News Editor

Date Posted	September 26, 2024
Industry	Digital Media
Specialty	Local News
Telecommute?	Hybrid
Job Status	Not Specified
Salary	Range starts at $80,000

Description:

Block Club Chicago is look for a News Editor with a passion for community journalism.

Block Club Chicago, a nonprofit news organization focused on Chicago’s diverse neighborhoods, is looking for a full-time News Editor to help guide reporters in their coverage of Chicago’s neighborhoods. 

We’re looking for an editor who understands what Chicagoans care about, from the big (DNC coming to town) to the small (a beloved neighborhood business closing). This person must be quick at spotting stories of importance to Block Club’s audience and working with reporters to ensure stories are accurate, interesting and filed in a timely fashion. 

The News Editor would supervise a group of reporters and be willing to jump into action in breaking news situations. For this specific role, you’ll be expected to work a midday shift, from noon-8 p.m. 

The perfect candidate for this position can assign, edit and even write breaking news stories speedily and with a sharp eye for accuracy and fairness. 

Applicants must be comfortable supervising a group of reporters and freelancers, line editing and helping reporters find sources and make their stories better. They will work with Block Club’s leadership team to ensure we’re providing interesting, relevant and impactful coverage of Chicago’s neighborhoods. 

Block Club Chicago is committed to providing coverage that reflects the communities we cover. We believe a diverse newsroom is essential to achieving that goal. 

We strongly encourage people of color, women, LGBTQ+ people and those who are members of other marginalized communities to apply. 

The Skills

You’re right for the job if: 

You have a proven track record of conceiving, assigning, developing and editing engaging stories for a daily news organization. 

You have experience managing a remote team and can enthusiastically mentor reporters and freelancers in a collaborative work environment.

You have strong news judgment, writing and copy-editing skills. You are familiar with AP style. 

You have experience with breaking news, can write speedily and have a sharp eye for accuracy and fairness. 

You know Chicago, its neighborhoods and what matters to its people. 

You are passionate about local news, the impact it can have on a community and Block Club’s mission. 

The Perks

Salary: Commensurate with experience, range starts at $80,000

Full benefits (medical, dental, vision), 401K match

4 weeks paid vacation (after 90-day probationary period), paid holidays, paid sick and new parent leave

Supportive, scrappy, tight-knit editorial staff

Requirements 

This position is based in Chicago and requires the person to live in the Chicago area.

This is a work-from-home/office hybrid role, but the editor should expect several days per month of in-person work at our Downtown office to work alongside and collaborate with colleagues.

A commitment to diversity, equity and inclusion is required. Block Club Chicago is committed to providing coverage that reflects the communities we cover. We believe a diverse newsroom is essential to achieving that goal. We strongly encourage people of all ages, disability status, economic circumstance, ethnicities, genders, races, religions and sexual orientations to apply for this position.

How to Apply

Send us an email telling us why you’re best positioned for this job along with your resume, examples of coverage you’ve led and three references to jobs (at) blockclubchi (dot) org. Put “News Editor Position” in the subject line, please. 

Deadline to apply: Oct. 12, 2024

About Block Club 

Block Club Chicago is a nonprofit, reader-funded newsroom dedicated to delivering reliable, nonpartisan and essential coverage of Chicago’s diverse neighborhoods.

Our newsroom was founded in 2018 by former DNAinfo Chicago editors and reporters after the award-winning site abruptly shuttered. We decided to call ourselves Block Club because we felt it reflected our mission: to build community through truly ground-level reporting of the city’s neighborhoods.

In just four years, Block Club has transformed from scrappy startup to one of the most-read news organizations in Chicago by being responsive to the city’s neighborhoods. Our team of 24 full-time journalists publish more than a dozen stories daily from every corner of the city and inform Chicagoans through our neighborhood newsletters, “It’s All Good” podcast, “On The Block” TV show and free, bilingual COVID-19 hotline.

Block Club has been named Editor & Publisher’s Best News Site, LION Publishers’ Publisher of the Year and INN’s Community Champion of the Year.