The Chicago Council on Global Affairs is where your world and the world meet. The Council is a nonpartisan, non-profit organization that empowers more people to help shape our global future. We are launching an editorial startup team to connect with the next generation of changemakers who want to create a more open and promising world for all. By informing them, inspiring them, and involving them in world affairs, we will support an inclusive community of globally-conscious people who want to have a tangible impact. The Council celebrated its centennial anniversary in 2022. Do you want to help shape our next century?
The Role
The Chicago Council on Global Affairs is seeking a versatile video journalist to conceive and create daily social videos for the next generation of changemakers about what’s happening in the world and why it’s relevant to them.
The strongest candidates will love being on-camera, have an authentic and engaging presence, and a track record of reporting, producing and editing daily social-first videos that have connected with people on several platforms. The ideal candidate will also have some experience with longer-form videos that dive deep into explaining complex subjects.
This journalist will work with speed and accuracy to brainstorm ideas, collaborate on concept development, and report, produce and edit distinctive videos that grow our audience and reach on TikTok, Instagram, and YouTube. This job will be most meaningful to a creative thinker with a passion for experimentation and a drive for excellence, who believes in the power of stories to change the world.
You will be attuned to the most pressing global concerns and able to spot ways to provide authentic, platform-native video in response. Your work will help audiences explain the news to their friends, provide context in group chats, and actively engage in making the world more equitable.
This is a collaborative, hands-on team looking for an on-camera social video journalist who is impeccably accurate, relentlessly curious, and who understands how to connect consistently with viewers and interest them in the important global events of the day.
The position is a hybrid role and requires occasional in-person attendance at our Downtown Chicago location based on work activities and peak seasons. The position reports to the Supervising Producer.
Responsibilities
Responsibilities include, but are not limited to:
- Pitching, planning, producing, and editing video daily that is timely and relevant for TikTok, Instagram, YouTube, and other platforms while using best practices to optimize for reach and engagement.
- Writing accurate, compelling scripts.
- Working quickly and collaboratively to produce engaging, accurate video on daily deadlines.
- Using appropriate sound design as an aspect of compelling storytelling.
- Using data and analytics to help guide editorial and audience development.
- Taking a forward-looking, lab-like approach to testing new content and engagement ideas intended to build a diverse audience.
- Participating in the team’s diversity, equity, and inclusion strategies.
- Fostering cross-team collaborations in support of the Council’s digital transformation objectives and goals.
- Providing support for Council events (virtual, hybrid, or in-person), sometimes requiring early morning or evening hours. Examples may be production-related, registrations, ushering, greeting, monitoring social media channels, etc.
- Other duties as assigned.
Qualifications and Skills
- Bachelor’s degree or higher, is preferred
- At least 1-2 years of experience making great video that reaches a significant regional or national audience on a major social platform
- Professional experience on camera
- Sharp editorial instincts and skills, with a track record in pitching stories and reporting
- Proficiency with video editing and publishing software
- Comfort with sound design as an aspect of compelling storytelling
- Familiar with interpreting native social video analytics to adapt and improve audience engagement
- Collaborative, with proactive and inclusive interpersonal and communication skills
- Comfortable in the principles and practices of digital publishing
- Familiar with interpreting web analytics and common platforms (e.g., Google Analytics, Sprout Social, etc.) to adapt and improve audience engagement
- Collaborative, with proactive and inclusive interpersonal and communication skills
We are an equal opportunity employer and do not discriminate on the basis of actual or perceived race, color, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, ancestry, religion, age, handicap or disability, marital status, military service or veteran status, genetic information, or for any other reason prohibited by applicable law.
Our Commitment to Diversity, Equity & Inclusion
We are committed to weaving diversity, equity, and inclusion throughout the fabric of the Council, and we believe people — their identities, experiences, beliefs, knowledge, and ideas — are critical to our success and to global affairs. We will elevate diverse voices and identities and a full range of perspectives, advance equitable and inclusive access to exploring and shaping ideas, and ensure our organization reflects the diversity of Chicago, our nation, and the world.
To learn more, visit: https://www.thechicagocouncil.org/about-us/diversity-equity-and-inclusion-council
Vaccination Statement
For the safety and well-being of our staff, the Council requires that all prospective employees submit proof of an up-to-date COVID vaccination and booster record or seek a reasonable accommodation for a religious or medical reason prior to their first day of employment.