Chicago 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 Chicago Reporter, Chalkbeat to lead coverage of Illinois education policy and contribute to reporting on Chicago Public Schools for our award-winning Chicago bureau.

This reporter will cover how policy and politics shape education in Illinois and Chicago, tracking state efforts to strengthen early childhood education, improve math scores, address student mental health, and increase accountability for student academic performance. The role will also include monitoring how clashes between the Trump administration and Illinois’ Democratic leaders reverberate through schools.

This position reports to the Chicago Bureau Chief, Chalkbeat. 

The key responsibilities for this role include:

• Conceiving and executing impactful stories that help people understand education in Illinois and Chicago. 

• Writing stories ranging from breaking news to classroom-focused features to long-term enterprise projects. 

• Building relationships with readers and key players through newsletters and the reporting process.

• Collaborating with reporters and editors at Chalkbeat, including data, visuals, and engagement teams.

• Representing Chalkbeat at community events and in media appearances.

• Working closely with editors to revise and refine stories based on feedback.

• Ensuring the highest levels of accuracy, balance, and clarity in reporting and writing.

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!):

• Minimum 2 years of experience covering education, government, or public policy.

• Ability to write clearly, engagingly, and authoritatively, including on deadline. 

• Comfort using data, research, and reports to inform and strengthen reporting. 

• Interest in or experience with audience engagement, including creative ways to reach diverse communities and use insights to shape coverage and source stories. 

• A strong belief in the value and impact of local journalism. 

Bonus points if you’ve got:

• Data analysis skills that enhance reporting and storytelling. 

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

This full-time, remote-eligible position will be based in the Chicago area, with a focus on remote collaboration and communication with the rest of the Chalkbeat team. Civic News Company has offices in Chicago, Colorado, Indianapolis, Newark, Pennsylvania, Arizona, Texas, Michigan, Tennessee, New York City, and Washington, D.C.

The salary range is $70,000 to $74,000; 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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