Editor in Chief (Chicago Reader) Job at The Portland Mercury in Chicago

Job description

Overview
Title: Editor in Chief
Division: Chicago Reader
Independent journalism is the lifeblood of the Chicago Reader.

That work has never been more important as legacy media brands become increasingly captured by special interests and our democracy, sense of community, and collective joy diminish.

The Reader needs a new Editor in Chief who can meet this moment and lead the publication into its next chapter with a renewed focus on arts, culture, civic life, politics and news, ambitious feature and investigative reporting, and more.
This position will lead the editorial department of the 54-year-old Reader.

That department has guided the paper to award-winning recognition, raised the profile of countless local artists, and taught tens of thousands of newcomers to the city how to be Chicagoans.
The Editor in Chief is responsible for the editorial vision, strategy, and overall success of the paper.

An ideal candidate will be a forward-thinking leader with deep experience in arts and culture coverage, familiarity with a variety of storytelling formats, devotion to the highest ethical standards of journalistic integrity, and a creative approach to finding stories that might otherwise be missed.
The Reader is a storied publication that is poised for an exciting and ambitious new chapter under Noisy Creek.

Noisy Creek is a growing network of alternative weekly publications, including the Seattle-based Stranger and the Portland Mercury.
This is a hybrid position, and the Editor in Chief must be able to attend regular meetings in the Reader’s current Bronzeville office or a future location in Chicago.

The Editor in Chief will periodically need to be available to attend virtual meetings in Pacific Time.
Candidates should include a cover letter articulating a brief vision for the next era of the Reader.
Responsibilities
Lead a team that produces multiformat reporting, including explanatory long-form journalism, social media posts, collaborations with the Art Department, short news pieces, and deep dives into arts and culture
Help editorial team members develop their beats and stories
Develop and uphold a strong workplace culture with empathetic leadership, high journalistic integrity, and a commitment to engaging the Reader Union
Edit columns and features for both the website and the print paper, overseeing fact-checking, spelling, grammar, writing style, page design, and photo selection
Hit production deadlines and goals for both print and digital formats
Collaborate with sales and marketing leads to identify opportunities and plan special issues
Qualifications
Essential qualifications:
7+ years of journalism experience
Strong news judgment and storytelling ability
Experience working with and managing multidisciplinary teams and fostering collaborations among reporters, the Art Department, and other team members
Demonstrated experience shaping a wide variety of stories
Demonstrated experience coaching other journalists to increase their technical and journalistic skills
Preferred qualifications:
3+ years of experience as an editor and manager
Deep experience covering arts and culture, and writing long-form journalism
Experience working with a variety of story formats and harnessing new technologies to tell stories in new ways
Ability to manage budgets
Job Details
Job Type: This is a full-time, exempt, non-union position.
Reports to: Interim Publisher
Direct Reports: Section Editors (e.g., News Editor, Music Editor), Managing Editor, Senior Graphic Designer
Salary: $125,000 to $150,000
Benefits
Health Insurance: Employer contributes toward medical, dental, and vision premiums
Retirement Plan: SIMPLE IRA with employer-matching contributions
Paid Time Off: Twelve company-paid holidays, the business days between Christmas Day and New Year’s Day, and one day off for a birthday (on the day of, or during the month), plus accrued vacation time
Employee Assistance Program: Access to wellness and financial support services
Equal Opportunity Employer
Diverse candidates are strongly encouraged to apply.

We realize that not everyone receives the same professional or educational opportunities, so if you don’t meet all the above qualifications but still think you’d be a good fit, please consider applying.

All applicants will be considered for employment without attention to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, veteran, or disability status.

If you want to be part of a team where your skills and ideas are valued, we want to hear from you! The Reader is committed to creating a collaborative environment that celebrates the diversity of our staff.
About Noisy Creek
As of August 2025, the Chicago Reader has joined Noisy Creek — a fast-growing media company that supports local journalism with unique and diverse revenue streams.

With the support of Noisy Creek, the Reader is poised for its next chapter of impact and growth.

