Philadelphia Reporter, Chalkbeat

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 Philadelphia Reporter, Chalkbeat. This role will focus on telling impactful education stories that shape the Philadelphia community.

This is a crucial moment to cover education in Philadelphia. The district is embarking on a divisive school closure process aimed at addressing declining enrollment. Student achievement lags, and teacher shortages mean many students lack the educators they need. The city’s new mayor has promised “year-round school” will be a key part of her legacy, and district leaders have pledged Philadelphia will lead the nation in incorporating AI into the classroom.

The right candidate will be a self-starter who is hungry to break news, eager to understand and inform vital public policy debates, and enthusiastic about informing your community. You’re a strong beat reporter who can develop reliable sources. Most importantly, you can serve as a guide for our readers, explaining how schools in the city work.

This position will report to Chalkbeat Philadelphia’s Bureau Chief.

The key responsibilities for this role include:

• You'll be responsible for conceiving and executing stories that help people understand how breaking news connects to the big picture, and how public policy decisions impact and connect to the people and institutions in Philadelphia.
• You’ll collaborate with our data/visuals team as Chalkbeat comes up with innovative ways to present news and distribute stories.
• You’ll communicate and build relationships with readers and key players in the local community through our regular morning newsletters, social media posts, and the reporting process.

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!):

• At least 3 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 have:

• Specific expertise in education, local or state-level reporting in Philadelphia.
• Data analysis skills.
• Fluency in a language other than English, especially Spanish.

This full-time remote eligible position will be located in Philadelphia, where we have a coworking space.

The salary range is $66,000-$83,000, 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.