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Beat Reporter, Chicago Cubs

Chicago, IL (Hybrid workplace)

The Chicago Sun-Times is a distinctly Chicago news organization, with a laser focus on telling stories that matter to the working people of Chicago. We are seeking an experienced sports beat writer to cover the Chicago Cubs — a job that will require the successful candidate to break news, get the behind-the-scenes story, effectively use social media, embrace multiplatform reporting, and travel with the team.


Responsibilities

  • Provide factual, accurate, fair and balanced coverage of the Cubs organization, including its players, front office and ownership, and Major League Baseball
  • Break news, both on the Cubs and MLB
  • Write a mix of stories, including “instant gamers,” analysis stories, and longer human-interest features, including features for the Sun-Times’ innovative Sports Saturday edition
  • Be the face of our Cubs coverage, both in print and online through podcasts and, in some cases, video reporting
  • Work with the Sun-Times audience and visual teams to develop video, infographics, and other interactive elements that engage both digital and print readers — with some of these elements to be used to promote stories on social media
  • Use social media to interact with fans, including during games, and to promote one’s work

 

Skills Required

  • Write clearly on tight deadlines and thrive in breaking-news situations
  • Produce multiple daily stories with multiple elements (text, photo, video)
  • Team player with excellent news judgment
  • Highly self-motivated and self-directed

 

Requirements

  • Bachelor’s degree in journalism, communications, or related field
  • Experience covering a Major League Baseball beat for a daily news organization is a must.
  • Commitment to work long hours following the team at home and on the road — and during weekends and holidays
  • Ability to travel nationally and to Canada
  • Proficient knowledge of social media, including Twitter and Facebook

Note:  All candidates must submit at least five samples of work along with a resume and cover letter.

 

 

Compensation

The expected pay range for this position is $61,953.84 to $72,153.12 per ANNUM.  Per the Guild contract for writers of major sports, you are also eligible for night differential pay of 10 percent of your base salary.

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.

 

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