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Reporter/Producer 1

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 77,000 members, hundreds of corporate sponsors and major donors.  In 2024, Chicago Public Media won 33 national and local awards including from the National Headliner Awards, National Association for Black Journalists, Public Media Journalists Association, Radio Television Digital News Association, Chicago Headline Club, Chicago Journalists Association, Media for a Just Society, and the Richard H. Driehaus Foundation. 

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 Reporter/Producer is a journalist who is responsible for finding and cultivating good stories and unique angles by developing sources, anticipating and breaking news, can self-direct, can write in their own voice and work collaboratively with various departments and reporters in the newsroom to hit deadlines. The reporter will work on mid and long-term enterprise stories and investigations to enrich the public conversations of our communities and country through our audiences. Employees in the Reporter 1 classification may perform work on any or all platforms, including digital platforms. 

The person in this position would also be assigned to work as a producer. This could include tackling production tasks on any given day, as well as backfilling for AM and PM producers. The Reporter/Producer is responsible for assisting the production of audio on any and all platforms. The Reporter/Producer will contribute to a team to help facilitate writing, editing, and updating news copy, tracking down primary sources, recording and producing interviews for anchors, voicing stories, and following major news stories of interest to a diverse audience.

 

DUTIES & RESPONSIBILITIES

(These include but are not limited to the following.  The company reserves the right to add to, delete, change, or modify the essential duties and responsibilities at any time.)

  • Develops original and creative story ideas.
  • Develops sources, investigates and researches to gather information, images and audio. 
  • Prepares and presents original reporting for news spots, reports and program segments. 
  • Reports, writes and presents breaking news, news features and enterprise and investigative pieces.
  • Makes regular appearances on Chicago Public Media platforms.
  • Participates in editorial process.
  • Voices stories, and depending on assignment, may voice program elements or briefings for on-demand distribution.
  • Depending on assignment, may contribute to the execution of live events or broadcasts. 
  • Performs production duties to ensure the successful execution of shows, newscasts, programs, podcasts or other platforms (e.g., research, booking guests, creating web content, updating social media accounts, writing and producing interviews, etc.). 
  • Gathers, edits, and mixes audio or multimedia elements. 
  • Depending on assignment, may contribute to the execution of live events or broadcasts.

 

MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS

  • A minimum of 1-3 years of experience in an editorial, creative, and/or media production setting
  • Strong writing skills for broadcast web and promotional materials. 
  • Demonstrated experience and skill in writing broadcast copy, working with anchors, and producing audio for news programs.
  • Demonstrated excitement for the news cycle and strong interest in the Chicago area news and talk ecosystem.
  • Strong editorial judgment, resourcefulness and researching abilities.
  • Knowledge of public radio, podcasts and talk shows.
  • Proven ability to consistently meet deadlines.
  • Demonstrated to take initiative to generate creative story ideas for news and strong editorial judgment.
  • Team player with high emotional intelligence and ability to collaborate effectively.
  • Ability to craft creative approaches to covering major news stories, issues, and ideas, while also executing the small details and tasks involved in production.

 

EDUCATION 

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

 

COMPENSATION

The expected pay range for this position is $61,200 - $66,000 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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