Creative Director

The Chicago Sun-Times is the hardest-working paper in America, covering the stories and issues that matter most to Chicagoans with depth, integrity, and grit. The newsroom has earned eight Pulitzer Prizes for its hard-hitting investigative reporting, in-depth political coverage, insightful sports analysis, entertainment reviews, and cultural commentary. An industry-leading innovator in local news, it has been recognized nationally for expanding digital and multimedia reporting platforms alongside its indomitable newspaper, the oldest continuously published daily in the city.

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 an Impact:

We seek an innovative leader who can lead the visual direction of the Chicago Sun-Times’ editorial products. This a unique opportunity to 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 membership model without a paywall.

We want our visual identity to reflect our new direction and showcase the work of our fantastic team of photographers, designers, and more. The ideal candidate will work with key stakeholders across the newsroom to evaluate, set and deliver our visual aesthetic and style across all our editorial platforms.

Core Duties:

• Set the strategy, goals, and objectives for our visual work, working with the Executive Editor and other stakeholders in the newsroom.
• Manage the visuals team and freelancers to create impactful visual journalism – photos, illustrations, interactives, and video – and meet newsroom goals.
• Create an effective and efficient workflow and processes to ensure our visual work is aligned with our editorial strategy and as impactful as possible.
• Grow collaboration and communication across the newsroom and with internal and external partners within Chicago Public Media.
• Elevate visual storytelling across the newsroom and website, newspaper, wire, social media, newsletters, and everywhere else our editorial brand is reflected.
• Help train the newsroom on visual best practices, image selection, visual tools, and other skills needed to enhance our visual storytelling and appearance.
• Liaise and collaborate with cross-functional teams across the Sun-Times and Chicago Public Media, including marketing, circulation, product, digital and revenue teams.
• As part of the editorial leadership team, help improve CST’s audience relationships, workplace culture, editorial excellence, and impact.
• Promote diversity, inclusion, and equity.

Requirements:

• Bachelor’s degree in journalism, communications, or related training.
• At least five years of newsroom experience, including people-management experience.
• Strong visual skills, including experience creating a visual identity.
• Strategic thinker and an excellent planner with solid project management and communication skills.
• Ability to react quickly in a deadline-driven environment.
• Ability to work collaboratively in a union environment.

What We Offer

• A competitive salary and benefits package includes medical, dental, vision, life insurance, disability coverage, retirement savings, an FSA, and commuter benefits plans.
• Opportunity to work within a collaborative team culture.
• A flexible work schedule.
• Opportunity to be part of an iconic brand and help build the future of local news.

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.

Chicago Sun-Times