Newsletter & Notifications Editor

About Chicago Public Media

Chicago Public Media is home to WBEZ , Chicago’s NPR news source and one of the largest and most respected public media stations in the country, as well as urban alternative music station, Vocalo . The organization serves the community with fact-based, objective news and information. WBEZ’s award-winning journalists ask tough questions, dig deep for answers and expose truths that spark change and foster understanding. In addition to its local and national news programming, WBEZ Chicago is home to a growing portfolio of popular podcasts, including the “Making” series of Making Beyoncé, Making Obama and Making Oprah; an investigative podcast series, Motive; 16 Shots: A podcast about the fatal police shooting of Laquan McDonald; Nerdette; and Curious City. WBEZ Chicago has a legacy of innovation as the birthplace of nationally acclaimed programs such as This American Life and Wait Wait...Don’t Tell Me! and the ground-breaking podcast, Serial.

Chicago Public Media has recently acquired the Chicago Sun-Times, one of the Chicago’s two major daily newspapers and among the most storied dailies in the nation. With the Chicago Sun-Times and WBEZ, Chicago Public Media is now home to one of the largest teams of journalists of any local news organization in the nation. Under the banner of Chicago Public Media, WBEZ and the Chicago Sun-Times will reach more than 2 million people a week in the Chicago area across broadcast, print, and digital channels. Backed by a significant philanthropic commitment, Chicago Public Media plans to substantially increase its investment in local journalism by hiring additional reporters, producers and newsroom personnel in the months and years ahead.

The Opportunity

Chicago Public Media’s portfolio of email & notifications products — including WBEZ’s flagship afternoon newsletter Daily Rundown, Vocalo’s The Goods, Nerdette, and more — reach more than 400,000 subscribers. As our organization grows, we’re excited to explore new formats, topics, and opportunities to better connect with our audience. As the Newsletter & Notifications Editor, you’ll be focused on creating new products for the Chicagoland audience and beyond, as well as editing and improving our current portfolio. Using data, creativity, and impeccable news judgment, you’ll work with editorial and business-side colleagues to launch and support high-quality newsletters and notification products that further our mission to become the most essential and trusted news source in Chicago.

Responsibilities

• Oversee the development and implementation of our newsletter portfolio strategy across CPM, including collaborations with the Chicago Sun Times
• Identify new opportunities to integrate notifications, messaging, and other direct communication channels into an audience growth and engagement plan for CPM
• Work with journalists across the organization to identify opportunities that expand the reach and impact of their work through direct communication channels
• Provide editorial oversight, coaching and feedback to Chicago Public Media newsletter and notification writers
• Use analytics to track and improve the performance of your work, including the growth, engagement, and retention of the audience.
• Collaborate with colleagues on marketing, membership, and revenue teams to ensure that email & notification products support company revenue and audience growth targets.
• Supervise newsletter staff

Requirements

• You have experience growing and engaging an audience for a standalone newsletter or notification product.
• You’re a strong writer and editor, with experience working in a news environment.
• You should also have a knack for writing for the internet, from social media to headlines to the group chat.
• You have excellent news judgment, and a demonstrated grasp of journalistic values and ethics
• You have a track record of experimenting with new approaches and are eager to keep doing so. (You should also be able to explain what worked and what didn’t about things you’ve tried in the past.)
• You have a demonstrated focus on audience service and engagement, and have experience using audience research and feedback to inform your work
• You value the need to build respectful, trusted relationships with readers and understand the role of user data — how we collect it, how we use it, how we protect it — in furthering our work
• You keep your eye on the latest newsletter, notification, and platform trends and can identify ways they inform and inspire your work
• You should be familiar with at least some of the tools we use (or similar ones): Salesforce Marketing Cloud, Campaign Monitor, Hustle, Google Analytics, Firebase Cloud Messaging, Facebook Business Manager, and Salesforce CRM, among others.

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, ideas, and innovation are encouraged. We value colleagues who will enhance our culture by bringing new ideas, diverse experiences, and talents to our dynamic workplace.

Chicago Public Media’s dedication to promoting diversity and inclusion is reflective across our brands, WBEZ 91.5 FM and Vocalo 91.1 FM, in our staff and in our work. We are fully focused on equality of opportunity and believe deeply in diversity of race, gender, sexual orientation, religion, ethnicity, national origin, experience, and all other fascinating characteristics that make us different.

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 you at hire and in the years to come.

Our benefits include:

6 weeks fully paid family leave

High quality Medical, Dental, and Vision plans at an affordable cost

A 403(b)retirement plan with a company match

Generous paid time off, including starting with 3 weeks’ vacation and 4 personal days.

The essential functions described above are not all-inclusive and may change periodically to meet the needs of Chicago Public Media (CPM). The information contained in this job description is 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.

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.