Chicago public media

Beat Reporter, Chicago Cubs

Chicago, IL (Hybrid workplace) Full Time

About Chicago Public Media

Chicago Public Media is one of the nation’s largest local nonprofit news organizations. Home to WBEZ 91.5FM, the Chicago Sun-Times, and Vocalo. Chicago Public Media reaches more than 3.3 million people weekly across broadcast, print, and digital platforms. As a mission-driven organization, we aspire to be the most trusted news source Chicagoans turn to for understanding the people, events, and ideas shaping our community.

Chicago Public Media is a 100% community-funded newsroom powered by nearly 97,000 members whose support makes our journalism possible. This sustained community investment helped drive nationally recognized work in 2025, including 29 awards from esteemed organizations, including the Public Media Journalists Association, the Edward R. Murrow Awards, and the National Association of Black Journalists.

We believe independent journalism is essential to a healthy democracy and that access to objective, fact-based news is a right for every citizen. We serve the public interest by creating diverse content that informs and enriches our community, supported by a dedicated staff of approximately 250 professionals.

For more information, please see the Chicago Public Media Annual Report.

 

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 beat writer to cover the Chicago Cubs — a job that will require the successful candidate to break news, get the behind-the-scenes story, effectively use social media, embrace multiplatform reporting, and travel with the team.


Responsibilities

  • Provide factual, accurate, fair and balanced coverage of the Cubs organization, including its players, front office and ownership, and Major League Baseball
  • Break news, both on the Cubs 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 Saturday edition
  • Be the face of our Cubs 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 one’s work

 

Skills Required

  • 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

 

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

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

 

Working at Chicago Public Media

At Chicago Public Media, we care deeply about our employees as we know attracting, developing, and growing talent is key to our success and enhancing our impact.  

Our culture is one where collaboration, diversity of ideas, and innovation are encouraged.  We value colleagues who will enhance our culture by bringing new ideas, divergent experiences, and talents to our dynamic workplace.

At Chicago Public Media we believe dedication to a great workplace includes supporting our employees and their families. As a result, we provide a broad and generous benefits package for employees at hire and in the years to come.

Our benefits include a competitive salary and benefits package which includes medical, dental, vision, vacation, holidays, life insurance, disability coverage, retirement savings, and a commuter benefits plan.

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.