The South Side Weekly is seeking a co-editor to help oversee its education section.
The education editors oversee the South Side Weekly’s coverage of the vast range of issues pertaining to education on the South Side, including but not limited to topics like Chicago Public Schools, access to learning opportunities, student activism, school openings and closings, and racial and economic justice in the classroom. The education section also covers issues affecting youth generally, and should seek to feature youth voices in our coverage.
A candidate for education editor should know a good deal about education in Chicago and on the South Side, and preferably have some experience writing about it, though not necessarily for the Weekly. Candidates with a personal or professional connection to Chicago schools—including but not limited to current/former students, teachers, and parents—are especially encouraged to apply.
The day-to-day responsibilities include pitching articles every week; editing articles within the education section; dedicating part of Monday night to the production of the next week’s issue. More generally, this editor will work together with current education editor Rachel Kim to cultivate useful sources and contacts, and thinks about how to improve the section in the long-term.
Depending on the number of articles coming in any given week, the time commitment—which includes Monday production nights and occasional workshops or meetings on Thursdays—will generally range from 7–12 hours. Production nights and workshops take place in our office at the Experimental Station in Woodlawn (6100 S. Blackstone Avenue).
About the Weekly: Our editorial staff and contributor base are made up entirely of volunteers, including this position. The Weekly aims to tell stories for, by, and about residents of the South Side. We seek to promote marginalized voices and encourage applications from women, queer people, and people of color.
To apply:
- Write 2-3 paragraphs on why you would be a good fit for this position. If relevant, list previous experiences with writing, editing, and/or Chicago schools; explain how these experiences shape your work.
- Tell us about your connection to the South Side—what neighborhood do you consider yourself a part of, and how long have you been there? What can news outlets like the Weekly do to better cover your community?
Send in 1-2 pitches for specific stories or projects you think the Weekly should cover.
Send applications to editor@southsideweekly.com with “Education Editor Application” in the subject line.