Part-time police accountability community engagement coordinator
LocaliQ | USA TODAY NETWORK, Rochester, New York, United States
Part‑time police accountability community engagement coordinator
Job Description
Posted Tuesday, February 24, 2026 at 5:00 AM
USA TODAY Co., Inc. is a diversified media company with expansive reach at the national and local level dedicated to empowering and enriching communities. We seek to inspire, inform, and connect audiences as a sustainable, growth focused media and digital marketing solutions company. Through our trusted brands, including the USA TODAY NETWORK, comprised of the national publication, USA TODAY, and local media organizations, including our network of local properties in the United States, and Newsquest, a wholly‑owned subsidiary operating in the United Kingdom, we provide essential journalism, local content, and digital experiences to audiences and businesses. We deliver high‑quality, trusted content with a commitment to balanced, unbiased journalism, where and when consumers want to engage. Our digital marketing solutions brand, LocaliQ, supports small and medium‑sized businesses with innovative digital marketing products and solutions. USA TODAY Co. open roles are featured on various external job boards. When applying to a position at USA TODAY Co., you should be completing an application on USA TODAY Co. Careers via Dayforce.
The temporary, part‑time community engagement coordinator will work with USA TODAY Network‑New York editors, producers, reporters and videographers, and also with NYS Police Accountability Project partners including the Syracuse University S.I. Newhouse School of Public Communications, to extend the reach of police accountability journalism online, on social media and through organizing of community discussions on social media and through other means – discussions focused on empowering residents and law‑enforcement leaders to seek a pathway to better local policing.
USA TODAY Network‑New York and the Newhouse School began seeking and obtaining police disciplinary records from local police departments in 2020, posting the first‑of‑its‑kind database of these records from New York state communities in December 2021. Since, this partnership has resulted in award‑winning police accountability journalism and ongoing coverage of disciplinary lapses and patterns.
In 2026, we are expanding the collaborative approach and the resources attached to it. For at least one year, the community engagement coordinator will grow audience and build awareness through:
Creation of project‑specific social channels and a social media approach that explains and promotes the project’s impact for a younger social‑first audience.
This approach in particular will rely on video created for YouTube, TikTok and Instagram Reels. These short videos might detail a reporter’s findings from our data or explore how to search our disciplinary database or seek ideas from our audiences.
Coordinate with our journalists and Syracuse University student‑journalists to create video and posts.
Engage with audiences on Reddit in discussing police accountability, better policing strategies and culturally relevant police news and trends.
Arrange for AMAs hosted by our journalists and video discussions with law‑enforcement leaders, community members and researchers of policing issues.
Make and tend to a Facebook group to promote content and field discussion of the issues the coverage addresses.
Populate an already created dedicated website that prominently displays the project’s branding, partnerships and exclusive data and video and story content to engage readers and potential future collaborators and partners.
Coordinate with editors and partners to arrange and promote a handful of in‑person or virtual community education sessions regarding police accountability issues and solutions.
Occasionally participate in video interviews of sources for police accountability stories and projects.
Responsibilities
Help create compelling video and social media related to police disciplinary records and the issues these documents highlight in New York state.
Populate and help manage police accountability social media channels.
Help promote new findings from the police disciplinary database on social media and on a dedicated web platform.
Learn the intricacies of public records requests and policing issues so that social media posts and video are informative and useful and accurate.
Make it a mission to inform and engage readers through immediacy, insightful journalism and riveting storytelling.
Work with editors, content creators, visual journalists and producers and partners to shape social media storytelling to meet audience needs and interests on every platform.
Be aware of and alert to audience interests and questions and needs.
Learn how headlines, SEO, social posts and effective short video help extend the reach of content.
Capture basic photos and video as needed.
Requirements
Bachelor’s degree in journalism, communications, multimedia disciplines.
Well organized, detail oriented, adaptable and flexible.
Ability to multi‑task and work well in a team environment.
Excellent organizational, analytical and oral and written communication skills.
Previous internship experience is a plus.
Technical skills required for multiple aspects of the role.
Ideal candidates will possess strong Office and video editing and PC skills.
Key Considerations
Strong writing skills and a command of grammar and style.
Experience with social media and video platforms, like Instagram Stories, Reels, and TikTok, as tools to build audience and as a source for beat development.
A self‑starter who works collaboratively with others locally and regionally to meet common goals.
A journalist committed to values of fairness, diversity, inclusion and professionalism.
We are eager to learn more about you and how you fit this role. Please upload in one PDF document:
Your resume – one to two pages.
A short cover letter that outlines how you would approach the job.
Links to 2‑3 online samples of your work.
It is important that these items be assembled into a single document and uploaded in PDF format. Completing these steps will ensure that your application receives the highest consideration.
USA TODAY Co., Inc. is a proud equal‑opportunity employer committed to building and maintaining a diverse workforce. As such, we will consider all qualified applicants for employment and do not discriminate in connection with employment decisions on the basis of an applicant or employee’s race, color, national origin, ethnicity, ancestry, citizenship status, sex, gender, gender identity, gender expression, religion, age, marital status, personal appearance (including height and weight), sexual orientation, family responsibilities, physical or mental disability, medical condition, pregnancy status (including childbirth, breastfeeding or related medical conditions), education, genetic characteristics or information, political affiliation, military or veteran status or other classifications protected by applicable federal, state and local laws in the jurisdictions where USA TODAY Co. employs employees. In addition, USA TODAY Co., Inc. will provide applicants who require a reasonable accommodation, as a result of an applicant’s disability or religion, to complete this employment application and/or any other process in connection with an individual’s application for employment with USA TODAY Co., Inc. Applicants who require such accommodation should contact USA TODAY Co., Inc.’s Recruitment Department at Recruit@usatodayco.com. Applicants must be authorized to work in the applicable location. Applications from outside these regions will be removed from our system after submission.
