Business Journalist Job at Mainland in Chicago

Salary:

$55,000–$65,000 based on experience

Location:

Chicago, IL (In-Office)

Mainland is looking for an exceptional Staff Writer who loves finding great stories and telling them in a way people actually want to read. Every week, you’ll interview founders, franchisees, executives and industry leaders, then turn those conversations into compelling editorial content published across Mainland’s media network, including 1851 Franchise and our portfolio of publications.

This is not a marketing copywriter role. This is a journalism-first position for someone who is naturally curious, asks thoughtful questions, uncovers angles others miss and can produce polished stories with minimal editing.

If you’re looking for a place where writing is treated like a craft—not a commodity—you’ll fit in well.

Salary:

$55,000–$65,000 based on experience

Location:

Chicago, IL (In-Office)

Mainland is looking for an exceptional Staff Writer who loves finding great stories and telling them in a way people actually want to read. Every week, you’ll interview founders, franchisees, executives and industry leaders, then turn those conversations into compelling editorial content published across Mainland’s media network, including 1851 Franchise and our portfolio of publications.

This is not a marketing copywriter role. This is a journalism-first position for someone who is naturally curious, asks thoughtful questions, uncovers angles others miss and can produce polished stories with minimal editing.

If you’re looking for a place where writing is treated like a craft—not a commodity—you’ll fit in well.

What You’ll Do: Interview & Story Development

Conduct interviews with founders, executives, franchisees and business leaders

Research industries, brands and trends before every interview

Identify compelling story angles instead of simply reporting information

Build trust with interview subjects and make conversations engaging

Writing

Write feature stories, news articles, profiles, executive interviews and thought leadership

Produce clean first drafts that require minimal editing

Adapt your writing style across dozens of different brands

Meet aggressive deadlines while maintaining quality

Editorial Excellence

Maintain Mainland’s editorial standards across every story

Ensure every article is accurate, engaging and well sourced

Collaborate with editors to continually improve your work

Incorporate SEO best practices without sacrificing readability

Collaboration

Work closely with editors, account managers, PR and digital teams

Manage multiple assignments simultaneously

Communicate proactively about deadlines and project status

Accept feedback professionally and continuously improve

What Success Looks Like
Within your first 90 days, you will:

Consistently deliver articles on deadline

Conduct confident, engaging interviews

Produce stories requiring minimal editorial revisions

Demonstrate the ability to identify unique story angles

Become a trusted writer for multiple client accounts

What We’re Looking For

3–7+ years of journalism, editorial or professional writing experience

Excellent interviewing skills

Exceptional writing and editing ability

Strong curiosity and news judgment

Ability to manage multiple deadlines in a fast-paced environment

Experience writing business, franchise, entrepreneurial or B2B content is a plus

Comfortable learning AI tools to improve research and efficiency (not to replace original reporting)

Bachelor’s degree in Journalism, Communications, English or related field preferred

You’re the Right Fit If You…

Love interviewing people more than sitting behind a keyboard

Can take a 30‑minute conversation and find the one story worth telling

Hate clichés and generic business writing

Write quickly without sacrificing quality

Take pride in requiring very little editing

Care about deadlines as much as the quality of your work

Are naturally curious and ask better questions than everyone else

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