Education Reporter — Remote, Local Impact Coverage

AAJA25; New York, Northern (NY, KY); On-site; USD 65,000 - 80,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Medical, vision, dental insurance

20 days PTO + holidays

401(k) with 4% match

Parental leave

Cell phone & internet reimbursement

Job summary

Civic News Company is seeking a Reporter to cover schools and education policy as part of Chalkbeat Indiana. This is a remote-eligible, full-time role based in the Indianapolis area, with a salary range of $65,000 to $80,000 and benefits package.

You will report on how schools are run and governed, hold officials to account, and explain complex education concepts to families and students. You will collaborate with Chalkbeat teams across Indiana and national partners, delivering enterprise

Qualifications

• 3+ years of experience in journalism.
• Excellent news judgment.
• Breaking news metabolism and decisiveness.
• Ability to produce ambitious, agenda-setting enterprise journalism.
• Strong interpersonal skills, demonstrating empathy and understanding while being unafraid to have tough conversations when needed.
• Commitment to diversity, equity, and inclusion.
• Passion for education and Chalkbeat’s mission is a must; knowledge of education is a strong plus, but not required.
• Connections to Indianapolis.
• Photo and social video skills.
• Fluency in a language other than English, especially Spanish.

Responsibilities

• Report and write compelling local education stories, balancing quick-turn news coverage with enterprise and accountability journalism.
• Develop and execute longer-term reporting projects that deepen readers’ understanding of local education issues.
• Serve as a trusted guide for readers by clearly explaining how education systems, policies, and decisions affect local communities.
• Hold public officials and institutions accountable through rigorous, fair, and well-sourced reporting.
• Engage with readers and community members to identify relevant stories, questions, and areas of interest.
• Collaborate with colleagues across Chalkbeat and with external news partners on reporting and special projects, including TV, radio and panel appearances.
• Build and maintain relationships with a broad range of sources, including educators, education leaders, parents, students, and community members.
• Report stories that make an impact in the community and drive change.

Skills

3+ years experience

News judgment

Breaking news metabolism

Agenda-setting journalism

Interpersonal skills

Diversity, equity, inclusion

Education passion

Connections to Indianapolis

Photo and social video skills

Spanish language (advantage)

Job description

Civic News Company is seeking a Reporter to cover schools and education policy as part of Chalkbeat Indiana. This is a remote-eligible, full-time role based in the Indianapolis area, with a salary range of $65,000 to $80,000 and benefits package.

You will report on how schools are run and governed, hold officials to account, and explain complex education concepts to families and students. You will collaborate with Chalkbeat teams across Indiana and national partners, delivering enterprise