The South Side Weekly is seeking a co-editor to help oversee its music section.

The Weekly occupies a unique position in Chicago’s media landscape—a longform weekly publication writing in-depth about stories and people who often don’t get more than a small blurb elsewhere. As a result, voices that are marginalized in some way will almost without fail be the focus of Weekly music pieces. The music editor should balance the commitment to talking about the people who are making music—in context with the world around them—and a similar commitment to talking about the music itself.

A candidate for music editor should know a good deal about music in Chicago and on the South Side, and preferably have some experience writing about it, though not necessarily for the Weekly.

The day-to-day responsibilities include pitching articles every week; editing articles within the music section; dedicating part of Monday night to the production of the next week’s issue; and developing the weekly music calendar. More generally, the two music co-editors will work 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 per week. 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:

  1. 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 music.
  2. 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 specific pitches for stories or projects you think the Weekly should cover.

Send applications to editor@southsideweekly.com with “Music Editor Application” in the subject line.