Head of Public Discourse

About Chicago Public Media

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. Chicago Public Media reaches more than 3.3 million people weekly across broadcast, print, and digital platforms. As a mission-driven organization, we aspire to be the most trusted news source Chicagoans turn to for understanding the people, events, and ideas shaping our community.

We believe independent journalism is essential to a healthy democracy and that access to objective, fact-based news is a right for every citizen. We serve the public interest by creating diverse content that informs and enriches our community, supported by a dedicated staff of approximately 250 professionals.

For more information, please see the Chicago Public Media Annual Report.

Position Summary

Chicago Sun-Times (CSTM) is seeking an experienced and innovative editor to lead and expand the CSTM strategy on public discourse and community perspectives, building on the newsroom’s legacy of distinctive, trusted voices. The Head of Public Discourse will define the strategy, commission and edit compelling commentary, develop staff columnists and contributors, experiment with new ways of sharing and exchanging commentary and broaden the range of Chicago perspectives represented across digital, audio and print, including but not limited to, newsletters, social video and web displays. They will also help reporters build recognizable brands and authority around their areas of expertise.

Key Responsibilities

• Lead the Sun-Times’ public discourse strategy, ensuring it reflects the breadth of Chicago and advances the organization’s editorial standards and public-service mission


• Recruit, commission and edit staff writers, freelance contributors, community voices and subject-matter experts


• Coach reporters and columnists to develop clear, distinctive points of view and deepen their authority on the issues and communities they cover


• Develop recognizable staff voices that build trust and give readers reasons to return across platforms.


• Work with reporters to identify opportunities for their expertise to reach audiences through columns, newsletters, social, video, events and other formats 


• Partner with newsroom, audience, visual and product teams to identify the strongest formats, platforms and presentation for opinion content.


• Maintain high standards for accuracy, fairness, clarity and ethical journalism.

Minimum Qualifications

• Five or more years of editing, commentary or journalism experience.


• Demonstrated commitment to journalistic ethics and inclusive coverage.


• Excellent news judgment and editing skills.


• A strong understanding of Chicago, its communities and the issues shaping the region.


• Demonstrated ability to develop journalists’ voices, expertise and public-facing authority on multiple platforms.


• Experience developing writers and working with a wide range of contributors and perspectives.


• Ability to shape compelling, audience-focused content across platforms.

Education

Bachelor's degree in journalism, communications, digital media, public affairs, or a related field preferred; advanced degree also preferred.

Compensation

The expected pay range for this position is $145,000 - $160,000 per ANNUM.

Chicago Public Media inclusive of CSTM 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.