The Chicago Sun-Times is the hardest-working paper in America, breaking the stories and covering the issues that matter most to Chicagoans with depth, integrity and grit. The newsroom has earned eight Pulitzer Prizes for its hard-hitting investigations, feature reporting, photography, criticism and editorial cartoons. An industry-leading innovator in local news, it has been recognized nationally for news coverage, investigations and feature reporting and for expanding digital and multimedia reporting platforms alongside its indomitable newspaper.

In January 2022, the Sun-Times merged with public radio station WBEZ, with a shared mission to strengthen local journalism in Chicago. Under the banner of Chicago Public Media, Chicago Sun-Times Media, Inc. (CSTM) is now part of one of the largest nonprofit news organizations in the nation. This merger reinforces our commitment to serving Chicagoans with the news that matters most -– fact-based, unbiased journalism deeply connected to Chicago communities.

An opportunity to make a big impact

The Sun-Times is looking for an innovative leader ready to help guide daily – and hourly – news coverage in one of America's most exciting and diverse metropolitan areas. We're seeking a Deputy Managing Editor, News, to help guide an ambitious and talented news team of general assignment reporters and assistant editors to produce important, interesting and useful stories that help Chicago area residents participate in, and make the most of, our community. The successful candidate will be energized by a broad mix of breaking and trending news coverage; able to inspire a team to create daily stories that serve, grow and engage our audiences digitally, in print, on social media and beyond; a creative storyteller comfortable working in multiple formats; a superlative and intentional communicator; and an enthusiastic collaborator who is adept at working closely with enterprise/topic desks, audience, visuals and print production teams. Working closely with the Managing Editor, News, you will direct and help shape impactful coverage on an hour-by-hour basis across digital, print and wire editions that will keep our audiences coming back again and again. 

• Bachelor's degree in journalism, communications, or a related major – or equivalent training
• Minimum ten years of experience in journalism with at least five years of experience managing reporters or editors
• Excellent news judgment – and a track record of audience awareness – to identify the most important, impactful and interesting stories in the Chicago area – and what to skip
•  Stellar breaking news and deadline writing skills
• Strong line-editing and top-editing skills with the ability to turn stories into gold 
• Excellent headline writing and packaging skills
• A clear understanding of up-to-date journalism standards and ethics 
• The desire and ability to work in a collaborative, union environment

Primary Duties

• Manage the day-to-day, hour-by-hour operations of the daily news desk 

• Coordinate with daily news editors to ensure copy is edited in a timely fashion with strong attention to accuracy, tight writing, breaking news deadlines and best practices for internet and print

• Collaborate with enterprise desk editors to add deeper reporting or background on the day’s news and to coordinate  and prioritize daily coverage from beat reporters

• Oversee the daily story budget and identify top story lines for emphasis on the website and the newspaper’s front page. Make sure appropriate resources – including reporters, photographers, videographers and graphics – are assigned in a timely fashion to the biggest stories of the day, prioritizing based on our goals and staffing

• Work closely with our audience and visual teams to make sure news stories are conceived of and presented in ways that ensure our stories reach, engage and serve as many readers as possible

• Create stories and other assets that serve Sun-Times wire clients, ensuring their needs are met 

• Participate in creating a supportive culture, mentoring and training the team of reporters – including interns – with assistance from other news editors editors

• Supervise assistant city editors producing Sun-Times’ daily news coverage, coaching them so they can do their best work, reach their goals and develop in their careers

• Help improve the Sun-Times’ editorial excellence, workplace culture and impact. 

• Promote diversity, inclusion and equity.

What We Offer

• A competitive salary and benefits package which includes medical, dental, vision, life insurance, a 401(k) match, disability coverage, retirement savings, FSA plan, including a commuter benefits plan
• Opportunity to work within a collaborative team culture
• A flexible work scheduleOpportunity to be part of an iconic brand
• The chance to be part of an iconic and trusted brand and help build the future of local news. This is a unique opportunity to help lead an influential local news outlet in an innovative, exciting market at a time when the Sun-Times has joined Chicago Public Media, become a nonprofit, and adopted a community-supported model without a paywall.

The information contained in this job description is not intended to create any contractual or other legal commitment. CSTM may change the content or format of this job at any time at its sole and exclusive discretion without notice. This role does not offer sponsorship employment benefits.

CSTM does not discriminate in its employment decisions based on race, ethnicity, gender, sexual orientation, religion, age, disability, citizenship or national origin, veteran status, or on any other basis which would violate any applicable federal, state or local law.