Deputy Managing Editor, News Desk

Chicago Public Media•Chicago, IL

7d•$104,000 - $130,000

About The Position

Chicago Public Media is one of the nation’s largest local nonprofit news organizations, home to WBEZ 91.5FM, the Chicago Sun-Times, and Vocalo. Reaching over 3.3 million people weekly across broadcast, print, and digital platforms, Chicago Public Media is a mission-driven organization aspiring to be the most trusted news source for understanding the people, events, and ideas shaping the Chicago community. As a 100% community-funded newsroom, it is supported by nearly 97,000 members. The organization believes independent journalism is essential to a healthy democracy and provides objective, fact-based news to the public interest through diverse content. It is supported by a dedicated staff of approximately 250 professionals. The opportunity is for an innovative leader to help guide daily news coverage in Chicago. The Deputy Managing Editor, News, will guide an ambitious and talented news team of general assignment reporters and assistant editors to produce important, interesting, and useful stories that help Chicago area residents participate in and make the most of their community. The successful candidate will be energized by a broad mix of breaking and trending news coverage, staying abreast of such stories on emerging platforms. This editor must inspire a team to create daily stories that serve, grow, and engage audiences digitally, in print, audio, and on social media. The ideal candidate will be a creative storyteller comfortable in multiple formats, a superlative and intentional communicator, and an enthusiastic collaborator adept at working with enterprise/topic desks, audience, visuals, the WBEZ audio team, and print production teams. This person will be an experienced and thoughtful people manager with an understanding of how a healthy team culture supports stronger storytelling that connects with diverse audiences. Working closely with the Managing Editor, News, the Deputy Managing Editor will direct and help shape impactful coverage across digital, print, and wire editions.

Requirements

Bachelor's degree in journalism, communications, or a related major – or equivalent training
Minimum 10 years of experience in journalism
At least five years of experience managing reporters or editors
Excellent news judgment and a platform-agnostic storyteller with a track record identifying trends in new and innovative platforms to determine the most important, impactful and interesting stories in the Chicago area – and what to skip
Stellar breaking news and deadline writing skills
Strong line-editing and top-editing skills with the ability to turn stories into gold
Excellent headline writing and packaging skills
A clear understanding of journalism standards and ethics
The desire and ability to work in a collaborative, union environment

Responsibilities

Co-manage the News Desk operations Sunday-Thursday, including a Monday night shift
Collaborate on News Desk operations and oversight with the Managing Editor, News and the early shift Deputy Managing Editor, News
Run afternoon news budget meetings in the Managing Editor’s absence
Coordinate with daily news editors to ensure copy is edited in a timely fashion with strong attention to accuracy, tight writing, breaking news deadlines and best practices
Collaborate with enterprise desk editors to add deeper reporting or background on the day’s news and to coordinate and prioritize daily coverage from beat reporters
In collaboration with other News Desk leaders, oversee the daily story budget and identify top story lines for emphasis on all platforms and ensure appropriate resources — including reporters, photographers, videographers and graphics team members — are assigned in a timely fashion to the biggest stories of the day, prioritizing based on our goals and staffing
Help guide our planned and evergreen coverage with News Desk leaders and enterprise editors to stay on top of stories across our various coverage areas
Work closely with our audio, audience and visual teams to make sure news stories are conceived of and presented in ways that ensure our stories reach, engage and serve as many readers as possible
Create stories and other assets that serve Sun-Times wire clients, ensuring their needs are met across platforms
Directly supervise assistant city editors and general assignment reporters, coaching them so they can do their best work, reach their goals and develop in their careers
Participate in creating a supportive culture, mentoring and training the team of reporters – including interns – with assistance from other news editors editors
Oversee News Desk scheduling of reporters and editors
Help improve the Sun-Times’ editorial excellence, workplace culture and impact
Promote diversity, inclusion and equity