Summary of the Beat Reporter, Chicago Cubs job at Chicago Sun-Times

The Chicago Sun-Times is a distinctly Chicago news organization, with a laser focus on telling stories that matter to the working people of Chicago. We are seeking an experienced sports reporter to lead coverage of the Chicago White Sox. This role requires a journalist who can break news, deliver insightful analysis, cultivate sources throughout the organization, and connect with readers across multiple platforms. The successful candidate will be expected to travel with the team, produce enterprise reporting, and contribute to broader Sun-Times sports coverage when needed.

Responsibilities

• Provide factual, accurate, fair and balanced coverage of the White Sox organization —  including its players, front office and ownership, and Major League Baseball — plus be versatile enough to help out on our other major beats
• Break news, both on the Sox and MLB
• Write a mix of stories, including “instant gamers,” analysis stories, and longer human-interest features, including features for the Sun-Times’ innovative Sports Sunday edition
• Be the face of our White Sox coverage, both in print and online through podcasts and, in some cases, video reporting
• Work with the Sun-Times audience and visual teams to develop video, infographics, and other interactive elements that engage both digital and print readers — with some of these elements to be used to promote stories on social media
• Use social media to interact with fans, including during games, and to promote our work

Skills Required

• Experience covering a Major League Baseball beat for a daily news organization
• Write clearly on tight deadlines and thrive in breaking-news situations
• Produce multiple daily stories with multiple elements (text, photo, video)
• Team player with excellent news judgment
• Highly self-motivated and self-directed
• Commitment to work long hours, following the team at home and on the road — and during weekends and holidays
• Ability to travel nationally and internationally
• Proficient knowledge of social media, including Twitter, Facebook, Instagram and TikTok
• Professional working proficiency in Spanish preferred; ability to report and build sources in both English and Spanish is a plus.

Requirements

• Bachelor’s degree in journalism, communications, or related field
• Experience covering a Major League Baseball beat for a daily news organization is a must.
• Commitment to work long hours following the team at home and on the road — and during weekends and holidays
• Ability to travel nationally and to Canada
• Proficient knowledge of social media, including Twitter and Facebook

Education

Bachelor’s degree in journalism, communications, or related field preferred

Note:  All candidates must submit at least five samples of work along with a resume and cover letter.

Compensation

The expected pay range for this position is $61,953.84 to $72,153.12 per ANNUM.  Per the Guild contract for writers of major sports, you are also eligible for night differential pay of 10 percent of your base salary.

Chicago Public Media provides pay ranges representing its good faith estimate of what the organization reasonably expects to pay for a position.  The pay offered to a selected candidate will be determined based on factors such as (but not limited to the scope and responsibilities of the position, the qualifications of the selected candidate, departmental budget availability, internal equity, geographical location, and external market pay for comparable jobs.