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Arts & Culture Audio/Multimedia Reporting Intern

Chicago, IL (Hybrid workplace)

About Chicago Public Media

Home to WBEZ and the Chicago Sun-Times, Chicago Public Media is the largest local non-profit news organization in the country. WBEZ and the Chicago Sun-Times serve more than 2 million people weekly across broadcast, print, and digital platforms. As a mission-driven organization, we aspire to become the essential and most trusted news source that Chicago turns to each day for understanding the people, events, and ideas that shape our community.

WBEZ is home to local and national news programming as well as a growing portfolio of popular podcasts. WBEZ serves the community with fact-based, objective news and information, and its award-winning journalists ask tough questions, dig deep for answers and expose truths that spark change and foster understanding. WBEZ is supported by more than 86,000 members, hundreds of corporate sponsors and major donors. In 2022, WBEZ received more than 20 awards for its journalism, including two prestigious National Edward R. Murrow Awards.

Chicago Sun-Times is Chicago’s oldest continuously published daily newspaper serving Chicago and is known for its hard-hitting investigative reporting, in-depth political coverage, timely behind-the-scenes sports analysis, and insightful entertainment and cultural coverage. Chicago Sun-Times is the winner of eight Pulitzer Prizes and countless other awards.  In recent years, the Sun-Times has focused on a digital transformation to deliver its news and content to a growing digital audience. Most recently, the Sun-Times dropped the paywall on suntimes.com to expand access to its journalism, and shifted to a community-funded digital membership program supported by voluntary member donations. 

Chicago Public Media believes independent journalism is essential to a well-functioning democracy and access to fact-based, objective news and information is a right of every citizen. We serve the public interest by creating diverse, compelling content that informs, inspires, and enriches. We connect diverse audiences and help them make a difference in the community, the region and the world.  And, we employ 300+ staff who want to belong to an organization that inspires, supports, and challenges them to do their best work.

For more information, please see the Chicago Public Media Annual Report.

 

The Opportunity

We are looking for a tapped-in, community-minded and motivated Arts & Culture Audio/Multimedia Reporting Intern to join WBEZ’s Arts and Culture desk. 

We are seeking an eager, versatile reporter who can hit the ground running early in the day with limited direction and deliver well-sourced, thoughtful, short pieces of multimedia reporting (audio, written and/or short video for social), and the ability to nimbly translate their work for multiple platforms (social, radio or website). The ideal candidate is a resourceful journalist who can spot arts and culture trends and who embraces the opportunity to interview people about creativity and ideas. We’re looking for a candidate who likes to conduct interviews, who is connected to the pulse of the culture world, and who values accuracy and journalism ethics. 

A commitment to accuracy and ethical reporting defines the work we do at Chicago Public Media; as such, the successful candidate will have strong news judgment, writing, editing and production skills and work effectively under deadline. 

 

General Responsibilities

  • Pitch, report, produce and/or write arts & culture stories at a daily pace on a wide range of topics with skill, accuracy, and insight.
  • Contribute to social media and/or on air projects as needed on WBEZ. 
  • Contribute to the arts and culture team’s social media output 
  • Coordinate with our Digital Content Producer on editorial web initiatives.
  • Represent WBEZ in public spaces (press events, panels, public events), when applicable.

 

Qualifications

  • BA in journalism, communication, or journalism.
  • Minimum 2-years’ newsroom (or culture website) work experience.
  • Demonstrated passion for arts and culture and a deep understanding of the Chicago arts, culture and music scene (including visual arts and food).
  • Ability to work collaboratively with editors, host/producers, and reporters across CPM in service of shared excellence. 
  • Creative, practical audio reporting and editing skills and a proficiency for audio mixing.
  • Experience with video reporting and video editing for short social posts
  • Experience writing web copy, scripting and/or editing compelling podcasts or shows.
  • Excellent written and verbal communication skills, and the ability to cultivate strong relationships with colleagues and sources.
  • Experience with new forms of storytelling powered by the social web and built for mobile web consumption.
  • Comfortable with using social media to drive engagement and promote content.

 

 A bit about our internship programs:

  • Many, but not all, of our interns have completed college or some other form of education and/or certification in the journalism or media field(s).
  • Many go on to careers in public media or other outlets. Many have found their way back to WBEZ, too.
  • We pay $20/hour, non-negotiable
  • Positions are daytime work hours on a Monday through Friday schedule, though some flexibility may be possible

Interns work full time 40 hrs/week Program term is 12 weeks (June 9, 2025 - September 6, 2025) 

 

What we are looking for our candidates to display in their resumes, cover letters and interview conversations: 

  • Knowledge about WBEZ and our mission of serving the community
  • Strong interest in learning and contributing to our mission 
  • Curiosity and the willingness to learn
  • Understanding of the value of bringing together diverse perspectives
  • Why WBEZ is part of your career planning in journalism and media
  • Specific skills you want to learn during the internship 
  • If applicable, any links to a portfolio of writing samples; audio, video, or multimedia packages; or other completed work that may be relevant to this opening

 

The application deadline is Friday, April 18, 2025. Managers plan to select candidates by early May. 

Accepted applicants will be required to start training in Chicago on June 9, 2025. Internship ends September 5, 2025. 

 

 

Working at Chicago Public Media

At Chicago Public Media, we care deeply about our employees as we know attracting, developing, and growing talent is key to our success and enhancing our impact.  

Our culture is one where collaboration, diversity of ideas, and innovation are encouraged.  We value colleagues who will enhance our culture by bringing new ideas, divergent experiences, and talents to our dynamic workplace.

At Chicago Public Media we believe dedication to a great workplace includes supporting our employees and their families. As a result, we provide a broad and generous benefits package for employees at hire and in the years to come.

Our benefits include a competitive salary and benefits package which includes medical, dental, vision, vacation, holidays, life insurance, disability coverage, retirement savings, and a commuter benefits plan.

Chicago Public Media is an Equal Opportunity Employer and we actively seek and welcome people from all backgrounds, orientations, and life experiences to join our team.

 

The essential functions described above are not all-inclusive and are not intended to create any contractual or other legal commitment. Chicago Public Media may change the content or format of this job at any time in its sole and exclusive discretion without notice.

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