Investigative Photographer & Editor, NBCU Local Chicago

Job Description

NBC and Telemundo Chicago are seeking an exceptional Investigative Photographer & Editor to join our award-winning Investigates and Responds teams. This position is designed for a highly creative visual storyteller who is passionate about uncovering impactful stories and bringing them to life through compelling cinematography, editing, sound design, and collaborative storytelling.

This is not a traditional daily news photographer position. We are looking for someone who thrives in long-form storytelling, embraces investigative journalism, and is energized by the opportunity to help shape stories from the earliest stages of development through final delivery.

The ideal candidate approaches every story with the mindset of a documentary filmmaker and Director of Photography. They understand that investigative journalism often requires patience, creativity, and craftsmanship to translate complex issues into compelling visual narratives. They are equally comfortable behind a camera, in an edit suite, and at a story development meeting. This individual is a self-starter who contributes ideas, collaborates closely with producers and reporters, and brings a creative vision that elevates every project.

This role offers the opportunity to work alongside one of the strongest investigative teams in local television while helping shape the future of long-form storytelling across broadcast, streaming, digital, social, and FAST platforms.

Key Responsibilities:

• Partner with NBC Chicago Investigates and NBC Responds teams to develop, produce, shoot, and edit impactful investigative and enterprise stories.
• Contribute throughout the reporting process, helping shape story direction, visual strategy, interview approaches, and creative execution.
• Capture cinematic and emotionally engaging visuals that help audiences connect with complex investigations and community-focused reporting.
• Develop visual storytelling plans that incorporate interviews, stock and story footage, natural sound, documentary-style sequences, creative visualizations, and investigative production techniques.
• Produce content for broadcast, streaming, digital, social, and FAST platforms while maintaining the highest journalistic standards.
• Manage projects from concept through final delivery, balancing multiple long-form assignments and production timelines.
• Collaborate closely with reporters, producers, editors, legal teams, and newsroom leadership throughout the investigative process.
• Identify innovative visual techniques, production methods, and emerging technologies that enhance storytelling and audience engagement.
• Maintain excellent communication throughout the production process, ensuring alignment between editorial, creative, and technical stakeholders.

Qualifications

Photography & Production Skills:

• Expert operation of Sony FX-series cinema cameras, Sony mirrorless systems, and DSLR-based production workflows.
• Exceptional field lighting skills with the ability to quickly create polished, cinematic interview environments in a variety of locations and conditions.
• Strong understanding of visual storytelling through composition, lens selection, camera movement, lighting, color, and production design.
• Ability to think and operate as a Director of Photography (DP), bringing a creative vision to each project while balancing newsroom realities and production deadlines.
• Comfortable building interview environments that create visual depth, emotional connection, and premium production value consistent with network-level investigative journalism.
• Capable of working efficiently in fast-moving situations without sacrificing quality, ensuring every interview and visual element contributes meaningfully to the story.
• Strong understanding of documentary-style storytelling techniques, including the use of natural sound, environmental details, sequences, and visual pacing to strengthen narrative impact.
• Advanced knowledge of field audio acquisition, including wireless microphone systems, interview recording, ambient sound capture, and audio workflow management.
• Experience shooting both independently and as part of larger collaborative production teams.

Post-Production & Editing Skills:

• Minimum five years of professional experience as a visual storyteller, cinematographer, documentary filmmaker, investigative photographer, or broadcast content creator.
• Provide a portfolio demonstrating long-form storytelling.
• Advanced proficiency in Adobe Premiere Pro with demonstrated expertise in long-form editing, investigative storytelling, and documentary-style production.
• Ability to take projects from acquisition through final delivery, owning the complete post-production process when needed.
• Strong understanding of story structure, pacing, sequencing, and narrative development.
• Expertise in audio post-production, including dialogue cleanup, sound design, audio sweetening, mixing, and finishing.
• Experience color correcting and color grading footage using Adobe Creative Cloud tools to create a polished, consistent visual presentation.
• Proficiency in Adobe Photoshop for graphic creation, image enhancement, and visual storytelling support.
• Working knowledge of Adobe After Effects for motion graphics, compositing, animation, explainers, and investigative visualizations.
• Ability to organize media, manage metadata, maintain project structure, and deliver content efficiently across multiple platforms and formats.

Desired Skills & Attributes:

• Passion for investigative journalism, enterprise reporting, and public-service storytelling.
• Exceptional visual storytelling instincts with the ability to create content that resonates with audiences and drives meaningful impact.
• Strong editorial judgment and understanding of journalistic ethics and standards.
• Excited to be part of a highly collaborative investigative team where ideas are shared openly and every team member contributes to the final product.
• Actively participates in story development discussions, offering visual concepts, production approaches, interview strategies, and creative solutions.
• Demonstrates the ability to build trust and rapport during interviews while creating an environment that allows subjects to share their stories authentically.
• Possesses a strong understanding of how to visually support complex investigative reporting and transform information-heavy content into compelling and accessible storytelling.
• Sees themselves as more than a photographer—operates as a visual storyteller, editor, creative partner, and collaborator.
• Highly self-motivated and organized, capable of working independently while maintaining strong communication and alignment with the broader team.
• Thrives on continuous growth and creative development, actively pursuing new storytelling techniques, production technologies, camera systems, editing workflows, and visual approaches.
• Passionate about innovation and excited by opportunities to explore emerging production technologies that improve efficiency and elevate storytelling.
• Experience producing content for streaming, digital, social, and emerging media platforms.
• FAA Part 107 Drone License and operational drone experience are a plus.
• Fluency in Spanish or experience working in bilingual newsroom environments is a plus.

Eligibility Requirements:

• Must join NABET if not currently a member
• Must be 18 years of age or older
• Must have unrestricted authorization to work in the United States
• Must be willing to work in Chicago, IL
• Candidates must submit a resume and demo reel showcasing both investigative news coverage and edited storytelling work

What We’re Looking For:

We are searching for someone who sees themselves as more than a photographer. We want a visual journalist, editor, creative partner, and storyteller who is passionate about investigative reporting and committed to producing work that informs, impacts, and serves our community.

The ideal candidate understands how to balance speed with craftsmanship—someone who can jump into an interview setup quickly, build a compelling visual environment, and capture meaningful moments under pressure while never losing sight of story quality. They bring curiosity, creativity, and a relentless pursuit of excellence to every assignment.

Most importantly, they are driven by a desire to create journalism that matters—stories that not only inform audiences but also create lasting impact within the communities we serve.

Additional Requirements:

• Required On-Site: This position is required to be performed full-time from an NBCUniversal-designated worksite.
• Salary Range: $40.913–$61.438 per hour (based on experience)

Additional Information

As part of our selection process, external candidates may be required to attend an in-person interview with an NBCUniversal employee at one of our locations prior to a hiring decision. NBCUniversal's policy is to provide equal employment opportunities to all applicants and employees without regard to race, color, religion, creed, gender, gender identity or expression, age, national origin or ancestry, citizenship, disability, sexual orientation, marital status, pregnancy, veteran status, membership in the uniformed services, genetic information, or any other basis protected by applicable law.

If you are a qualified individual with a disability or a disabled veteran and require support throughout the application and/or recruitment process as a result of your disability, you have the right to request a reasonable accommodation. You can submit your request to AccessibilitySupport@nbcuni.com.