Job Description

NBCChicago.com is looking for an exceptional, driven digital news writer and multi-platform content creator with experience covering news for a newspaper or website. Our candidate must be an extremely effective multitasker with top-notch local news judgment, a proven track-record of both breaking news and in-depth writing, and incredible understanding of SEO and audience development with their finger on the pulse of what people are talking about. This person works equally well solo as in a collaborative, team-focused environment. They must be adaptable and willing to quickly learn ever-changing audiences across our website, app and social channels, always looking for opportunities for growth. They must have a “yes-and” approach to brainstorming, collaborating and learning.

Job Duties:

• Cover Chicago-area and Midwest news across platforms for NBC Chicago -- web, app, social media, push alerts, video and streaming
• Report stories from the digital desk, especially in breaking news. Candidate must feel comfortable gathering news by making phone calls, verifying content on social media and working with reporters in the field.
• Understand SEO, have experience using Google Trends and know how to apply audience learnings to content
• Send push alerts, post to social media, clip video and work sources in breaking news
• Drive audience to ensure our platforms are No. 1
• Understand NBC 5 and Telemundo Chicago's audience needs by platform (website/app, TV, FAST channel, social media, YouTube, etc.) and how to break news on each.
• Effectively read audience trends, recognize the trends that most impact our audience and use them to create outstanding content.
• Produce content across multiple platforms by collaborating with our assignment desk, reporters, news staff and independent sources
• Quickly learn the audience by platform and write and distribute content based on it
• Identify buzz-worthy stories of the day and engage our local audience across multiple platforms
• Create multimedia content to enhance daily news coverage (i.e. video, live streams, slideshows)
• Execute all publishing workflows for video, images and text
• Adhere to AP Style, editorial style guides, standards and practices
• Coordinate with news producers to cross-promote on-air and online content
• Be an advocate for audience in the newsroom and beyond

Qualifications

• Must be able to write AP Style news
• Must have experience in a newsroom for a minimum of 1.5 years
• Must be a skilled writer with outstanding communication skills
• Must be able to work weekends and evenings and have flexibility to cover shifts as need
• Must have working knowledge of Google Trends and SEO
• Must have experience covering news on social media platforms (including, but not limited to Facebook, Instagram, TikTok, YouTube and more)
• Must have experience working in a fast-paced content production environment with tight deadlines, "yes-and" collaboration and extreme multi-tasking

Eligibility Requirements:

• Must be willing to work in Chicago, IL
• Must have unrestricted work authorization to work in the United States
• Must be at least 18 years of age
• Must submit a resume/CV through www.nbcunicareers.com to be considered a candidate for this position
• Hybrid : This position has been designated as hybrid, generally contributing from the office a minimum of three days per week.

Desired Characteristics:

• Writing in both Spanish and English
• Working knowledge of content management and video editing tools
• Writing experience for a newspaper or news website for a minimum of a year
• In-depth knowledge of Chicago-area news and politics
• Wire service, newspaper rewrite or digital news background
• Experience with social media, editing video and creating slideshows
• Desire to work in a creative, demanding, competitive environment
• Excellent editing, writing and management skills, as well as experience in telling stories through videos, photos and multimedia packages

Additional information: This position is eligible for company sponsored benefits, including medical, dental and vision insurance, 401(k), paid leave, tuition reimbursement, and a variety of other discounts and perks. Learn more about the benefits offered by NBCUniversal by visiting the Benefits page of the Careers website.

Salary Range: $65,000 - $80,000

Additional Information

As part of our selection process, external candidates may be required to attend an in-person interview with an NBCUniversal employee at one of our locations prior to a hiring decision. NBCUniversal's policy is to provide equal employment opportunities to all applicants and employees without regard to race, color, religion, creed, gender, gender identity or expression, age, national origin or ancestry, citizenship, disability, sexual orientation, marital status, pregnancy, veteran status, membership in the uniformed services, genetic information, or any other basis protected by applicable law.

If you are a qualified individual with a disability or a disabled veteran and require support throughout the application and/or recruitment process as a result of your disability, you have the right to request a reasonable accommodation. You can submit your request to AccessibilitySupport@nbcuni.com.