Purpose: Tribune Interactive in Chicago is looking for a passionate leader, manager and teacher who truly gets the power of online databases and will help our newsrooms and interactive staffs build and present unparalleled local and locally relevant databases. This person will develop and help lead editorial database training programs in print and online newsrooms; supervise a fulltime data producer; be the lead coordinator for local market editorial database producers and liaison with CAR reporters and editors; build and maintain editorial databases for use across the network, including developing requirements, data schemes matching TI’s data strategy, and data collection mechanisms; work closely with local markets and TI Product Development on presentation layer alternatives and improvements for Editorial database content; work with the product development team to identify data gaps across Tribune’s network to develop and implement a data acquisition plan; develop and help maintain an intranet toolkit for editorial database producers; and help newsrooms improve database-related workflow. The ideal candidate will have worked as a computer-assisted journalist in print, online or broadcast newsroom and have a demonstrated familiarity with relational databases and database mapping and strong experience with data presentation techniques and technologies for the web. The data producer must master in-house, database-building tools in order to advise and assist news sites in creating and managing databases in smart, scalable ways, as well as to recommend ongoing enhancements. The position requires excellent communication and team-building skills and flair for documenting procedures and practices in clear and compelling ways. The data producer will be part of Tribune Interactive’s Shared News group, reporting to the Director, Shared Content.
Qualifications: ? 3-5 years’ experience with databases, preferably in a newsroom ? Supervisory or management experience ? Training experience ? Flexible, nimble and fast as it relates to learning new technology, programming languages, etc. ? Experience in database content entry and management ? Broad experience with data sources, data mining and database concepts ? Familiarity with database interfaces and web presentation layers ? Computer-assisted reporting background or similar ? Demonstrated knowledge of statistics, statistical analysis, etc. ? Strong oral and written communication skills ? Basic knowledge of HTML and Flash required; advanced skills desirable ? Bachelor’s degree in journalism, English or related discipline