Director of Research

The crisis in local news poses a severe threat to democracy and the health of communities. Rebuild Local News believes that in addition to improved business models and increased philanthropy, public policy plays a crucial role.

Rebuild Local News develops public policies to strengthen local news – and then works on the state and national level to pass effective legislation. Our pathbreaking set of policy initiatives, which we advocate for alongside partners, has helped advance effective, First Amendment-friendly legislation in California, Illinois, Minnesota, New Jersey, New Mexico, New York and Washington. Together, these states have established programs directing more than $316.2 million to local newsrooms. We are working in another dozen states. Rebuild Local News also runs the Rebuild Local News Coalition, which unites newsrooms, labor unions, and civic organizations committed to revitalizing local journalism. Collectively, the groups in the Coalition represent over 3,000 newsrooms and thousands of journalists, working together to safeguard the future of local news.

We aim to dramatically increase public support for local news through laws on the federal and state level that help support civically important news while protecting editorial independence.

The Director of Research will be responsible for leading and setting research strategy to inform public policy solution recommendations, advance advocacy efforts, and educate the public on the state of the local news crisis.

RESPONSIBILITIES

Lead and better disseminate research on the local news crisis:

• Manage the Muck Rack-Rebuild Local News Local Journalist Index, which tracks the number of per capita reporters in each U.S. county (overseeing improvements, second-order studies, and future editions)
• Direct and manage new research projects, including the impact of local news on local economies and the impact of new public policies on the health of local newsrooms
• Assess current research and identify the most important gaps in the understanding of local news, especially of the sort that impacts the crafting of public policy
• Engage with scholars to encourage other necessary research
• Develop strategies to distribute the most important findings of scholars in the field
• Direct the commissioning of primary research, manage external resources

Guide research about policy ideas to strengthen local news:

• Evaluate concrete models being tried currently in the United States or abroad
• Working closely with the Director of Policy, the Director of Research would assess potential policy ideas

Create materials that can be used by the advocacy team:

• Inform the creation of calculators and other tools to help local news organizations or trade associations to understand how particular plans would affect their newsrooms or communities

PREFERRED ATTRIBUTES:

• Deeply familiar with academic and non-academic approaches and scholarship in this area
• Committed to accuracy and intellectual rigor
• Able to work on rapid-turnaround (non-academic) timetables
• A good writer and editor
• Adaptable, versatile and unflappable
• A good sense of humor
• Tremendous integrity
• Willing and available for periodic travel when necessary.

EXPERIENCE:

• Familiarity with academic and non-academic research environments
• Meaningful experience with scholarship and analysis about local news
• Familiarity with the public policy discussions about local news
• Familiarity with research about the measurement of local news health and outcomes
• Experience in quantitative, qualitative, and mixed methods research
• Familiarity with survey design, including questionnaire development and sampling methods
• Understanding of statistical analysis and experience in cross-tabulation

To apply, please apply by submitting a cover letter, resume, and professional references via our hiring portal. Please provide all requested information to be considered.

Review of candidates will begin in August and continue until the position is filled.

The compensation range for this position is $110,000-$125,000.

Rebuild Local News values equity and inclusion, recognizing that a variety of backgrounds and experiences strengthens our ability to create positive change. We are committed to fostering an inclusive environment that embraces equity and ensures everyone feels valued and heard.

Rebuild Local News is an equal opportunity employer and considers qualified applicants for employment without regard to race, gender, age, color, religion, national origin, marital status, disability, sexual orientation, or any other protected factor.

Rebuild Local News believes in fair, transparent, and equitable compensation. Please note that actual salaries may vary within the range, or be above or below the range, based on factors including, but not limited to, education, training, experience, professional achievement, business need, and location.