Grant Funded Education Reporter Fellowship (UNION)

Gannett; Detroit (MI); On-site; USD 50,000 - 65,000; Full time

Job summary

The Detroit Free Press in Detroit, Michigan, seeks an enterprising reporter for a one-year grant-funded education fellowship to expand coverage across the state. The journalist will spotlight challenges facing Michigan students in rural, urban, and suburban communities, interpret data, and produce video, articles, and social content to inform parents and policymakers.

Working with editors to monitor education policy and funding shifts at the state capitol, this role demands strong storytelling

Qualifications

• Bachelor's or master's in communications, journalism or an equivalent combination of education and experience.
• 2-5 years of newsroom experience.
• Strong reporting, writing, editing and storytelling skills.
• Experience creating digital-first content, including video and social media storytelling.
• Comfortable on camera explaining issues, conducting interviews and seeking reader input.
• Strong copy editing and self-editing skills
• Comfortable using social media to enhance reporting and promote your work
• Strong understanding of audience analytics, SEO and engagement strategies
• Ability to work independently, build trust with stakeholders and manage multiple deadlines
• This role requires a valid driver's license, reliable transportation, and the minimum liability insurance required by state law

Responsibilities

• Cover education across Michigan and spotlight challenges of students in rural, urban, and suburban communities.
• Interpret data and connect it with classroom realities.
• Collaborate with another reporter and editor; use video, articles, social content, and in-person engagements to inform readers.
• Monitor education policy and funding shifts at the state level, especially during governor/legislature transitions.
• Help readers understand challenges in need of solutions across the state.

Skills

Strong reporting

Editing and storytelling

Digital-first content

Video storytelling

Interviews & reader input

SEO & analytics

Independent & deadline driven

Driver's license

Education

Bachelor's or Master's in communications, journalism

Tools

Video editing software

Job description

The Detroit Free Press seeks an enterprising reporter to cover education across Michigan through a one-year grant-funded fellowship as part of a significant expansion of education reporting across metro Detroit and the state.

This journalist will spotlight the challenges of students across Michigan, including in rural, urban and suburban communities, focusing on the most vulnerable populations. This journalist will interpret data and connect it with what's happening in the classroom.

With another reporter and editor, this team will use every medium and platform - video, social, articles, in-person engagements and visuals - to help parents, lawmakers and community leaders understand the challenges in need of solutions at a time when Michigan children lag other states in reading, math, attendance and postsecondary education attainment.

They'll help readers understand the state of education across Michigan, with an emphasis on the intersection of education and politics. This reporter would closely watch policy and funding shifts at the state level, as a governor and legislature comes into power at the state capitol.

Requirements:

• Bachelor's or master's in communications, journalism or an equivalent combination of education and experience.
• 2-5 years of newsroom experience.
• Strong reporting, writing, editing and storytelling skills.
• Experience creating digital-first content, including video and social media storytelling.
• Comfortable on camera explaining issues, conducting interviews and seeking reader input.
• Strong copy editing and self-editing skills
• Comfortable using social media to enhance reporting and promote your work
• Strong understanding of audience analytics, SEO and engagement strategies
• Ability to work independently, build trust with stakeholders and manage multiple deadlines
• This role requires a valid driver's license, reliable transportation, and the minimum liability insurance required by state law