Editor-in-Chief

Editor-in-Chief

Requirements

• Military Background: Military veteran or strong understanding of the defense/national security landscape, able to bring credibility and depth to Sightline’s content.
• Editorial Leadership: Proven experience leading and scaling newsrooms, ideally with a background in managing unionized teams.
• Digital Transformation: Strong track record of driving audience growth in a challenging digital landscape, leveraging SEO, social media, and direct-to-consumer models.
• On-Camera Expertise: Experienced media spokesperson with the ability to represent Sightline on-camera, at conferences, and as a thought leader in the industry.
• Subscription & Membership: Demonstrated success in launching subscription models, events, and other monetizable editorial products.

Responsibilities

• Define and execute a visionary editorial strategy that builds on Sightline’s reputation in defense, federal, and national security coverage.
• Navigate the unique challenges of a unionized newsroom, fostering a collaborative, transparent environment that ensures high morale and journalistic excellence.
• Drive transformation to address traffic losses from Facebook and Google by exploring new distribution channels, partnerships, and engagement tactics to meet audiences where they are.
• Proactively explore and integrate artificial intelligence and advanced analytics tools to streamline editorial processes, enhance reporting, and improve audience engagement.
• Spearhead the growth of a subscription/membership platform, introducing premium newsletters, exclusive reports, print magazines and live events that enhance reader loyalty and value.
• Develop social media, video, and custom editorial products that resonate with diverse audiences and amplify Sightline’s authoritative voice on digital platforms.
• Drive editorial quality and content innovation through training, mentorship, and professional development, equipping the team with the skills needed to excel in digital storytelling and event programming.
• Collaborate with all business and editorial teams to ensure that editorial priorities are integrated into product development, focusing on the seamless delivery of both free and premium content.
• Work with sales and custom team to support sponsored content and custom editorial projects. Provide staff to moderate custom events. Have a willingness to try new ideas and sponsored products.
• Envision and build a future-forward newsroom that integrates AI tools, automation, and multimedia to enhance reporting efficiency and quality.
• Establish a forward-looking content strategy that capitalizes on emerging trends, particularly in data journalism, multimedia storytelling, and mobile-first news delivery.

Preferred Qualifications

• Strong understanding of digital and social media dynamics, content distribution, and emerging technologies (AI, data analytics).
• Excellent communication and people management skills, with a strong commitment to journalistic integrity and editorial independence.
• Ability to thrive in a fast-paced environment, balancing short-term deadlines with long-term strategy.