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 Memphis Reporter, Chalkbeat. This role will focus on telling powerful education stories in collaboration with MLK50: Justice Through Journalism, an award-winning nonprofit digital news site based in Memphis whose work focuses on the intersection of poverty, power and policy.
This is an important moment to report on schools in Memphis. Its students face high child poverty rates and are still recovering from the learning disruptions of the pandemic. The school district, the largest in Tennessee, has experienced years of leadership turmoil. Faltering school turnaround efforts and a push to expand vouchers and charter schools carry big implications for students. These realities, set against a backdrop of historic civil rights battles that reverberate into the present day, create an environment rich with opportunities for high-impact and solutions-oriented stories.
This reporter will produce work for both Chalkbeat and for MLK50, benefiting from in-person support at the MLK50 newsroom while collaborating closely with Chalkbeat editors in Tennessee and nationwide.
This position is a 12-month role with the possibility of extension. This position will report to Chalkbeat’s Tennessee Bureau Chief.
The key responsibilities for this role include:
Conceiving and executing stories that help people understand education in Memphis and make an impact.
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 and MLK50, including data, visuals, and engagement teams.
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!):
Two years of experience covering education, government, or public policy.
A passion for education, understanding how schools work, and spotting inequities.
The ability to explain complex issues clearly and fairly in a way that builds trust.
A track record of building sources and navigating access challenges.
The desire to figure out how to reach prospective readers with your work.
A belief in the power of local journalism.
Bonus points if you’ve got:
Specific expertise in education, local or state-level reporting in Tennessee.
Data analysis skills.
Fluency in a language other than English, especially Spanish.
This full-time remote eligible position will be located in Memphis, Tennessee.
The salary range is $66,000.00 - $75,000.00, commensurate with experience, with a generous benefits package, including:
Medical, vision, and dental insurance
20 days of PTO 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.