Part-time Editor in Residence

Position Title:

Compensation:

Department:

Start Date:

About this opportunity:

What you'll do and what you'll bring:

Position Summary

The Editor in Residence leads all editorial work for Cardinal News Corps. They set coverage priorities; assign and shape stories; edit reporting for accuracy, clarity, fairness, and news value; and mentor student reporters through the full reporting process.

Cardinal News Corps publishes news under the Cardinal Media brand, with coverage that may include governance, university administration, public safety, elections, business, development, and education. The program does not produce features, sports, brand work, or client-facing strategic communication.

The editor will work in person at Cardinal Media approximately one to two days per week and conduct additional editing, mentoring, and story development remotely.

Responsibilities

• Direct the editorial vision, standards, assignments, and story selection for Cardinal News Corps.
• Develop a focused coverage plan for campus and Muncie Delaware County news.
• Assign, coach, and edit student reporters on deadline.
• Guide students through reporting, source development, records requests, verification, interview preparation, story structure, revision, and publication.
• Edit all reporter output for accuracy, fairness, clarity, legal and ethical soundness, and news judgment.
• Build a consistent editorial workflow that reflects contemporary digital newsroom practice.
• Help student journalists develop professional habits: initiative, responsiveness, persistence, accuracy, deadline discipline, and accountability.
• Coordinate with Cardinal Media’s director on student scheduling, day-to-day management, and operational needs.
• Establish a practical coordination protocol with Ball State Daily News leadership to distinguish coverage, bylines, and workflows while respecting the Daily News’s full editorial independence.
• Help define and refine the program’s initial beats, reporting priorities, and measures of success.
• Contribute to documenting the program’s results and readiness for a potential future curricular model.

Minimum Qualifications:

• Master’s degree by date of employment
• At least 3 years of experience as a journalist, editor, or newsroom leader, with a strong record of reporting and/news editing.
  

Preferred Qualifications:

• Demonstrated ability to assign, edit, and improve reporting on public institutions, government, education, public safety, elections, business, development, or related community issues.
• Strong command of journalistic ethics, fact-checking, sourcing, public-records reporting, libel awareness, and corrections practices.
• Experience mentoring or teaching emerging reporters, interns, or student journalists.
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills, including the ability to give direct, constructive editorial feedback.
• Comfort working in a hybrid, digitally mediated newsroom and managing editorial workflows remotely.
• Ability to work independently while collaborating closely with Cardinal Media leadership.

How to apply:

For inquiries, please contact: Johnny Sparks at jvsparks@bsu.edu.

Please follow upload instructions to attach all of the required supporting documents listed below: NOTE: Do not use the Autofill feature for resume:

• Resume/CV
• Cover letter optional

Applications must be received by November 28, 2026, at 12:01 AM.

That's how Ball State works.

Goodness requires action to grow. We're dedicated to doing our part to keep goodness growing in Muncie, at our university, and as far beyond as possible. That's where you come in. When you join our team, you become part of goodness in action. Our main priority: uplifting students so they can discover their full potential. This is how we fly.

It all comes down to caring.

There are about 3,000 full-time faculty and staff in the Ball State University work family. Each brings unique gifts to help us be the kind of institution we want to be. In return, we do our best to take care of them through comprehensive medical and dental plans, a Health Savings Account (which we contribute to), and a whole range of wellness, retirement, and other benefits like covering the cost of tuition at Ball State for you and your family. We can offer you more.

A great place to work in a great place to live.

Where you live matters just as much as where you work. We get it. That's why we've invested since the very beginning in making our hometown work. On campus, find state-of-the-art facilities and one-of-a-kind arts and cultural events. In Muncie, you'll find a warm and welcoming community with affordable housing and a vibrant downtown arts, food, and music scene. What could be better? You here - for starters.

EEO/AA Statement

Ball State University is an equal opportunity employer. All qualified applicants will receive equal consideration for employment without regard to race, religion, color, sex (including pregnancy), sexual orientation, gender identity or gender expression, disability, genetic information, ethnicity, national origin or ancestry, age, protected veteran status, or any legally protected status.

Disability Accommodations

Ball State provides accommodations to qualified individuals with disabilities who can perform the essential functions of the position. Contact Melissa Rubrecht, Director of Employee Relations, at 765-285-1823 for assistance.

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