In an era where local news is more critical than ever, a powerful collaborative effort is underway to amplify the voices and stories of communities across Appalachia and the Mid-South, regions often overlooked by mainstream media. The Appalachia + Mid-South Newsroom (AMSN) has emerged as a significant public media partnership, bringing together multiple stations to deliver impactful journalism that resonates with local audiences. This initiative represents a forward-thinking approach to regional reporting, pooling resources and talent to cover stories that matter. At the heart of this complex, multi-state operation is a need for a central coordinator, a professional who can expertly navigate the details of project management while fostering a cohesive and productive environment. This pivotal role is not just about logistics; it is about being the organizational backbone for a mission-driven team dedicated to reshaping the narrative of a vast and diverse part of the country.
1. A New Model for Regional Journalism
The Appalachia + Mid-South Newsroom is a dynamic public media collaboration that includes West Virginia Public Broadcasting, WPLN and WUOT in Tennessee, and Louisville Public Media (LPM), WEKU, WKMS, and WKU Public Radio in Kentucky. The core mission of this partnership is to produce and share stories that are vital to Appalachian and Southern communities, with a particular focus on elevating perspectives that have historically been excluded from traditional news coverage. By combining the strengths of these individual stations, AMSN creates a journalistic powerhouse capable of undertaking more ambitious reporting projects and reaching a wider audience. This collaborative model is an innovative response to the challenges facing modern journalism, demonstrating how shared resources and a unified vision can sustain and enhance the quality of regional news. The success of this venture relies on seamless coordination across state lines, making centralized management essential to its operational integrity and long-term impact.
The operational framework for this ambitious project is anchored at Louisville Public Media, which serves as the lead station in the collaborative. This structure provides a centralized hub for administrative and strategic oversight, ensuring consistency and accountability across the network of partner stations. The newly created Project Manager position will be based at LPM and will report directly to the Director of Development for AMSN, a reporting line that underscores the critical link between effective project execution and the successful management of funding sources. The role itself is grant-funded through June 2028, providing a stable, multi-year horizon for an individual to implement and refine organizational systems. This long-term funding reflects a deep commitment from supporters to the sustainability of the newsroom and its mission to deliver high-quality, representative journalism to the communities it serves across the region.
2. The Project Manager’s Mandate
The primary responsibility of the Project Manager is to ensure that the editorial and development teams operate in a synchronized and efficient manner by meticulously coordinating planning, communication, and progress tracking for all key projects. This involves keeping ambitious initiatives on schedule by managing timelines and deliverables across multiple states, stations, and time zones. The role requires a proactive approach to organizing and facilitating meetings, ensuring that all partners are aligned and informed. A significant part of the job includes maintaining shared calendars, sophisticated planning tools, and detailed tracking documents that serve as the central nervous system for the entire collaboration. Ultimately, the Project Manager will be instrumental in fostering an environment of diversity, equity, and inclusion that aligns with the organization’s core values and strategic goals, helping to build a positive and productive culture within the dispersed team.
Beyond daily logistical coordination, the position carries significant strategic weight, directly supporting the newsroom’s long-term viability and success. A key function involves assisting with grant reporting by carefully monitoring performance metrics and project outcomes, providing the crucial data needed to demonstrate impact and secure continued funding. The Project Manager will also handle essential administrative tasks, such as invoice tracking and streamlining internal communications, which are vital for smooth operations. Furthermore, this individual will play a collaborative role in shaping the future of the newsroom by helping to plan long-term strategies and align the goals of the various partner stations. This blend of detailed project management and strategic support makes the role a cornerstone of the AMSN initiative, central to its mission of producing meaningful journalism.
3. The Ideal Candidate Profile
The search for a Project Manager focuses on an individual who is not only exceptionally organized but also possesses strong interpersonal skills, recognizing that effective coordination is as much about people as it is about processes. A background in journalism is not a prerequisite; instead, the emphasis is on a candidate who is inherently curious, a clear and consistent communicator, and comfortable managing multiple priorities for a geographically dispersed team. The qualifications reflect this focus, requiring at least two years of experience in project management, administration, or a comparable field. Essential skills include a keen attention to detail, excellent verbal and written communication abilities, and a solid familiarity with common productivity tools like spreadsheets, shared calendars, and project management software. The ability to work independently while effectively engaging with multiple stakeholders is paramount, as is access to reliable transportation for occasional travel and a willingness to work some non-standard hours to accommodate the needs of a multi-state team.
While the core requirements center on organizational and communication skills, certain preferred qualifications could provide a candidate with a distinct advantage. Experience working within the nonprofit, journalism, or public media sectors would be highly beneficial, as it would offer immediate context for the newsroom’s mission and operational environment. Practical experience with dedicated project management platforms such as Airtable or Asana is also considered a valuable asset. Furthermore, a nuanced understanding of the cultural and social landscapes of Appalachia and the southern United States would enable the candidate to engage more deeply with the content and communities the newsroom serves. In return for these skills, the organization offers a competitive compensation package with a salary range of $40,000 to $50,000, complemented by excellent benefits, including comprehensive insurance, a retirement plan with an employer match, and generous paid time off.
4. A Blueprint for Collaborative Success
The establishment of this central management role marked a significant milestone for the Appalachia + Mid-South Newsroom. It represented a deliberate investment in the operational infrastructure required to transform an ambitious concept into a sustainable and impactful journalistic entity. The decision to prioritize coordinated planning, communication, and tracking laid the groundwork for a more cohesive and efficient collaboration among the partner stations. This strategic move was seen as essential for navigating the complexities of multi-state reporting and ensuring that the collective efforts of the newsroom yielded high-quality stories that truly served the region. By creating this position, the leadership solidified a blueprint for success that valued both editorial vision and the organizational discipline needed to achieve it. This foundation proved critical in aligning diverse teams toward a shared mission of enriching public discourse.
