Business Journalist

About the Role

Mainland is seeking a talented Staff Writer passionate about uncovering compelling stories and crafting engaging content that captivates readers. The position involves interviewing industry figures such as founders, franchisees, executives, and business leaders, then transforming these discussions into polished editorial pieces published on Mainland's various media outlets, including 1851 Franchise.

Key Responsibilities

• Conduct detailed interviews with founders, executives, franchisees, and industry experts.
• Perform thorough research on sectors, brands, and trends ahead of each interview.
• Develop unique story perspectives beyond straightforward information reporting.
• Establish rapport and trust with interviewees to facilitate engaging conversations.
• Compose feature articles, news pieces, profiles, executive interviews, and thought leadership content.
• Deliver clear, refined drafts needing minimal revisions.
• Adjust writing tone and style to suit a wide range of brand voices.
• Balance stringent deadlines while upholding high editorial quality standards.
• Maintain accuracy and ensure well-sourced content adhering to Mainland's editorial guidelines.
• Work collaboratively with editors and other teams to enhance output consistently.
• Incorporate SEO best practices without compromising readability and narrative flow.
• Manage multiple assignments concurrently and communicate proactively on progress and deadlines.

What Success Looks Like

• Reliably deliver articles within set timelines.
• Conduct engaging and confident interviews.
• Produce stories with minimal need for editing.
• Identify and present distinctive, compelling story angles.
• Become a trusted contributor across multiple client projects.

Candidate Requirements

• Between 3 and 7 years of experience in journalism, editorial work, or professional writing.
• Strong interviewing skills and an ability to extract insightful narratives.
• Excellent writing and editing proficiency.
• Keen curiosity coupled with good news judgment.
• Ability to juggle multiple deadlines in a dynamic environment.
• Prior experience producing business, franchise, entrepreneurship, or B2B content is advantageous.
• Willingness to utilize AI tools to enhance research and efficiency, while maintaining original reporting integrity.
• Preferably holds a bachelor's degree in Journalism, Communications, English, or a related discipline.

Preferred Attributes

• Enjoy connecting with people through interviews over solitary writing.
• Skilled at distilling essential narratives from conversations.
• Avoid business clichés and generic prose.
• Capable of quick, quality writing output.
• Proud of producing work requiring minimal editorial intervention.
• Highly conscientious about meeting deadlines without sacrificing quality.
• Driven by natural curiosity and superior questioning ability.

Additional Details

• Location: Chicago, Illinois (On-site position)
• Salary Range: $55,000 - $65,000 annually, dependent on experience