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Now Hiring: Managing Editor/Tech Journalist

Clay and Milk

April 24, 2018

Clay & Milk, a two-year-old digital source for news that covers Iowa’s tech, startup and art communities, is looking for a managing editor to be based in Des Moines, Iowa.

We’re looking for someone who can tell the story of the entrepreneurial community in Iowa and the broader Midwest with accuracy and insight. He or she should be able to write about and for entrepreneurs, artists, investors and the broader innovation community, but in an engaging way that grows outside readership and interest.

The managing editor of Clay & Milk will be responsible for the overall editorial vision and serve as the site’s main reporter and editor. The managing editor will be responsible for growing Clay & Milk’s audience, handling social media, managing freelance writers and working to involve community voices in the form of guest commentary.

This position is designed for a true “entrepreneurial journalist” and is someone whose interests include building and leading a startup publication as well as covering stories from across Iowa’s innovation community.

Qualifications

0 to 5 years of reporting experience, internships or college journalism work included. Work or applicable experience with startups or related fields will be considered.
An entrepreneurial mindset and willingness to adapt to a startup work environment.
A passion for technology and startups is preferred, but not required.
A technical efficiency and ability to sign up for new products and quickly understand how they work.
Great listening skills. Telling stories requires you to hear them.
Great written and editorial skills.
Ability to organize and communicate amongst a group of freelance writers.
An ambition to grow the Midwest

Experience reporting on these areas or business is beneficial, but not required. We’re as interested in your vision for Clay & Milk and innovation coverage as we are your experience.

How to apply

Please send a brief cover letter, a resume and links to up to five examples of your past reporting or writing work to editor@clayandmilk.com.

Applications should be sent as one file, either as a Word document or .pdf, if possible.

Now Hiring: Managing Editor/Tech Journalist | Clay & Milk

A central Iowa ag-tech accelerator has secured more backers and finally has a name. The Greater Des Moines Partnership first announced the accelerator last year, naming four initial investors. On Monday, the Partnership said the program will be called the "Iowa AgriTech Accelerator" and named three new investors. The new investors include Grinnell Mutual, Kent Corp. and Sukup Manufacturing, all Iowa companies. They join investors Deere & Co., Peoples Co., Farmers Mutual Hail Insurance Co. and DuPont Pioneer. Each investor has agreed to put up $100,000 for the first year of the accelerator. Startups entering the program will receive $40,000 in seed funding in exchange for 6 percent equity. Tej Dhawan, an angel investor and local startup mentor, is serving as interim director until the AgriTech Accelerator names a permanent leader. Dhawan held a similar role with the GIA before Brian Hemesath was named as managing director. As interim director, Dhawan said his main job includes hiring the accelerator's executive director, establishing a business structure and initial recruiting for the first cohort. The accelerator will place few filters, such as location and product, on the applicant pool, Dhawan said. "When you’re seeking innovation, innovation can come from every corner of the world so why restrict ourselves," he said. One area the the AgriTech Accelerator won't recruit from is biotech. For its first cohort, the AgriTech Accelerator will work out of the GIA's space in Des Moines' East Village, Dhawan said. A future, permanent home is still to be decided. The accelerator's program will host startups from mid-July through mid-October, ending with an event connected to the annual World Food Prize. The GIA, which the AgriTech Accelerator is based on, also ends with presentations at an industry event. The accelerator has also started lining up a mentor pool. The Iowa Corn Growers Association, Iowa Soybean Association and the Iowa Pork Producers Association have agreed to provide mentors, as has Iowa State University. While the AgriTech Accelerator is loosely based off of the GIA, it will differ in its business structure, Dhawan said. The GIA runs through a for-profit model for both operations and its investment fund. The AgriTech Accelerator will have a nonprofit model for its operations and a for-profit setup for its fund. Dhawan said the nonprofit model is being used so the accelerator can better work with other nonprofit partners, such as trade associations. "These are all organizations that are nonprofits and can be amazing stakeholders without ever having to be investors in the accelerator," he said. "It becomes easier to work with trade associations in their nonprofit role when we are also a nonprofit." When it's up and running, the AgriTech Accelerator would be one of a handful of ag-focused startup development programs in Iowa. Others include the Ag Startup Engine out of Iowa State University and the Rural Ventures Alliance from Iowa MicroLoan. Matthew Patane is the managing editor and co-founder of Clay & Milk. Send him an email at mpatane@clayandmilk.com.

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