WBEZ Chicago is hiring: Data Journalist, Public Safety in Chicago
WBEZ Chicago, Chicago, IL, United States
Opportunity
The Data Journalist is responsible for building and maintaining editorial tools for data journalism and data-informed storytelling. This role will help the combined Sun‑Times/WBEZ newsroom produce deeply reported and impactful public‑safety coverage and work collaboratively within the larger newsroom to identify opportunities that can be strengthened with data journalism practices or graphics.
General Responsibilities
Build and support editorial tools and systems for data journalism and innovative storytelling.
Deploy scrapers, ETL processes, and monitoring services to build data repositories for reporting and production.
Collaborate with reporting teams to identify important data sets, brainstorm coverage ideas, and find gaps in project plans.
Explore and analyze data for relevance and story potential and create tools and dashboards to make data and analyses more accessible to the newsroom.
Help configure pipelines and templates for presenting data in a meaningful way to internal and external users.
Pitch, report, and write data‑driven stories, including visualizations, for wbez.org and other digital platforms.
Plan and identify strong data and graphics opportunities across the newsroom.
Review data, analyses, stories, visualizations, and graphics to ensure they uphold standards.
Other Responsibilities
Work with the product team to develop best practices for news application infrastructure.
Create tools and dashboards to make data and analyses more accessible to the newsroom.
Collaborate with newsroom colleagues to facilitate other uses of data visualization and graphics in storytelling (without needing to be the only person making charts!).
Participate in cross‑departmental product development work groups and brainstorming sessions, including collaborations with WBEZ.
Minimum Qualifications
At least 1 year of digital journalism experience in a deadline‑driven environment.
Proficiency in one or more of the following data‑management programming languages: SQL, Python, and/or R.
Proficiency in Excel, Google Sheets, and one or more of the following data visualization tools: Flourish, Google Data Studio, and/or Datawrapper.
Familiarity with modern mapping tools (Arc, QGIS, MapBox, Maps4News, etc.).
Content Management System (CMS) and digital media production skills.
Proficiency with current social media platforms, including but not limited to Instagram, Twitter, Facebook, and YouTube.
Demonstrated ability to produce high‑quality work in a collaborative environment.
Familiarity with AP style and journalistic standards for accuracy and fairness.
Experience organizing and focusing projects with multiple deadlines.
Preferred Qualifications
Familiarity with node.js, JavaScript, Knight Lab storytelling tools, and GitHub in collaboration with other journalists.
Familiarity with Chicago Sun‑Times content.
Knowledge of Chicago and the surrounding region.
Compensation
The expected pay range for this position is $61,000 to $85,000 per annum.
Equal Opportunity Statement
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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The Data Journalist is responsible for building and maintaining editorial tools for data journalism and data-informed storytelling. This role will help the combined Sun‑Times/WBEZ newsroom produce deeply reported and impactful public‑safety coverage and work collaboratively within the larger newsroom to identify opportunities that can be strengthened with data journalism practices or graphics.
General Responsibilities
Build and support editorial tools and systems for data journalism and innovative storytelling.
Deploy scrapers, ETL processes, and monitoring services to build data repositories for reporting and production.
Collaborate with reporting teams to identify important data sets, brainstorm coverage ideas, and find gaps in project plans.
Explore and analyze data for relevance and story potential and create tools and dashboards to make data and analyses more accessible to the newsroom.
Help configure pipelines and templates for presenting data in a meaningful way to internal and external users.
Pitch, report, and write data‑driven stories, including visualizations, for wbez.org and other digital platforms.
Plan and identify strong data and graphics opportunities across the newsroom.
Review data, analyses, stories, visualizations, and graphics to ensure they uphold standards.
Other Responsibilities
Work with the product team to develop best practices for news application infrastructure.
Create tools and dashboards to make data and analyses more accessible to the newsroom.
Collaborate with newsroom colleagues to facilitate other uses of data visualization and graphics in storytelling (without needing to be the only person making charts!).
Participate in cross‑departmental product development work groups and brainstorming sessions, including collaborations with WBEZ.
Minimum Qualifications
At least 1 year of digital journalism experience in a deadline‑driven environment.
Proficiency in one or more of the following data‑management programming languages: SQL, Python, and/or R.
Proficiency in Excel, Google Sheets, and one or more of the following data visualization tools: Flourish, Google Data Studio, and/or Datawrapper.
Familiarity with modern mapping tools (Arc, QGIS, MapBox, Maps4News, etc.).
Content Management System (CMS) and digital media production skills.
Proficiency with current social media platforms, including but not limited to Instagram, Twitter, Facebook, and YouTube.
Demonstrated ability to produce high‑quality work in a collaborative environment.
Familiarity with AP style and journalistic standards for accuracy and fairness.
Experience organizing and focusing projects with multiple deadlines.
Preferred Qualifications
Familiarity with node.js, JavaScript, Knight Lab storytelling tools, and GitHub in collaboration with other journalists.
Familiarity with Chicago Sun‑Times content.
Knowledge of Chicago and the surrounding region.
Compensation
The expected pay range for this position is $61,000 to $85,000 per annum.
Equal Opportunity Statement
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.
#J-18808-Ljbffr