Deputy Managing Editor, News — Lead Chicago Desk

National Association of Black Journalists (NABJ); Chicago (IL); On-site; USD 104,000 - 130,000; Full time

Job summary

Chicago Sun-Times is seeking a Deputy Managing Editor, News to guide daily coverage across digital, print, audio, social media and beyond. You will lead a diverse team of reporters and editors, shape enterprise coverage, and coordinate with desks, audience, visuals, and wire services.

The role emphasizes strong editorial leadership, collaboration in a union environment, and a commitment to inclusive, high-impact storytelling for the Chicago area.

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in journalism, communications, or a related major - or equivalent training.
• Minimum 10 years of experience in journalism with at least five years of experience managing reporters or editors.
• Excellent news judgment and a platform-agnostic storyteller with a track record identifying trends in new and innovative platforms to determine 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 journalism standards and ethics
• The desire and ability to work in a collaborative, union environment

Responsibilities

• Co-manage the News Desk operations Sunday-Thursday, including a Monday night shift.
• Collaborate on News Desk operations and oversight with the Managing Editor, News and the early shift Deputy Managing Editor, News.
• Run afternoon news budget meetings in the Managing Editor's absence.
• 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.
• 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 all platforms and ensure appropriate resources - including reporters, photographers, videographers and graphics team members - are assigned in a timely fashion to the biggest stories of the day, prioritizing based on our goals and staffing.
• Help guide our planned and evergreen coverage with News Desk leaders and enterprise editors to stay on top of stories across our various coverage areas.
• Work closely with our audio, 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 across platforms.
• Directly supervise assistant city editors and general assignment reporters, coaching them so they can do their best work, reach their goals and develop in their careers.
• Participate in creating a supportive culture, mentoring and training the team of reporters - including interns - with assistance from other news editors editors.
• Oversee News Desk scheduling of reporters and editors.
• Help improve the Sun-Times' editorial excellence, workplace culture and impact.
• Promote diversity, inclusion and equity

Skills

News judgment

Deadline writing

Line editing

Top editing

Headline writing

Ethics

Union collaboration

Platform-agnostic storytelling

Education

Bachelor's degree in journalism

Equivalent training

Job description

Chicago Sun-Times is seeking a Deputy Managing Editor, News to guide daily coverage across digital, print, audio, social media and beyond. You will lead a diverse team of reporters and editors, shape enterprise coverage, and coordinate with desks, audience, visuals, and wire services.

The role emphasizes strong editorial leadership, collaboration in a union environment, and a commitment to inclusive, high-impact storytelling for the Chicago area.