By Laila Dyer and Jada Strong
NABJ JSHOP Reporters
Many may recall WBEZ as Chicago’s “smooth jazz station,” but it’s also known as an essential news outlet for its in-depth reporting, political podcasts and cultural commentaries.
NABJ JSHOP students recently visited Chicago Public Media to tour WBEZ’s offices at Navy Pier. We discovered six qualities the station looks for in journalists: proactiveness, news sense, diverse technical knowledge, social media awareness, empathy, and media presence.
Shortly after arriving, the students attended a morning news meeting where the WBEZ staff discussed plans for upcoming stories for that day and later in the week. During a question and answer period after the meeting, a JSHOP student asked how are they able to cover breaking news so quickly.
WBEZ Managing Editor Jennifer Tanaka said they take great steps to being proactive and to anticipate. Journalists are able to publish stories quickly by pre-writing before an event even happens, so staying ready is crucial.
“You can see it coming,” Tanaka said. “Write the B-matter and then wait for the news to come.”
Another WBEZ staffer chimed in over a Zoom screen: “You want to be as forward-thinking as possible.”
Another JSHOP member asked how do WBEZ journalists find sources. A flurry of responses ensued, including one WBEZ staffer who said “reading.” Meanwhile, another said, “consuming as much news as possible.”
Tanaka agreed. She said reading as much news as possible is crucial to finding out what to write about. A well-rounded journalist stays current on world events and understands the nuances of different news outlets, Tanaka concluded.
WBEZ Executive Editor Gilbert Bailon added social media also has become an increasingly useful skill in nearly every area of journalism.
Tanaka said social media can also attract readers, as headlines can grab the attention of users scrolling through sites.
Throughout the tour at WBEZ, the JSHOP students were constantly reminded to learn how to seek facts and know how to separate opinion from the truth.
Erin Allen, host of WBEZ’s “The Rundown” podcast, told JSHOP stuents about one of the biggest tools essential to navigating the industry: having empathy.
Allen and WBEZ Race, Class and Communites Reporter Natalie Moore discussed the importance of being able to connect with guests and build a conversation, rather than read from a script.
Moore added building connections with people from all walks of life produces more meaningful stories. Moore encouraged the JSHOP students to be curious as a key to a successful journalism career.
Allen explained how connection creates more quality responses, providing an enjoyable listening experience for their audiences.
“I don’t worry so much about attention span because listeners will be engaged when you make that connection,” Allen said. “It should feel like a conversation.”
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