Regional Education Reporter

Hearst Magazines; Houston (TX); Hybrid; USD 60,000 - 85,000; Full time

Job summary

The Houston Chronicle, part of Hearst Newspapers, is seeking an experienced education reporter to lead coverage of public education in the Greater Houston area. You will focus on systems, policies, and regional trends beyond a district-by-district beat, developing ambitious reporting from major districts and communities.

You will track enrollment, demographics and outcomes, with emphasis on immigrant students and multilingual learners.

Qualifications

• Requires at least 3 years of journalism experience covering education, government, public policy or another complex accountability beat.
• Must be an aggressive, source-driven reporter with strong relationships across communities.
• Ability to interpret data, budgets, legislation and public records for accessible journalism.

Responsibilities

• Lead education coverage across Greater Houston focusing on systems, policies and regional trends.
• Develop reporting from major districts like Aldine, Cypress-Fairbanks, Katy and Spring ISDs to illuminate regional issues.
• Track enrollment trends, demographics, and student outcomes with focus on immigrant students and multilingual learners.
• Break news on major developments affecting schools and explain why it matters to students and taxpayers.
• Produce a mix of breaking news and utility content that explains complex topics.

Skills

Education journalism

Source-driven reporting

Spanish language (preferred)

Job description

Key Responsibilities

• Lead education coverage across Greater Houston, focusing on the systems, policies and regional trends shaping public education rather than a traditional district-by-district beat.
• Develop ambitious reporting from major districts including Aldine, Cypress-Fairbanks, Katy and Spring ISDs, using those communities to illuminate broader regional and statewide issues.
• Track enrollment trends, demographic shifts and student outcomes, with particular attention to immigrant students, multilingual learners, and students receiving special education services.
• Break news on major developments affecting schools across the region while producing scoops that explain why decisions matter to students, families and taxpayers.
• Produce a mix of breaking news, scoops and utility content that breaks down complex topics.

We’re Looking for Someone Who

• Has at least 3 years of relevant journalism experience covering education, government, public policy or another complex accountability beat.
• Is an aggressive, source-driven reporter who consistently breaks news and develops deep relationships across communities and institutions.
• Is comfortable interpreting data, budgets, legislation and public records and translating complex issues into accessible journalism.
• Understands how education intersects with immigration, economics, workforce development, housing and demographic change.
• Has strong news judgment and can move confidently between fast-paced breaking news and longer-term reporting
• Thrives in a collaborative newsroom and enjoys working across teams to produce ambitious journalism.
• Brings curiosity, creativity and a strong digital mindset to storytelling, using a range of formats to reach and engage audiences.
• Is fluent in Spanish or has professional working proficiency strongly preferred, with the ability to develop sources and conduct reporting in Spanish.

About the Houston Chronicle

The Houston Chronicle, recognized for its Pulitzer Prize-winning journalism, serves its 2.3 million residents with content and marketing solutions across two of Houston’s largest websites — HoustonChronicle.com and Chron.com, along with our magazine, television and newspaper brands. Our mission is to spark conversations that inspire action to create a better Houston. All our content and the innovative business solutions we provide invite Houstonians to join conversations about a community we’ve been committed to covering and helping prosper for more than 120 years. The community we all call home.

About Hearst Newspapers

With 2,500 employees across the nation, HNP encompasses a network of 24 daily and 52 weekly publications, including the San Francisco Chronicle, Houston Chronicle, San Antonio Express-News and Albany Times Union, several top digital-only news and lifestyle sites, marketing services businesses, and entertainment businesses such as King Features Syndicate.

At HNP, we are investing in new and innovative ways to tell stories – growing newsrooms, diversifying tools, evolving platforms – to support the millions of people who trust us each month to help them make decisions, take action and be inspired.

Be a part of something bigger – your headline awaits.

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