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AM Editor

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

The AM Editor is responsible for leading Chicago Public Media’s daily news coverage across a wide array of platforms including broadcast, digital, podcasts and print. The AM Editor will work with anchors, producers, reporters, and other editors to set the tone for the day’s coverage, plan assignments, conceptualize stories, structure and help organize reporting efforts.

This is a full-time, permanent placement position.  The AM Editor will primarily work Tuesday through Saturday. When not working the weekend shift, this Editor will be expected to handle Editor duties on the Audio Team to work across teams, planning assignments for reporters and producers. Employees in the AM Editor classification may perform work on any or all platforms. 

 

RESPONSIBILITIES

  • Collaborates with the editorial team to guide editorial coverage.
  • Directs the work of reporters and producers, and works with the editorial team, to plan and lead execution of daily stories for web and audio, and initiatives across platforms.
  • Edits audio and text stories, including digital stories for WBEZ, the Sun-Times and Sun-Times wire.
  • Reports for audio, web and print (when necessary)
  • Reviews story pitches and edits content produced by reporters and producers across platforms.
  • Schedules and assigns reporters and producers assigned to his/her team.
  • Develops and conducts editorial training.
  • Helps maintain audio standards across platforms.
  • Helps manage daily coverage priorities, including coverage plans for major breaking news events.

 

QUALIFICATIONS

  • 3+ years of experience as a News Editor.  
  • Ability to work a weekend schedule (Tuesday - Saturday) as part of the regular expectation of the role.
  • Outstanding news judgment and experience leading journalists to produce work of tremendous distinction and community impact. 
  • Demonstrated passion for leading creative daily news coverage. 
  • Ability to conceptualize and edit news stories for content, accuracy, pacing, ideas, narrative and voice. 
  • Fluency and enthusiasm for multiplatform journalism. 
  • Deep commitment to the highest standards of journalistic ethics and the mission of public media. 
  • .Ability to articulate your own ideas precisely and concisely – and to cultivate the strong ideas that come from other producers, editors, and reporters.
  • Strong relationship builder and naturally collaborative leader. Experience leading and inspiring diverse, inclusive teams to excellence.
  • Knowledge of the Chicago region’s rich diversity of stories, sectors and communities is very helpful. 

 

EDUCATION

 Bachelor’s degree in journalism, communications, humanities or related field

 

COMPENSATION

The expected pay range for this position is $86,700 to $92,500 per ANNUM.

Chicago Public Media provides pay ranges representing its good faith estimate of what the organization reasonably expects to pay for a position.  The pay offered to a selected candidate will be determined based on factors such as (but not limited to the scope and responsibilities of the position, the qualifications of the selected candidate, departmental budget availability, internal equity, geographical location, and external market pay for comparable jobs.

 

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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