As Editor in Chief, you’ll lead this legacy publication into the future, ensuring it continues to thrive as both a cultural touchstone and a driver of civic discourse.
Application Deadline
Priority deadline for applications: September 30, 2025
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In Summary: The Editor in Chief is responsible for the editorial vision, strategy, and overall success of the paper .

An ideal candidate will be a forward-thinking leader with deep experience in arts and culture coverage .

The position is a full-time, exempt, non-union position .
En Español: Título de Resumen: Editor en la División Jefe: Chicago Reader Periodismo independiente es el alma del lector de Chicago.

Ese trabajo nunca ha sido más importante ya que las marcas mediáticas heredadas se capturan cada vez más por intereses especiales y nuestra democracia, sentido de comunidad y alegría colectiva disminuyen.

El lector necesita un nuevo editor en jefe que pueda cumplir este momento y liderar la publicación a su próximo capítulo con un enfoque renovado en artes, cultura, vida cívica, política y noticias, característica ambiciosa e informes investigativos, etc.

Esta posición encabezará al departamento editorial del 54-year-old lector.

ese departamento ha guiado al periódico hacia el reconocimiento galardonado, el perfil de innumerables artistas locales, y decenas de miles de recién llegados a la ciudad cómo ser los ciudadanos de Chicago .

Este es un puesto híbrido, y el Editor en Jefe debe poder asistir a reuniones regulares en la oficina actual de Bronzeville del Lector o una ubicación futura en Chicago.

Responsabilidades Dirigir un equipo que produce informes multiformáticos, incluyendo periodismo explicativo de larga duración, publicaciones en redes sociales, colaboraciones con el Departamento de Arte, piezas de noticias cortas y inmersiones profundas en las artes y la cultura Ayudar a los miembros del equipo editorial a desarrollar sus ritmos e historias Desarrollar y mantener una fuerte cultura laboral con liderazgo empático, alta integridad periodística y un compromiso para involucrar al Sindicato Lector Editar columnas y características tanto para el sitio web como para el papel impreso, supervisando la comprobación de hechos, ortografía, gramática, estilo de escritura, diseño de páginas y selección de fotografías Llegar a plazos y objetivos de producción tanto para formatos digitales como de impresión Colaborar con ventas y marketing conduce a identificar oportunidades y problemas especiales Qualificaciones Principales calificaciones: 7 años de experiencia en periodismo Experiencia en gestión de noticias fuertes y contar historias Prefiere ejercer competencias generalizadas Jornalistas con equipos multidisciplinares y fomentar la capacidad de redacción de cuentos y otras formas de trabajo.

Informes a: Periodic Publisher Direct Reports: Section Editors (por ejemplo, Editor de Noticias, Editor Musical), Managing Editor, Senior Graphic Designer Salario: $125,000 a $150,000 Benefits Health Insurance: Empleador contribuye hacia las primas médicas, dentales y visuales Plan de jubilación: SIMPLE IRA con cotizaciones correspondientes al empleador Payed Time Off: Doce días festivos pagados por la empresa, los días laborables entre Navidad y Año Nuevo, y un día libre para un cumpleaños (el día del Reader o durante el mes), más tiempo acumulado de vacaciones Programa de Asistencia al Empleado: Acceso a servicios de bienestar y apoyo financiero Igualdad de Oportunidades Los candidatos se animan fuertemente a solicitar.

¡Nos damos cuenta que no todos reciben las mismas oportunidades profesionales o educativas rápidas, así que si usted no quiere cumplir todas las calificaciones locales pero todavía piensa en ser una parte de nuestro equipo de trabajo sin crecimiento sexual, ¿Cuál es su condición?

Con el apoyo de Noisy Creek, el Lector está listo para su próximo capítulo de impacto y crecimiento.

Como Editor en Jefe, usted liderará esta publicación heredada hacia el futuro, asegurando que continúe prosperando tanto como una piedra angular cultural como un motor del discurso cívico.

Required Skill Profession

Media And Communication Workers