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USA TODAY Co., Inc. is a diversified media company with expansive reach at the national and local level dedicated to empowering and enriching communities. We seek to inspire, inform, and connect audiences as a sustainable, growth focused media and digital marketing solutions company. Through our trusted brands, including the USA TODAY NETWORK, comprised of the national publication, USA TODAY, and local media organizations, including our network of local properties in the United States, and Newsquest, a wholly‑owned subsidiary operating in the United Kingdom, we provide essential journalism, local content, and digital experiences to audiences and businesses. We deliver high‑quality, trusted content with a commitment to balanced, unbiased journalism, where and when consumers want to engage. Our digital marketing solutions brand, LocaliQ, supports small and medium‑sized businesses with innovative digital marketing products and solutions. USA TODAY Co. open roles are featured on various external job boards. When applying to a position at USA TODAY Co., you should be completing an application on USA TODAY Co. Careers via Dayforce.
The temporary, part‑time community engagement coordinator will work with USA TODAY Network‑New York editors, producers, reporters and videographers, and also with NYS Police Accountability Project partners including the Syracuse University S.I. Newhouse School of Public Communications, to extend the reach of police accountability journalism online, on social media and through organizing of community discussions on social media and through other means – discussions focused on empowering residents and law‑enforcement leaders to seek a pathway to better local policing.
USA TODAY Network‑New York and the Newhouse School began seeking and obtaining police disciplinary records from local police departments in 2020, posting the first‑of‑its‑kind database of these records from New York state communities in December 2021. Since, this partnership has resulted in award‑winning police accountability journalism and ongoing coverage of disciplinary lapses and patterns.
In 2026, we are expanding the collaborative approach and the resources attached to it. For at least one year, the community engagement coordinator will grow audience and build awareness through:
Creation of project‑specific social channels and a social media approach that explains and promotes the project’s impact for a younger social‑first audience.
This approach in particular will rely on video created for YouTube, TikTok and Instagram Reels. These short videos might detail a reporter’s findings from our data or explore how to search our disciplinary database or seek ideas from our audiences.
Coordinate with our journalists and Syracuse University student‑journalists to create video and posts.
Engage with audiences on Reddit in discussing police accountability, better policing strategies and culturally relevant police news and trends.
Arrange for AMAs hosted by our journalists and video discussions with law‑enforcement leaders, community members and researchers of policing issues.
Make and tend to a Facebook group to promote content and field discussion of the issues the coverage addresses.
Populate an already created dedicated website that prominently displays the project’s branding, partnerships and exclusive data and video and story content to engage readers and potential future collaborators and partners.
Coordinate with editors and partners to arrange and promote a handful of in‑person or virtual community education sessions regarding police accountability issues and solutions.
Occasionally participate in video interviews of sources for police accountability stories and projects.
Responsibilities
Help create compelling video and social media related to police disciplinary records and the issues these documents highlight in New York state.
Populate and help manage police accountability social media channels.
Help promote new findings from the police disciplinary database on social media and on a dedicated web platform.
Learn the intricacies of public records requests and policing issues so that social media posts and video are informative and useful and accurate.
Make it a mission to inform and engage readers through immediacy, insightful journalism and riveting storytelling.
Work with editors, content creators, visual journalists and producers and partners to shape social media storytelling to meet audience needs and interests on every platform.
Be aware of and alert to audience interests and questions and needs.
Learn how headlines, SEO, social posts and effective short video help extend the reach of content.
Capture basic photos and video as needed.
Requirements
Bachelor’s degree in journalism, communications, multimedia disciplines.
Well organized, detail oriented, adaptable and flexible.
Ability to multi‑task and work well in a team environment.
Excellent organizational, analytical and oral and written communication skills.
Previous internship experience is a plus.
Technical skills required for multiple aspects of the role.
Ideal candidates will possess strong Office and video editing and PC skills.
Key Considerations
Strong writing skills and a command of grammar and style.
Experience with social media and video platforms, like Instagram Stories, Reels, and TikTok, as tools to build audience and as a source for beat development.
A self‑starter who works collaboratively with others locally and regionally to meet common goals.
A journalist committed to values of fairness, diversity, inclusion and professionalism.
We are eager to learn more about you and how you fit this role. Please upload in one PDF document:
Your resume – one to two pages.
A short cover letter that outlines how you would approach the job.
Links to 2‑3 online samples of your work.
It is important that these items be assembled into a single document and uploaded in PDF format. Completing these steps will ensure that your application receives the highest consideration.
USA TODAY Co., Inc. is a proud equal‑opportunity employer committed to building and maintaining a diverse workforce. As such, we will consider all qualified applicants for employment and do not discriminate in connection with employment decisions on the basis of an applicant or employee’s race, color, national origin, ethnicity, ancestry, citizenship status, sex, gender, gender identity, gender expression, religion, age, marital status, personal appearance (including height and weight), sexual orientation, family responsibilities, physical or mental disability, medical condition, pregnancy status (including childbirth, breastfeeding or related medical conditions), education, genetic characteristics or information, political affiliation, military or veteran status or other classifications protected by applicable federal, state and local laws in the jurisdictions where USA TODAY Co. employs employees. In addition, USA TODAY Co., Inc. will provide applicants who require a reasonable accommodation, as a result of an applicant’s disability or religion, to complete this employment application and/or any other process in connection with an individual’s application for employment with USA TODAY Co., Inc. Applicants who require such accommodation should contact USA TODAY Co., Inc.’s Recruitment Department at Recruit@usatodayco.com. Applicants must be authorized to work in the applicable location. Applications from outside these regions will be removed from our system after submission.
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