusting, and relying on The Courier Herald for news and information.

Georgia Trust for Local News is a subsidiary of the National Trust for Local News, the single largest earned-revenue business in the nonprofit news sector. We are an Equal Opportunity Employer committed to building an inclusive team. We strongly encourage candidates from underrepresented backgrounds to apply.

Pay: $80,000.00 - $90,000.00 per year

Benefits:

• Dental insurance
• Employee assistance program
• Health insurance
• Paid time off
• Vision insurance

Work Location: In person