Health Editor

Arkansas Democrat-Gazette Health Beat Lab Editor Location: Little Rock, Arkansas Job Type: Exempt, full-time, in-office position If you want to lead reporting that makes a difference, here’s your chance. Arkansas ranks at or near the bottom nationwide on virtually every metric for health, equity and access. The state’s infant mortality rate is nearly 60% higher than the U.S. average. Rural health is in crisis. Hospital closures, mental health gaps and policy decisions are among the litany of challenges. The Arkansas Democrat-Gazette is seeking an editor to lead a three-person health team ( Rural Health Reporter and Maternal & Child Health Reporter ) to deliver data-driven journalism and people-centered storytelling through a public health, accountability and community-impact lens. This work will enhance understanding and increase accountability for those who make the critical decisions affecting the lives of families. Our health editor will be a smart, serious and tireless champion of health journalism in Arkansas, leading the production of breaking news, enterprise, explanatory and investigative stories focused on maternal and infant mortality, pregnancy and postpartum care, pediatric health, rural healthcare access, Medicaid and insurance, vaccination and public health, reproductive health policy, mental health, childcare systems and health disparities. We want an editor with the chops and determination to guide reporting on deeply human stories, hold institutions accountable, help communities better understand the systems shaping health outcomes and fuel urgent, consequential stories. Do you know this topic already? Do you know how to lead? Are you motivated, curious, compassionate, audience-focused and comfortable balancing data-driven accountability reporting with deeply personal storytelling? If so, we want to hear from you. Responsibilities

• Set the agenda for breaking news, enterprise and investigative stories
• Become expert in the issues affecting health in Arkansas and across the country
• Meet regularly with your team to determine reporting objectives
• Drive reporting on healthcare systems, policy decisions and public health trends affecting Arkansans
• Direct pursuit and analysis of public records, health data and research to identify trends, disparities and accountability stories
• Engage as a player-coach, developing connections with people across the spectrum of coverage
• Ensure your staff builds relationships and trust among healthcare professionals, researchers, advocates and affected families
• Deliver coverage on issues impacting rural communities and underserved populations
• Assign human-centered stories powered by storytelling and supported by data and details from public records
• Work with your staff to produce compelling prose that unfolds the issues in clear, precise language while keeping readers interested and engaged
• Guide your staff in translating complex health and scientific information into accessible, audience-friendly journalism
• Collaborate with our visuals, audience and engagement teams on storytelling and distribution strategies
• Coordinate coverage so that stories are consistently accompanied by powerful images, video and graphics that illustrate the data
• Join community listening sessions and engagement efforts
• Contribute to newsletters, social media, video or other multimedia storytelling as needed
• Set the highest possible standards for journalism, accountability reporting, writing, storytelling and multimedia presentations.

Preferred Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in journalism, communications, or related field required
• Experience leading reporting on health, public policy, education or social issues
• A proven track record as a leader and manager
• Demonstrated ability to analyze and contextualize data and research
• Understanding of healthcare systems and public health issues
• Expertise in trauma-informed interviewing and how to approach sensitive topics
• Knowledge of disparities affecting rural, low-income and historically underserved communities
• Record of leading reporters in the production of quick-turn, enterprise and investigative stories
• Collaborative mindset and strong audience awareness

About Arkansas Health Beat This position is among the first being filled as part of Arkansas Health Beat, a new statewide health reporting lab. Arkansas Health Beat will produce impactful, community-centered journalism focused on health care access, public health, accountability and the systems shaping the wellbeing of Arkansans across the state. The Health Editor will lead two people hired under the initiative and will play a foundational role in shaping the direction, priorities and impact of the effort. The other positions for which we are hiring include a reporter covering maternal health and child care and another covering rural health. We offer a complete benefits package that includes paid vacation, holidays, sick leave, personal days, and parental leave. Take advantage of extensive health, dental, vision, and other insurance coverage, as well as long-term disability and retirement plans for your future well-being. We support your well-being through the Employee Assistance Program and Behavioral Health support, offering extra help whenever you need it. The Arkansas Democrat-Gazette is an equal opportunity employer and does not discriminate based on race, color, religion, sex including pregnancy, sexual orientation, or gender identity, national origin, disability, age 40 or older, or genetic information, including family medical history or any other legally protected class or status. This is a safety-sensitive position. A candidate must pass a drug screening and background checks and have a driving record that meets requirements set in the “Personal Vehicle Used for Company Business” policy.