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General Assignment Reporter Jobs in Chicago, IL (NOW HIRING)

NEWSWELL

Staff Reporter - Wednesday Journal

Oak Park, IL · On-site

$51K/yr

Staff Reporter - Wednesday Journal The Reporter is a general assignment role for a journalist who wants to report frequently, improve quickly and take on increasing responsibility over time. You'll ...

Asuep

Staff Reporter - Wednesday Journal

Oak Park, IL

$51K/yr

Staff Reporter - Wednesday Journal The Reporter is a general assignment role for a journalist who wants to report frequently, improve quickly and take on increasing responsibility over time. You'll ...

All JobsGeneral Assignment Reporter JobsGeneral Assignment Reporter Jobs in Chicago, IL

General Assignment Reporter information

See Chicago, IL salary details

$15.5K

$43.7K

$79.8K

How much do general assignment reporter jobs pay per year?

As of Aug 7, 2026, the average yearly pay for general assignment reporter in Chicago, IL is $43,656.00, according to ZipRecruiter salary data. Most workers in this role earn between $33,000.00 and $51,000.00 per year, depending on experience, location, and employer.

What is the difference between General Assignment Reporter vs Beat Reporter?

AspectGeneral Assignment ReporterBeat Reporter
Primary FocusCovering a wide range of topics and breaking newsSpecialized coverage of a specific beat or subject
Work EnvironmentVaried, often on short notice, covering different storiesConsistent, in-depth reporting within a specific area
CredentialsJournalism degree, reporting experienceSimilar credentials, often with expertise in the beat

Both roles require journalism skills and reporting experience, but a General Assignment Reporter covers diverse topics, while a Beat Reporter specializes in a particular area. The choice depends on whether you prefer variety or in-depth expertise in a specific field.

What does a general assignment reporter do?

A General Assignment Reporter is a journalist who covers a wide range of news stories rather than focusing on a specific beat, such as politics or sports. They are often sent to report on breaking news, community events, crime, human interest stories, and other topics as assigned by their editors. Their day-to-day tasks can vary greatly, requiring flexibility, strong research skills, and the ability to work under tight deadlines. General Assignment Reporters must quickly gather information, conduct interviews, and write clear, accurate articles for print, online, or broadcast media.

What are some common challenges faced by general assignment reporters in managing diverse story topics and tight deadlines?

General Assignment Reporters often juggle multiple stories on a variety of topics, which requires quick adaptability and strong organizational skills. They typically work under tight deadlines, making it essential to prioritize tasks and efficiently gather accurate information from different sources. Balancing breaking news coverage with longer-term feature stories can be demanding, but it also offers opportunities to develop a wide-ranging skill set and build relationships across newsroom teams. Collaboration with editors, photographers, and digital teams is key to producing timely, well-rounded stories.

What is a general assignment reporter?

A general assignment reporter writes about and reports on various topics for a newspaper, news website, or television station. As a general assignment reporter, the story types you are reporting on can range from human interest to breaking news. Your assignments change on a regular basis, depending on the most pressing events of the day. Your primary duties revolve around finding content for your report. A general assignment reporter job is a great way to gain experience before becoming an editor, news director, or columnist. Most general assignment reporters earn a bachelor’s degree in journalism, communication, or a related field.

What are the key skills and qualifications needed to thrive as a general assignment reporter, and why are they important?

To thrive as a General Assignment Reporter, you need excellent writing, research, and interviewing skills, typically supported by a degree in journalism, communications, or a related field. Familiarity with content management systems (CMS), digital publishing tools, and multimedia equipment is often required. Strong soft skills include curiosity, adaptability, time management, and effective interpersonal communication. These abilities are crucial for producing accurate, timely, and engaging news stories in a fast-paced and ever-changing media environment.
More about General Assignment Reporter jobs
General Assignment Reporter jobs near you
Infographic showing various General Assignment Reporter job openings in Chicago, IL as of August 2026, with employment types broken down into 1% As Needed, 81% Full Time, 15% Part Time, 1% Temporary, and 2% Contract. Highlights an 97% Physical, 1% Hybrid, and 2% Remote job distribution, with an average salary of $43,656 per year, or $21 per hour.

Staff Reporter - Wednesday Journal

NEWSWELL

Oak Park, IL • On-site

$51K/yr

Full-time

Medical, Dental, Vision, Retirement, PTO

Re-posted 15 days ago

Job description

Staff Reporter - Wednesday Journal
The Reporter is a general assignment role for a journalist who wants to report frequently, improve quickly and take on increasing responsibility over time. You'll pursue enterprise reporting, narrative features and investigations. You will also shoot short-form vertical video for social-first stories.
You'll spend a significant portion of your time out in the community, on the street and in the field, talking to people. This role will enable you to engage with every angle of the local and regional news landscape.
NEWSWELL helps newsrooms become nonprofit and for-community. It provides strategic guidance, innovative solutions and wrap-around operations so local journalists can focus on local news, and newsrooms can best serve their communities. NEWSWELL partners with Arizona State University, the nation's most innovative nine years in a row, to offer game-changing ideas, tools and research. NEWSWELL transforms local news to help communities and democracy thrive.
This is a hybrid position based in Oak Park, IL, combining remote and in-person work. The pay rate for this role is $51,500 annually
What you'll do
  • Develop and report original stories through on-the-ground reporting
  • Write clear, accurate, well-structured stories on deadline
  • File breaking news quickly while maintaining accuracy and fairness
  • Follow stories beyond the news cycle for in-depth 'day two' coverage
  • Develop long-form, investigative and explanatory features
  • Contribute primarily through written text and photos
  • Shoot short-form video for publishing across multiple platforms
  • Work with editors and colleagues to adapt reporting for different platforms
  • Uphold strong standards of accuracy, sourcing, ethics and fairness
  • Attribute information clearly and responsibly
  • Exercise good news judgment and editorial discretion
  • Work closely with editors, fellow reporters and visual journalists
  • Participate in story meetings and contribute ideas
  • Be open to feedback and committed to continuous improvement

What you'll need
  • Strong writing and reporting skills
  • Solid understanding of journalistic ethics and best practices
  • Ability to work efficiently in a daily news environment

Relevant qualifications
  • Bachelor's degree in journalism or a related field, or an equivalent combination of education and experience.
  • A minimum of three years of professional reporting experience (or equivalent)

Preferred skills and abilities
  • Comfort with video or audio reporting
  • Familiarity with digital publishing workflows
  • Spanish language speaking and writing skills

Benefits
  • Comprehensive benefits package, including medical, dental, and vision insurance
  • 401(k) plan with matching employer contribution
  • 22 days of vacation time
  • 11 holidays, including your birthday
  • Parental leave
  • Significant tuition reductions
  • Professional development is highly valued at ASU Enterprise Partners, where employees are encouraged to look across the organization and nurture new areas of interest
  • $30 bi-weekly cell phone reimbursement

NEWSWELL is an Equal Opportunity Employer

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