Eden Prairie Local News (EPLN), a nonprofit and nonpartisan digital newsroom, is hiring its first full-time, paid chief executive officer (CEO) and publisher.
The new hire will succeed Steve Schewe, who has led the organization in a volunteer capacity since January 2022. Schewe, who helped guide EPLN’s growth and the hiring of its professional editorial staff, plans to step down in early September for health-related reasons.
In 2019, he had a benign meningioma – a tumor that forms on the membranes surrounding the brain – removed at Mayo Clinic in Rochester. In June, he learned the tumor had returned, though smaller this time, and he is scheduled for surgery at Mayo on Sept. 10. Based on his previous experience, Schewe expects recovery will take at least six months.
“While I regret with all my heart stepping away, EPLN needs to complement our growing team of professional journalists with a professional business team,” Schewe said. “Volunteer energy will always be important to keep us centered on Eden Prairie, but we’re not a start-up anymore. I’m grateful that the continued loyalty of our subscribers and donors gives us the opportunity to hire a talented new leader.”
The new CEO/publisher will be responsible for leading EPLN’s business operations and supporting its team of independent journalists. Key responsibilities include fundraising through charitable donations, grants, advertising and events. The position reports to the EPLN board of directors, which is made up of volunteers.
The salary range is $75,000 to $90,000 annually, plus a benefits stipend. A full job description is posted at eplocalnews.org/jobs.
A transition team led by EPLN board chair Nancy Tyra-Lukens and director Anne Byrne has set an accelerated hiring timeline. The goal is to have a successor in place by the next EPLN board meeting on Sept. 8.
“We are looking for a self-motivated individual who understands the importance of local news to a community,” Tyra Lukens said.
Applications are due by July 29 and should be submitted to Amy Nylander, head of EPLN’s people operations, at amy.nylander@eplocalnews.org.
Now approaching its fifth anniversary, EPLN is among a growing number of nonprofit digital-first newsrooms working to provide accurate, in-depth local reporting and help readers engage with their communities.
For more information about the position, contact Steve Schewe at steve.schewe@eplocalnews.org or 952-946-1931.
Schewe’s regional impact
In addition to leading EPLN, Schewe has played a key role in efforts to rebuild local journalism across the Twin Cities. He has worked to support startup newsrooms in communities that lost their traditional newspapers, helping connect their founders and share strategies through a collaborative initiative called the Metro Nonprofit News Network (MNNN).
“While Steve’s leadership has been critical to the success and growth of Eden Prairie Local News, his generous contributions to launching other nonprofit local news startups demonstrate his deep commitment to the broader nonprofit news movement in the Twin Cities,” said Kathy Saltzman, co-founder of Woodbury News Net.
“Steve’s entrepreneurial and collaborative spirit has been central to the development of the Metro Nonprofit News Network,” she added. “By bringing together founders of emerging news organizations, Steve has been instrumental in creating a network where local newsrooms share resources, expand their audiences and revenue, and help foster strong, community-driven journalism across the metro area.”
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