Springfield Bureau Reporter Job at Chicago Public Media in Chicago

Overview

Chicago Public Media is the home to WBEZ and the Chicago Sun-Times, the largest local non-profit news organization in the country. We serve more than 2 million people weekly across broadcast, print, and digital platforms. We are a mission-driven organization aiming to be 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 features local and national news programming and a growing portfolio of podcasts. We are supported by 77,000 members, hundreds of corporate sponsors, and major donors. In 2024, Chicago Public Media won 33 national and local awards from organizations including the National Headliner Awards, NABJ, Public Media Journalists Association, RTDNA, and more.

Chicago Sun-Times is Chicago’s oldest continuously published daily newspaper, known for investigative reporting, in-depth political coverage, and entertainment and cultural coverage. It is a winner of eight Pulitzer Prizes and has shifted toward a digital membership model to expand access to journalism.

Chicago Public Media believes independent journalism is essential to a well-functioning democracy, and we employ 300+ staff who strive to do their best work. For more information, please see the Chicago Public Media Annual Report.

The Opportunity

Chicago Public Media, home to WBEZ and the Chicago Sun-Times, is looking for a versatile, experienced reporter to cover the Illinois Legislature. The reporter will serve both the local WBEZ and Sun-Times audience and provide daily news and enterprise feature work for the nine NPR member stations across Illinois as part of Illinois Public Radio.

The reporter will be based in Springfield, working from the Capitol, with occasional reporting from Chicago and collaboration with other reporters. We seek a curious, aggressive, and skilled writer adept at both quick-turn breaking news and in-depth features.

This team player is responsible for reporting at a pace that serves a loyal and engaged broadcast audience and communicates with CPM team members and stations across Illinois. The reporter may also provide special coverage to statewide stations when applicable.

The ideal candidate is a resourceful journalist who can spot trends and connect seemingly straightforward news to provide context that deepens audience understanding. We seek a reporter with a distinctive nose for scoops and insightful reporting that stands out from the competition.

Qualifications

• Understanding of state and local government
• Ability to write and produce stories at a daily pace with skill, accuracy and insight
• Ability to handle breaking news under deadline pressure while balancing enterprise stories
• Demonstrated passion for news and a talent for uncovering scoops, advancing stories, or identifying creative angles in Chicago’s and Illinois’ daily news cycle
• Demonstrated ability to work collaboratively with editors, producers and reporters across the newsroom
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills, and ability to cultivate strong relationships with colleagues and sources
• Strong audio and digital skills

Responsibilities

• Collaborate with an editor and colleagues at WBEZ and the Chicago Sun-Times to research, pitch, conceptualize, report and produce stories of high caliber
• Report, write and produce stories for broadcast and digital platforms, including daily news items, feature stories, projects, podcasts, on-air discussions and live events
• Generate story and project ideas for multiple platforms, broadcast and digital
• Participate in special projects and perform other station duties as necessary
• Work collaboratively with editorial colleagues throughout the organization to serve impact, efficiency, and audience needs
• Develop big-picture approaches to covering issues while handling the numerous small tasks involved in reporting
• Represent Chicago Public Media to internal and external audiences, including staff and board meetings and public events

Compensation

The expected pay range for this position is $61,200 to $67,500 per ANNUM.

Chicago Public Media provides pay ranges representing its good faith estimate of compensation. The final pay offered will consider factors such as scope and responsibilities, candidate qualifications, departmental budget, internal equity, location, and external market rates.

This position is represented by SAG-AFTRA.

Working at Chicago Public Media

We care deeply about our employees and believe that attracting, developing, and growing talent is key to our success. Our culture encourages collaboration, diversity of ideas, and innovation. We value colleagues who bring new ideas and experiences to our dynamic workplace. We offer a broad and generous benefits package that supports employees and their families, including medical, dental, vision, vacation, holidays, life insurance, disability coverage, retirement savings, and commuter benefits.

Equal Opportunity Employer— Chicago Public Media actively seeks and welcomes 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 legal commitment. Chicago Public Media may change content or format of this job at any time without notice.

Apply for this job

Interested in building your career at Chicago Public Media? Please apply through our careers site.