Are you passionate about what you do? Are you a self-starter, willing to build relationships and not afraid to approach business and community leaders? And are you passionate about the role the local newspaper plays in those community relationships? Then we invite you to apply to be the first Community Builder for the Crookston Times.
CherryRoad Media started the Community Builder program to bring local leaders into our newspapers. These Community Builders aren’t just reporters or salespeople; they’re local champions who build relationships, plan events, and promote local projects. They will help us understand and engage with the community better.
“Is a completely new idea,” said Lisa Drafall, CherryRoad Vice President of Technology Integration. “No one else is doing this. I can tell you my firsthand example is whenever I move to a new community, I immediately get involved. I go to the chamber meetings, I meet people, I join boards and committees. I volunteer my time. But when you hire someone, whose whole job is just either to report or sell, their priorities are different than showing leadership, being involved, creating partnerships in the community. And so, I just really firmly believe that when we say our role is to be a part of the community and be a leader in the community, and we’re hiring that person, it changes the way we do business. And it keeps us strong. It keeps us relevant, vibrant, and healthy to have those deep local ties. And we desperately need that back in Crookston to save the local newspaper.”
“We have journalism support; we have sales support. What we don’t have is someone who’s engaged in the community, who has those relationships, who has friendships and partnerships and professional connections, we need that.
Drafall said Crookston was selected as the first area to try this program because of the recent struggle to find qualified journalists and support staff. That need led the company to try new things in innovative ways.
This is a position that’s never existed before, but a company like Cherry Road has never existed before,” Drafall said. “And we’re really trying to undo decades of neglect in these newspapers. As we continue to grow more and more, we must figure out a way to do what we promise we’d do, which is create sustainable journalism. And so, Crookston is where we’re going to do this because it’s suffered the most. And it used to be one of our flagships. It was such a thriving small paper, and it’s just not anymore. We want to change that. And CherryRoad isn’t even looking to make tons of money. They want to create a model that’s sustainable where it pays for itself to run. That’s it. That’s what we’re looking for. And just truly to maintain community journalism, and this is a new way to try to do that.”
The Community Builder position is a full-time opportunity with full benefits. Pay is commensurate with experience, but Drafall said the right person will have passion but also will have a willingness to learn and grow with the position.
I can train anyone to do anything, but you can’t train passion for meaningful work,” Drafall said. “Either that’s important to you or it’s not. I’m looking for someone who wants meaningful work, who wants to make a difference, who loves their town and wants to see new ways they can be a part of it and see it thrive. And someone who wants to be a leader in the community? We’re creating a program that will make you into a leader, that will teach you how to be a community leader, how to be a community organizer. And in doing that, you’ll be advocating for community journalism.”
The Community Builder will enhance community engagement, develop strategic partnerships, and plan events to strengthen the connection between the newspaper and its readers. Key responsibilities include fostering relationships with local organizations, advocating for local journalism, and managing 6-10 community projects annually. The role involves planning and executing various events, identifying beneficial partnerships, and coordinating efforts between editorial and sales teams. Qualifications include strong communication, organizational, and leadership skills, experience in community engagement, and a passion for local journalism. The position offers growth opportunities and bonuses based on project success and new subscriptions. Training in strategic partnerships and leadership is provided.
To apply visit: https://bit.ly/crookstoncommunitybuilder
Or use this QR Code.
