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Graphic Design & Marketing 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 Graphic Design & Marketing Intern will work with CPM’s Marketing team to gain experience with branding, designing creative concepts and marketing strategies for radio shows, podcasts, events and more. By the end of the internship the Graphic Design & Marketing Intern will have experience with working with the Creative Manager on branding, executing marketing campaigns and assist in the creation of creative campaigns from concept to execution including but not limited to templating, layout design, social media asset creation, print, digital, video and physical assets. 

 

The Graphic Design & Marketing Internship will be a 6-8 month long program at 24 hours/week. The rate of pay is $20/hour.  We are located at Navy Pier in Chicago, Illinois. All interns MUST be able to work from our office and studios at Navy Pier in Chicago.  

Chicago Public Media interns gain hands-on experience while working alongside some of the best talent in the business. Our hope is that — after receiving a solid foundation at Chicago Public Media — our interns continue to contribute to this industry.

Link to our podcasts & shows: https://www.wbez.org/shows
Link to CST website: https://chicago.suntimes.com/ 

 

Basic Qualifications

  • Diligent, detail-oriented, and able to follow direction well
  • Passionate in news, public media/publishing/ journalism
  • Proficiency with Adobe CC applications such as PhotoShop, InDesign, Illustrator After Effects,  and or Premiere Pro.
  • Figma
  • Creating animated gifs
  • Experience with Google Workspace
  • Canva or other design platforms such as Procreate
  • Creativity
  • Organized
  • A design portfolio or work samples is required 

 

Preferred Qualifications

  • Experience in typography, graphic design, and layout (school work counts)
  • Adobe After Effects
  • Experience with A/B testing in design decisions
  • Experience with social media platforms: Facebook, Twitter, YouTube, Instagram
  • Branding experience
  • Managing multiple projects
  • Video editing
  • Social media 

 

Education

College seniors or recently graduated from graphic design, visual communications, or radio/film/television. What we are looking for our candidates to display in their resumes, cover letters and interview conversations:

  •       Knowledge about Chicago Public Media 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 Chicago Public Media is part of your career planning in journalism and media
  •       Specific skills you want to learn during the internship

 

REQUIRED:  links to a portfolio of samples; audio, video, or multimedia packages; or other completed work that may be relevant to this opening

 

Applications with resumes must include cover letters; use the cover letter to share any links to previous work and/or include any job-related criteria not on your resume.

The deadline is Friday June 6, 2025. 

Accepted applicants will be required to be available for onboarding and training hours in Chicago during the work week of July 7, 2025.

 

The essential functions described above are not all-inclusive and may change periodically to meet the needs of Chicago Public Media (CPM). The information contained in this job description is 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.

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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