Alumni News Editor, Alumni Magazine

About the Department

The Advancement Office engages alumni (~220k), current students, parents, and friends of the University through intellectual, professional and social activities on campus, around the world and online. Advancement raises $600 Million annually to support faculty and researchers, practitioners and patients, and students and programs across the University. Our work supports priorities in every division, school, department, and institute.

The Communications team works with partners across Advancement and the University to create fundraising and engagement materials for University of Chicago alumni, parents and friends. Within Communications, the Publications team produces several print periodicals, e-newsletters, and other written communications including the flagship University of Chicago Magazine, a quarterly publication now in its 118th consecutive volume.

The Alumni News Editor is a member of the University of Chicago Magazine editorial staff with responsibility for the Peer Review section, the volunteer class correspondents, and telephone, email, and mail queries to the Magazine. This position reports to the senior associate editor of the University of Chicago Magazine. This role provides professional support and solves straightforward problems in large scale editorial and/or publishing projects.

With guidance from others, collaborates with authors to coordinate manuscript elements supplied by many departments, using existing procedures to solve problems that may arise.

• Produces the Peer Review section of the University of Chicago Magazine, which includes personal and professional news submitted by alumni, as well as content produced by Magazine editorial staff.
• Works closely with a team of 70-plus alumni volunteers who serve as the Magazine’s College class correspondents. Sets deadlines for these partners and edits the columns they submit, about 20 printed pages per issue, for consistency with Magazine style, correct usage, and appropriateness. Works with the fact-checker to ensure accuracy of all materials.
• Writes Peer Review Opener (section introduction), Notes (brief items about alumni in the news), Releases (a roundup of alumni books, films, and recordings), alumni and faculty obituaries, and other copy as assigned.
• Finds appropriate art for the Peer Review section, identifying archival photos pertinent to different class years to publish as sidebars. Researches and writes captions for these images.
• Using InDesign and working with a designer as needed, lays out the Peer Review section, making adjustments as necessary to fit the space. Enters final corrections into the layout and uploads completed files to the printer.
• Participates in the Magazine’s story and issue planning meetings, contributing story ideas. Participates in editing Magazine content.
• Monitors the Magazine’s main email account and responds to a high volume of telephone, email, and mail requests, in consultation with the editor, senior associate editor, and managing editor of the Magazine. Coordinates campus distribution of finished issues to contributors, advertisers, and campus partners. Assists editors throughout ARD Communications with other projects as assigned, including web stories and social media, donor proposals, and stories for other department publications.
• Keeps up with stories and trends in academia through regular reading of newspapers, professional publications and scholarly journals, academic reviews, and other alumni publications. Keeps familiar with current issues at the University by reading student and department publications.
• Seeks opportunities for professional development that will enhance job performance including attending webinars, seminars, building networks within the University and with colleagues at peer institutions.
• Edits books, journals, or other written materials with some guidance from others. Establishes editing schedules.
• Collaborates with authors to resolve routine and moderate problems using existing procedures and to clarify meaning. Assists with quality control by proofreading edited manuscripts.
• Performs other related work as needed.

Education: Minimum qualifications include a college or university degree in related field.

Work Experience: Minimum requirements include knowledge and skills developed through 2-5 years of work experience in a related job discipline.

Preferred Qualifications
- Education:


Bachelor’s degree.

Experience: Minimum two years of experience writing or editing professionally.

• Demonstrated skill and knowledge of, or ability to learn quickly, the internal workings of the University as well as the technology tools available to Advancement, including the University’s donor relationship management system.
• Proficient in Microsoft Office Suite.
• Familiarity with the Chicago Manual of Style.
• Proficient in Adobe InDesign.

• Manage confidential information with discretion and tact.
• Act with integrity,…