The Chicago Reporter

The Community Renewal Society seeks an Editor &Publisher for its award-winning investigative news organization, The Chicago Reporter.

The Chicago Reporter

The Reporter is a non-profit, independent news organization that examines issues in metropolitan Chicago with a focus on race and poverty. It deploys investigative and computer-assisted reporting, data analysis and a distinctive focus on the poor and communities of color to produce groundbreaking, high-impact journalism.

The Reporter’s investigations have pushed elected officials, policy experts, civic leaders and community organizers to enact laws, file lawsuits, and change practices to address racial disparities and other social ills. Since 1972, the Reporter has thrived as a trusted news source in Chicago and nationwide.

The multi-platform news operation publishes a bimonthly magazine, web site and the “Chicago Muckrakers” blog.  As the journalism industry embraces digital publishing and innovative and sustainable nonprofit news models, the Reporter is positioned to capitalize on this trend. 

The Reporter publishes daily across multiple platforms—web, radio, print and television—via a cadre of 10 media partners. These partnerships transmit the Reporter’s work to an estimated audience of 1 million.  Its staff includes 5 full-time journalists; a 4-member, part-time web staff; 2 photographers and multiple interns.

The Reporter is a widely-recognized journalism training ground; hundreds of its talented alumni have moved on to The Washington Post, The New York Times, the Chicago Sun-Times, Mother Jones and Ebony magazines, CBS, ABC, and NBC, among other top-tier news outlets.    

Community Renewal Society

The Community Renewal Society (CRS) has published and provided support for The Chicago Reporter since 1972.  CRS is a progressive, faith-based organization that works to eliminate race and class barriers.  Founded in 1882, it informs, organizes and trains communities and individuals to advocate for social and economic justice. 

CRS publishes another independent news magazine,Catalyst Chicago, created in 1990 to document, analyze and support school-improvement efforts in the Chicago Public Schools.

The Opportunity

This opening is a unique opportunity for a talented journalist and newsroom leader to make a mark in Chicago and nationwide, at a pivotal time in the news industry. The next Editor  & Publisher of The Chicago Reporter will be positioned to capitalize on the Reporter’s strong brand by reviewing and restructuring its operations, in order to grow its profile, output and revenues.   

The Reporter is poised to expand its local and national bandwidth and generate new revenue beyond its traditional support from foundation, corporate and individual donors. 

The Editor & Publisher will be charged with ramping up the Reporter’s Digital Plan, and leveraging its partnerships and assets to revamp and reframe its operational, fundraising and publishing operation. 

The ideal candidate will be:

• A visionary innovator with entrepreneurial drive. Someone who can leverage the Reporter’s partnerships and external allies to monetize its brand and build new audiences. 
• A savvy team builder who can inspire and lead a first-rate reporting staff to inform a cutting-edge strategy that will revamp and reposition the Reporter for the digital age.    
• An experienced journalist with strong reporting, editing and digital innovation skills; demonstrated leadership and management skills; and a passion for issues of race and poverty. 
• A seasoned pro who will bring integrity and gravitas and will be committed to maintaining the Reporter’s editorial independence. 

The candidate must have demonstrated capabilities and experience in:

Journalism:  A minimum of 10 years’ experience in journalism.  Experience using data, documents and sources to produce original, impactful reporting.  Demonstrated interest in and passion for investigative reporting, as well as issues of race and poverty.   

Leadership: A newsroom leader who can inspire and motivate a talented staff in a collaborative newsroom.  Able to provide thoughtful, broad guidance to editors, reporters, designers, photographers and interns. An individual who will lead strategic thinking and action that moves the Reporter to innovative journalistic practice and platforms.  

Digital:  Has experience living and working in a digital world.  Knows how to harness print and web platforms to tell stories, disseminate content, and engage audiences.  Able to bridge and eliminate the divide between the Reporter’s traditional and online platforms, while keeping both platforms relevant and appealing to news consumers.

Special consideration will also go to candidates who offer:

Chicago:  Knowledge of Chicago, its neighborhoods, issues, history, politics and racial dynamics. 

Communication:  Excellent communication and public speaking skills.  Comfort with speaking before audiences of all sizes and demographics, and able to appear on a range of media outlets.

Fundraising:  Knowledge of and comfort with a variety of fundraising techniques and standards.  Experience marketing a non-profit organization to its stakeholders, including civic and community leaders, donors, investors, and readers.

Minimum requirement: Bachelor’s degree; Master’s degree preferred.  

Duties and Responsibilities

The Editor & Publisher is responsible for all editorial, administrative and fiscal operations of The Chicago Reporter and its related projects and subsidiaries.

• Develop the editorial vision and direction for The Chicago Reporter platform.  Provide day-to-day oversight of the publication’s senior editors, as well as “big-picture” leadership of overall editorial operations.    
• Recruit, hire and supervise the Reporter’s senior leadership.  Consult with senior leadership and sign off on all staff hiring.
• Recruit, hire and supervise all staff and contractors for projects related to the business side of the operation (i.e. printing, advertising, circulation, strategic planning, etc.).
• Plan and administer the Reporter’s annual budget.
• Recruit and administer the Reporter’s editorial board.
• Serve as chief spokesperson for the Reporter to the media, civic and community leaders, donors and the general public.  Promote the Reporter through a variety of media, including public speaking, community outreach, TV, and radio.
• With assistance from the CRS Development Office, lead and execute all fundraising and other revenue-building activities for the Reporter. Identify and solicit the publication’s funding sources; make contact with and report to current and potential funders; and plan/monitor short-term and long-term fundraising and other revenue-related activities.
• Work with CRS’s other editorial, marketing, development and programmatic units in ways that will ensure the Reporter’s work enjoys maximum visibility, impact and influence.
• Report to the CRS Executive Director and serve as a member of the organization’s senior staff. 

Salary and benefits commensurate with experience. Flexible hours, excellent benefits.    

Applicants should submit a resume, cover letter and 3 writing/editing samples that demonstrate his/her reporting or editing skills, as well as  interest in investigative reporting and issues of race and poverty. 

Application deadline:  March 8, 2013, 5:00 pm Central Time   

Applications should be sent to:  search@chicagoreporter.com.  No phone inquiries, please.

CRS is an equal opportunity employer.

More information about The Chicago Reporter and the Community Renewal Society can be found at www.chicagoreporter.comand www.communityrenewalsociety.org