About Chicago Public Media

Home to WBEZ and the Chicago Sun-Times, Chicago Public Media is the largest local non-profit news organization in the country. WBEZ and the Chicago Sun-Times serve more than 2 million people weekly across broadcast, print, and digital platforms. As a mission-driven organization, we aspire to become the essential and most trusted news source that Chicago turns to each day for understanding the people, events, and ideas that shape our community.

WBEZ is home to local and national news programming as well as a growing portfolio of popular podcasts. WBEZ serves the community with fact-based, objective news and information, and its award-winning journalists ask tough questions, dig deep for answers and expose truths that spark change and foster understanding. WBEZ is supported by more than 86,000 members, hundreds of corporate sponsors and major donors. In 2022, WBEZ received more than 20 awards for its journalism, including two prestigious National Edward R. Murrow Awards.

Chicago Sun-Times is Chicago’s oldest continuously published daily newspaper serving Chicago and is known for its hard-hitting investigative reporting, in-depth political coverage, timely behind-the-scenes sports analysis, and insightful entertainment and cultural coverage. Chicago Sun-Times is the winner of eight Pulitzer Prizes and countless other awards.  In recent years, the Sun-Times has focused on a digital transformation to deliver its news and content to a growing digital audience. Most recently, the Sun-Times dropped the paywall on suntimes.com to expand access to its journalism, and shifted to a community-funded digital membership program supported by voluntary member donations. 

Chicago Public Media believes independent journalism is essential to a well-functioning democracy and access to fact-based, objective news and information is a right of every citizen. We serve the public interest by creating diverse, compelling content that informs, inspires, and enriches. We connect diverse audiences and help them make a difference in the community, the region and the world.  And, we employ 300+ staff who want to belong to an organization that inspires, supports, and challenges them to do their best work.

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

Job Summary

Chicago Public Media (CPM), home to WBEZ and the Chicago Sun-Times, is looking for a mission-driven AI Engineer to join our team as part of a two-year fellowship funded by the Lenfest Institute. This fellowship is ideal for a professional ready to act as both a hands-on expert and a mentor, guiding CPM into AI-driven innovation for the first time. You will design, develop, and implement AI solutions that bridge the gap between audio, digital, and print media, expanding our content’s accessibility, discoverability, and engagement across Chicago’s diverse communities.

You will lead the charge on AI solutions, building foundational tools and processes from the ground up. Reporting to our Director of Product Engineering, your work will involve mentoring and empowering team members in best practices for AI-driven solutions, while directly contributing to our mission of making high-quality journalism freely accessible and an integral part of Chicagoans’ daily lives.

 

Key Responsibilities

AI-Powered Content Tools

  • Develop and deploy tools for audio content transcription, summarization, and translation to make our radio broadcasts, podcasts, and print content accessible across multiple mediums.
  • Implement processes for summarizing and localizing content for diverse audiences, enhancing accessibility for non-native English speakers and individuals with disabilities.

Personalized Content Recommendation System

  • Design and implement a recommendation engine that personalizes content suggestions across CPM platforms based on user behavior.
  • Integrate this engine across WBEZ and the Chicago Sun-Times, ensuring cohesive and cross-promotional user experiences.

AI-Enhanced Search & Chatbot Functionality

  • Improve site search to deliver relevant, comprehensive search results and summaries, creating an intuitive user experience.
  • Build and optimize a chatbot that helps users navigate content, retrieve information, and interact with our platforms, enhancing engagement and audience satisfaction.

Collaboration, Knowledge Sharing, and Mentorship

  • Collaborate with CPM’s product, newsroom, and engineering teams to implement AI solutions that align with our mission and meet newsroom needs, integrating seamlessly with our Java-based Brightspot CMS, ensuring efficient content management and delivery.
  • Mentor and train staff on AI project development and best practices, fostering knowledge sharing and skills development across the team.
  • Document and share project learnings and tools with other local news organizations to support knowledge-sharing within the industry.

Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI)

  • Prioritize DEI in AI-driven projects by developing tools that address underrepresented communities' needs, such as accurate, bias-free recommendation systems and accessible content for non-native English speakers.
  • Actively participate in community listening sessions to gather audience feedback, ensuring that our AI solutions reflect and serve the diversity of Chicago.

 

Required Qualifications

  • Bachelor’s degree in Computer Science, Engineering, or a related field.
  • 5+ years of technical consulting or applied AI experience, with a proven track record in building and deploying AI prototypes.
  • Proficiency in Python and JavaScript; experience with OpenAI API or similar tools. Knowledge of Java is beneficial, particularly for CMS integration.
  • Demonstrated experience leading complex projects, especially within environments that require managing multiple stakeholders.
  • Passion for the mission of journalism, with a commitment to supporting equitable access to information.

 

Preferred Qualifications

  • Prior involvement in open-source projects focused on serving the common good.
  • Strong ability to manage multiple projects simultaneously and prioritize tasks effectively.
  • Excellent collaboration and communication skills, with a teaching/mentorship mindset.
  • Ability to navigate ambiguous, dynamic environments and solve complex challenges.

 

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, ideas, and innovation are encouraged.  We value colleagues who will enhance our culture by bringing new ideas, diverse experiences, and talents to our dynamic workplace.

Chicago Public Media’s dedication to promoting diversity and inclusion is reflective across our brands, WBEZ 91.5 FM, Chicago Sun-Times, and Vocalo 91.1 FM, in our staff and in our work.  We are fully focused on equality of opportunity and believe deeply in diversity of race, gender, sexual orientation, religion, ethnicity, national origin, experience, and all other fascinating characteristics that make us different.

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 you at hire and in the years to come.

Our benefits include:

  • 6 weeks fully paid family leave
  • High quality Medical, Dental, and Vision plans at an affordable cost
  • A 403(b)retirement plan with a company match
  • Generous paid time off, including starting with 3 weeks’ vacation and 4 personal days.

The essential functions described above are not all-inclusive and may change periodically to meet the needs of Chicago Public Media (CPM). The information contained in this job description is not intended to create any contractual or other legal commitment. Chicago Public Media may change the content or format of this job at any time in its sole and exclusive discretion without notice.

Chicago Public Media is an Equal Opportunity Employer, and we actively seek and welcome people from all backgrounds, orientations, and life experiences to join our team.

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