Director of Communications

About Chicago Public Media

Chicago Public Media is one of the nation’s largest local nonprofit news organizations. Home to WBEZ 91.5FM, the Chicago Sun-Times, and Vocalo. Chicago Public Media reaches more than 3.3 million people weekly across broadcast, print, and digital platforms. As a mission-driven organization, we aspire to be the most trusted news source Chicagoans turn to for understanding the people, events, and ideas shaping our community.

Chicago Public Media is a 100% community-funded newsroom powered by nearly 97,000 members whose support makes our journalism possible. This sustained community investment helped drive nationally recognized work in 2025, including 29 awards from esteemed organizations, including the Public Media Journalists Association, the Edward R. Murrow Awards, and the National Association of Black Journalists.

We believe independent journalism is essential to a healthy democracy and that access to objective, fact-based news is a right for every citizen. We serve the public interest by creating diverse content that informs and enriches our community, supported by a dedicated staff of approximately 250 professionals.

For more information, please see the Chicago Public Media Annual Report .

The Opportunity

Chicago Public Media is seeking an experienced and strategic Director of Communications to lead external communications for our portfolio of trusted local media brands, including WBEZ, the Chicago Sun-Times, chicago.com, and Vocalo.

Reporting to the Vice President of Marketing & Communications, the Director of Communications will develop and execute a proactive communications strategy that advances the reputation, visibility, and influence of Chicago Public Media and its brands. Through earned media, executive communications, thought leadership, and strategic storytelling, this role will shape how the organization, its journalism, and its leaders are understood by audiences, partners, and stakeholders locally and nationally.

The Director of Communications is both a strategist and an executor. They will develop communications strategy while personally writing, pitching, and executing high-impact communications initiatives. They will cultivate relationships with journalists, position our reporters and leaders as trusted voices, and advise senior leadership on messaging and reputation. Working closely with colleagues across the organization, they will help ensure that Chicago Public Media tells a clear, compelling, and consistent story about its mission, journalism, and impact.

Responsibilities

Communications Strategy

Develop and execute a comprehensive external communications strategy that advances the reputation, visibility, and influence of Chicago Public Media and its portfolio of brands.

Partner with Marketing & Communications leadership to develop and maintain a clear, compelling, and consistent narrative across all external communications.

Develop communications strategies for major organizational initiatives, partnerships, fundraising campaigns, product launches, and other strategic priorities.

Establish goals, key performance indicators, and reporting to measure the effectiveness of communications efforts and continually refine strategy based on results.

Media Relations & Storytelling

Serve as the primary point of contact for media inquiries and cultivate strong relationships with local, national, and industry reporters, editors, producers, and influencers.

Lead proactive media outreach that elevates Chicago Public Media, its brands, its journalism, and its civic impact.

Identify and secure opportunities for Chicago Public Media journalists, editors, and executives to appear in broadcast, print, digital, podcast, and live media.

Write and distribute press releases, media advisories, statements, talking points, FAQs, and other external communications materials.

Monitor media coverage and identify opportunities to amplify organizational priorities, respond to emerging issues, and strengthen the organization's public profile.

Executive Communications & Thought Leadership

Partner with executive leadership to strengthen the organization's public profile through strategic communications and thought leadership.

Collaborate on developing speeches, talking points, opinion pieces, award nominations, executive messaging, and other communications materials as needed

Identify and secure speaking engagements, interviews, conferences, awards, and other opportunities that position organizational leaders as trusted voices on journalism, civic engagement, and the future of local media.

Prepare executives for media interviews and public appearances through message development and media coaching.

Reputation Management

Advise senior leadership on communications strategy and messaging during sensitive organizational issues.

Serve as the primary liaison to the organization's external crisis communications consultant, coordinating planning, messaging, and response efforts as needed.

Support communications planning and execution during high-profile or time-sensitive situations, ensuring alignment among leadership and external communications partners.

Consult on sensitive internal communications to help ensure alignment between internal and external messaging.

Cross-Functional Partnership

Partner closely with colleagues across marketing, editorial, development, legal, human resources, and executive leadership to ensure coordinated and effective communications.

Provide strategic communications counsel on messaging, positioning, and audience impact across the organization.

Represent communications in cross-functional planning for major organizational initiatives and announcements.

Qualifications

Exceptional writing, editing, and storytelling skills, with the ability to translate complex topics into clear, compelling communications for diverse audiences.

Demonstrated success securing earned media coverage and building strong relationships with journalists and media outlets.

Experience developing and executing communications strategies that strengthen organizational reputation and visibility.

Strong executive communications experience, including speechwriting, messaging, media preparation, and thought leadership.

Experience supporting organizations through high-profile or sensitive communications challenges.

Strong judgment, discretion, and the ability to manage multiple priorities in a fast-paced environment.

Highly collaborative, with the ability to build trusted relationships across departments and with senior leaders.

Passion for local journalism, civic engagement, and the mission of public service media.

Compensation

The expected pay range for this position is $104,000 to $130,000 per ANNUM.

Chicago Public Media provides pay ranges representing its good faith estimate of what the organization reasonably expects to pay for a position. The pay offered to a selected candidate will be determined based on factors such as (but not limited to the scope and responsibilities of the position, the qualifications of the selected candidate, departmental budget availability, internal equity, geographical location, and external market pay for comparable jobs.

Working at Chicago Public Media

At Chicago Public Media, we care deeply about our employees as we know attracting, developing, and growing talent is key to our success and enhancing our impact.

Our culture is one where collaboration, diversity of ideas, and innovation are encouraged. We value colleagues who will enhance our culture by bringing new ideas, divergent experiences, and talents to our dynamic workplace.

At Chicago Public Media we believe dedication to a great workplace includes supporting our employees and their families. As a result, we provide a broad and generous benefits package for employees at hire and in the years to come.

Our benefits include a competitive