Chicago Tribune seeks food industry reporter

The ideal candidate will have an interest not just in eating (who doesn’t like to eat?) but also in the manufacturing and marketing of that food. Mariano’s coming to your town soon? Einstein’s Bagels closing in your neighborhood? McDonald’s not lovin’ the continued pressure? Our readers have, ahem, an insatiable appetite for this kind of news.

The candidate must be fast for digital and understand the power of social media with the skills to develop their audience. Yes, the front door of chicagotribune.com is vastly important. But so are all the side doors into our coverage that Facebook, Twitter and others provide us. We know when our audience is there for us. We have to meet them then, ready with fresh offerings.

Quick work online will serve this candidate and their colleagues well when we’re closing at the first newsroom print deadline Monday through Thursday. We’re off the floor at 5:30 p.m. Copy deadlines are ahead of that.

The candidate will create news items to keep our chicagobreakingbusiness.com page fresh and be able to think beyond the headlines of the day to generate premium stories on important and interesting food issues.

We need a superior reporter and writer who not only can help us tap Chicago for food stories but also has a broad interest in national food trends. If we don’t have a chain in the area it’s likely on its way.

This reporter must be able to generate ideas for cover stories and projects, to demonstrate a range of quick-hit snackables as well as high-end meals our readers depend on. This reporter will bring insight to newsmakers with profile Q&As. We seek an energetic self-starter who is a collaborative partner with editors and fellow reporters in Business, Good Eating and Dining alike.

Our goals:

-Break news to help readers understand forces impacting their financial lives.

-Empower them to become better consumers, to help them get ahead in life.

-Build audience as readers share our compelling content.

-We are all watchdog. We are a solution to helping readers solve their problems.

A candidate must be active and savvy in social networking, including facility with raw video. Videolicious training will be provided.

Candidates should have a bachelor’s degree and a minimum of five years of reporting experience. Experience covering the food industry is helpful but not a must.

Applicants should include a resume, cover letter and the five (or a few more, but don’t go crazy) clips.

Deadline for applications is March 27, 2015.

To apply, go here.