National Reporter, Chalkbeat

Job Description

Civic News Company, parent company of the nonprofit newsrooms Chalkbeat, focused on telling the story of education in America; Votebeat, dedicated to in-depth reporting on elections and voting; and Healthbeat, covering public health and health policy both nationally and locally, is seeking a National Reporter, Chalkbeat to focus on national education coverage.

Education in America is at a point of tremendous flux. Schools face major challenges amid growing skepticism about public education. Too many children pass through American schools without gaining a solid foundation in reading and math, technology is reshaping the student experience, and vouchers are challenging the definition of public education. 

The National Reporter should be committed to telling compelling, human-centered stories about what’s working, what’s not, and the dynamics shaping what happens in the classroom. This reporter should be adept at quick-turn analyses that help readers make sense of news events and have the skills to do deeply reported enterprise and accountability journalism. Curiosity is key: The ideal candidate will bring an interest in a range of topics and political perspectives and want to dig below the surface to tell nuanced stories.

This position reports to the National Editor, Chalkbeat.

The key responsibilities for this role include:

• Conceive and execute stories on national education trends and the impact of federal policy.

• Monitor developing storylines in local communities, and help readers draw connections between places. 

• Write breaking news, quick-turn analyses, and deeply reported enterprise stories.

• Contribute to our newsletter and work with the audience team to help readers engage with our reporting across a variety of platforms.

• Collaborate with our bureaus to amplify local stories and connect local developments to national trends.

Job Requirements

What background and skills do you have? (We know not all strong candidates will have all the skills we list. That’s OK. What else do you bring to the table? Please tell us!):

• At least five years of experience covering education, government, or public policy.

• A strong track record of producing deeply reported and impactful journalism.

• The ability to write clearly, conversationally, and with authority, even on tight deadlines.

• Proficiency working with data, research, and reports to inform your reporting.

• Interest or experience in reader engagement, including creative approaches to reaching diverse audiences and applying audience insights to shape coverage and identify sources.

Bonus points if you’ve got:

• Data analysis skills that strengthen reporting and storytelling.

• Proficiency in a language other than English, with the ability to conduct interviews in that language. 

This full-time, remote-eligible position may be based anywhere in the continental United States. Civic News Company already has a presence in Chicago, Colorado, Indianapolis, Newark, Pennsylvania, Arizona, Texas, Michigan, Tennessee, New York City, and Washington, D.C. 

The salary range is $80,000 to $93,000; final salary will be determined based on level of experience and geographic location, with a generous benefits package, including:

• Medical, vision, and dental insurance

• 20 days of PTO, five days sick leave, and a paid one-week recess

• 401(k) matching program

• Paid parental leave

Civic News Company recognizes a staff bargaining unit, Civic News Company, affiliated with the Writers Guild of America, East, a labor union representing thousands of members who write content for news and online media, motion pictures, and television. This position is included in the Civic News Company bargaining unit.

About Civic News Company

At Civic News Company, our mission is helping people understand how America works so they can make it work better. Committed to equal employment opportunities, Civic News Company welcomes applicants and employees from diverse backgrounds, including but not limited to races, colors, national origins, ancestries, creeds, religions, genders, ages, disabilities, veteran status, sexual orientations, and marital statuses. We encourage individuals of all backgrounds to apply and contribute to our shared vision.

Civic News Company participates in E-Verify and will provide the federal government with your Form I-9 information to confirm that you are authorized to work in the U.S. If E-Verify cannot confirm that you are authorized to work, Civic News Company is required to give you written instructions and an opportunity to contact Department of Homeland Security (DHS) or Social Security Administration (SSA) so you can begin to resolve the issue before Civic News Company can take any action against you, including terminating your employment. Civic News Company can only use E-Verify once you have accepted a job offer and completed the Form I-9.

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