ELi Begins Search for New Executive Director and Managing Editor. Are You Interested in Applying?

East Lansing Info is a nonpartisan news outlet that provides accurate and factual news about East Lansing, Michigan. We are a 501(c)(3) nonprofit in continuous operation since 2014. We are currently seeking one individual to fill the roles of Executive Director and Managing Editor

ELi is seeking an individual who will serve as the CEO of our nonprofit corporation and who will be hired by the Board of Directors. Most importantly, the Executive Director/Managing Editor functions as a key cheerleader and trust-preserver for ELi in the community. As Managing Editor, the new hire will also oversee all content production for ELi, including almost daily digital publication, weekly podcasts, and seven issues of our paper edition.

The new hire will be expected to oversee operations to ensure ELi maintains the very high level of quality our audience expects; manage donor relations and the fundraising team; handle certain external relationships, including with our news partners, donors, and vendors; hire and fire staff members; develop a budget and make sure operations are adhering to the budget; work with the Board of Directors on Board meetings; and related board matters. 

In terms of content production, the new hire will work closely with our freelance reporters to assign stories, set publication dates, and edit articles (or assign others to edit them). This person will also manage all Ask ELi to Investigate questions, oversee Freedom of Information Act requests, determine photos needed to accompany stories, and other tasks.

ELi currently operates on a total budget of about $200,000 annually and raises all funds for operations, chiefly through a year-end sustainability campaign. The new hire will oversee all staff operations, including overseeing management of revenue and expenses. Bookkeeping is done by our General Manager and payroll is handled in conjunction with a professional payroll service company.

The position will require immediate recruitment and oversight of new reporters and fundraising.

ELi’s current budget anticipates the Executive Director/Managing Editor would be paid at the rate of $50,000/year and will be eligible for a possible stipend for healthcare. 

The ideal candidate will be motivated by ELi’s public-service news mission and will have experience both as a manager in a nonprofit organization and in journalism. The person who takes on this job should also have experience with donor relations and a good understanding of the East Lansing community.

Interested candidates should send a short email that includes their full name, phone number, mailing address, and email address to jobs@eastlansinginfo.news to express their interest. In your email, please provide responses to the following prompts:

  1. Describe your experience in non-profit management.
  2. Describe your experience in the profession of journalism.
  3. Describe your experience in donor relations.
  4. Describe your relationship to and your understanding of the East Lansing community.

Please note that this intake form is being used to assess qualifications as a first-round consideration by ELi’s Board of Directors. Please answer these four prompts and a representative of ELi will be in touch.

Learn more about ELi here and get in-depth information about our history and operations here.