Chicago Media Career Fair 2026
About this Event
Join the Chicago Headline Club for the 2026 Chicago Media Career Fair — a day of practical career development, professional connections and new possibilities for journalists.
Whether you’re pursuing your next role, building a freelance career or exploring a new direction, the fair will help you strengthen your job-search materials, connect with newsrooms and media organizations, and see where your journalism skills can take you next.
You’ll be able to:
- Connect with participating newsrooms and media organizations
- Strengthen your resume, cover letter and LinkedIn in a hands-on workshop
- Get a one-on-one resume or cover-letter review
- Practice your interview skills with experienced media professionals
- Explore career paths inside and beyond newsrooms
- Get a professional headshot
- Take advantage of a 20-minute introductory career coaching sessions
- Try out the Institute for Independent Journalists’ prototype freelance marketplace
Please RSVP in advance and bring a valid ID for building check-in: Chicago Media Career Fair 2026
Participating organizations
- Becker’s Health Care
- Block Club Chicago
- Chicago News Weekly
- Chicago Reader
- Investigative Project on Race and Equity (first two hours)
- NBC Chicago
- NewsNation
- WGN Radio
- Windy City Times
Plan your visit
The 10:30–11:30 a.m. resume, cover letter and LinkedIn workshop was limited to 25 participants and required a separate RSVP, though it will now be open to everyone. If you plan to join, please bring a printed resume, one job description and a draft cover letter
One-on-one resume and cover-letter reviews, mock interviews and headshots will be available from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. on a first-come, first-served basis.
If you plan to participate in a resume review or mock interview, please bring:
- Three printed copies of your resume and three printed copies of a cover letter you want reviewed (you can have both, one or the other reviewed)
- Three printed copies of a job description for a role you are applying to or considering
No printing will be available at the event, so plan ahead. Free printing is available at any Chicago Public Library. Nearby paid options include FedEx at 222 W. Merchandise Mart Plaza and UPS at 27 N. Wacker Drive.
Additional Career Development
Karen Hawkins will offer 20-minute introductory career coaching sessions for journalists!
Meet privately with Karen Hawkins for a 20-minute conversation about her coaching services, the support you’re looking for and whether working together could be a good fit.
Facilitated by Karen Hawkins, https://www.yoursocalledlifecoaching.com/
The will be hosting a tool demonstration!
See a 15- to 20-minute demonstration of the Institute for Independent Journalists’ prototype freelance marketplace. Learn how editors could find available freelancers, send assignments and track pitches, while freelancers could find editors, calls for pitches and assignments. Freelancers and assigning editors can share feedback afterward.
Facilitated by Jenn Kho, Tatiana Walk-Morris, and Kelly Glass
This event is made possible by Press Forward Chicago and the Field Foundation.
Schedule
10 a.m. | Check-in begins
10:30 to 11:30 a.m. | Workshop Your Resume, Cover Letter, and LinkedIn
- Casey Mendoza, president of AAJA Chicago, lead organizer of the Video Consortium Chicago Hub and a video producer at Encyclopaedia Britannica.
- Ryan Burrow, news director at WGN Radio.
- Genevieve Lill, director of search at Hearst Newspapers.
11 a.m. to 3 p.m. | Employer Tables and Career Services
- Meet representatives from participating newsrooms and media organizations
- Connect with hiring managers and editors accepting pitches
- Get a professional headshot
- Receive one-on-one resume and cover-letter feedback
- Practice your interview skills
- Connect with other journalists and media professionals
- Enjoy light bites and beverages
Resume reviews, mock interviews and headshots are first come, first served.
12:30 to 1:30 p.m. | Where Journalism Can Take You Inside and Beyond the Newsroom
A conversation about career paths, transferable skills and opportunities inside and beyond newsrooms
- Kaitlyn Jakola is editorial director for strategy and operations at Chicago Public Media.
- Jennifer Kho is a journalism, news, and information consultant and former Chicago Sun-Times executive editor.
- Kari Lydersen is an independent journalist, contributing reporter at Canary Media and journalism professor at Northwestern University’s Medill School.
- Richard Ray is managing supervisor at Hawthorne Strategy Group and a former journalist with NBC 5 Chicago and the Chicago Tribune.
- Moderated by Jillian Melero, founder and publisher of Connect Puerto Rico.
2 to 2:30 p.m. | The will be hosting a tool demonstration!
See a 15- to 20-minute demonstration of the Institute for Independent Journalists’ prototype freelance marketplace. Learn how editors could find available freelancers, send assignments and track pitches, while freelancers could find editors, calls for pitches and assignments. Freelancers and assigning editors can share feedback afterward.
Facilitated by Jenn Kho, Tatiana Walk-Morris, and Kelly Glass
3 p.m. | Career Fair closes
This event is made possible by Press Forward Chicago and the Field Foundation.
Where is it happening?
Event Location & Nearby Stays:
USD 0.00
