Description
About the Opportunity
The Lenfest Institute for Journalism is seeking a Central Texas Media Ecosystem Coordinator to support a two-year initiative designed to strengthen local news organizations serving communities across Central Texas.
This role serves as a locally embedded extension of the Lenfest Expert Network, helping participating organizations stay connected, engaged, and informed throughout the program. The coordinator will serve as a liaison between Lenfest team members and media outlets, provide local insight, support relationship-building across the Central Texas ecosystem, and assist with community-facing events and activities.
This is a relationship-centered position focused on local coordination, ecosystem awareness, and community engagement. The role is ideal for someone already active in the local media, civic, nonprofit, or philanthropic ecosystem who is interested in helping strengthen community-centered journalism across the region. Community-centered journalism means reporting that is rooted in the lived experiences of Central Texans, particularly those facing the greatest health disparities. This work illuminates the social and health issues shaping people's daily lives, from access to care to economic stability, and ensures that the communities most affected by these issues are centered.
Position Details
- Location: Central Texas (Austin area preferred)
- Time Commitment: Approximately 5–10 hours per week on average
- Contract Period: July 2026 – March 2028
Note: This position is funded through a grant. Continued employment in this role is not guaranteed beyond the grant period.
Compensation: $2,500 per month, subject to final contract terms and scope of work. Consultant will be reimbursed for travel and other associated costs related to the program.
Reports To: Cheryl Thompson-Morton, Head of Advisory Programs, Lenfest Institute for Journalism
Responsibilities
Relationship Building & Newsroom Engagement
- Serve as a local point of contact and liaison with, participating organizations
- Maintain periodic communication with participating newsrooms
- Help surface emerging needs, opportunities, and challenges within the ecosystem
- Support participant engagement in program activities
Ecosystem Intelligence & Trend Spotting
- Share observations about developments within the Central Texas media landscape
- Help identify opportunities for collaboration among participating organizations
- Review periodic editorial monitoring outputs and flag notable trends or themes
- Provide local context and perspective to the Lenfest team
Event & Convening Support
- Assist with planning and coordination of ecosystem gatherings and events
- Recommend venues, speakers, partners, and community stakeholders
- Support participant outreach and engagement
- Provide onsite support during convenings and gatherings as needed
Program Feedback & Learning
- Participate in regular check-ins with the Lenfest team
- Share feedback about participant experiences and ecosystem dynamics
- Help identify opportunities to strengthen the program over time
Requirements
Ideal Qualifications
We are seeking someone who is:
- Deeply familiar with the Central Texas media landscape
- Well-connected within journalism, civic engagement, nonprofit, or community networks
- Comfortable building relationships across organizations
- Organized and responsive
- Able to work independently while collaborating closely with a remote team
- Passionate about strengthening local journalism and civic information systems
Experience working in journalism, media support organizations, philanthropy, civic engagement, community organizing, or related fields is preferred.
About the Lenfest Institute
The Lenfest Institute for Journalism is a nonprofit organization whose sole mission is to develop and support sustainable business models for great local journalism. The Institute owns and supports The Philadelphia Inquirer and provides grants and programs to local news organizations across the country through initiatives including the Lenfest Expert Network.
