Education Reporter

Job Title: Education Reporter

Launched in 2016, Mississippi Today is the state’s only nonprofit newsroom, with the largest editorial team in the region. Mississippi Today is recognized as a leader in independent, nonpartisan journalism in the Deep South.

Mississippi Today is expanding its education coverage to better serve Mississippians through nuanced and humanized coverage of Mississippi’s education system. Education coverage has been a cornerstone of our mission-driven newsroom since our launch. It is time to double down on our commitment to the biggest issues and greatest opportunities facing our education system by investing in the journalistic talent needed to cover the entire state.

This reporter will focus on the intersections of race, politics and education policy in Mississippi, reporting on both the challenges and the successes shaping the state’s schools. Our coverage will explore the evolving landscape of educational opportunities, examining how policies impact access, equity and outcomes for students of all backgrounds. In all our reporting, we strive to center everyday Mississippians and how they’re affected by public policies. We expect this reporter to constantly seek and report the experiences of Mississippi students, educators and parents.

The education reporter will play a vital role in helping Mississippi Today achieve its highest mission: holding power to account and informing the public about how public officials’ decisions influence the lives of Mississippians. Key issues such as public education funding, teacher shortages, the expansion of voucher programs and charter schools, and the racial and socioeconomic divides within the education system will be central to this coverage.

Importantly, as Mississippi marks 50 years since school integration and the emergence of private academies in response, this beat offers a unique opportunity to analyze the past and present forces shaping the state’s education system, delivering in-depth accountability journalism that highlights systemic inequities and potential reforms.

Roles and Responsibilities:

Report and write longform and short stories and multimedia presentations about Mississippi education issues ranging from early childhood education to 12th grade

Conceive and execute stories that help people understand education in Mississippi and make an impact, with a special focus on sharing the stories and experience students, educators, administrators and parents

Cover educational governing bodies from the state education department to local school boards to help everyday people understand the implications of policy decisions on children, families and schools, with a special focus on reporting that helps parents better understand accountability ratings and standardized test results

Closely cover the preK-12 education field in Mississippi, building relationships with teachers and administrators, education advocates and individuals and families impacted by the education system

Communicate with colleagues on stories and projects: While there will be plenty of opportunities for solo projects and stories, Mississippi Today is a collaborative newsroom that often shares bylines. Collaborative reporting is the backbone of our newsroom’s award-winning investigative journalism, and the education reporter will have an opportunity to pursue such ambitious work as part of their duties.

Expectations:

Use a solutions lens to explore grassroots efforts and state programs that are working to improve access and outcomes for students

Develop sources and report in diverse communities, including urban and rural, and engage members of the public in identifying opportunities and barriers in the education system.

Collaborate with audience engagement professionals, videographers, photographers and graphic designers to think creatively about formats and tools for communicating higher education topics to a broad, statewide audience.

Qualified candidates should have:

Experience working as a reporter in a newsroom, with a proven ability to work independently under deadline pressures.

Ability to work quickly, with accuracy and good news judgment.

Comfortability in digital or multimedia journalism spaces.

Ability to independently develop and cultivate sources.

Ability to use social media for research and to engage readers.

Experience with filing records requests and working with data is encouraged but not required.

Experience covering education issues is preferred, with an understanding of how the education system is structured and schools are funded.

What you’ll get:

• Highly competitive salary with medical insurance, and options for vision and dental insurance.
• 29 days paid time off.
• Up to 12 weeks of parental family leave, with return-to-work flexibility.
• Simple IRA with 3 percent company matching. Group-term life insurance provided to employees ($15,000 policy).
• Support for professional training and attending industry conferences.

How to Apply:

We’re committed to building an inclusive newsroom that represents the people and communities we serve. We especially encourage members of traditionally underrepresented communities to apply for this position, including women, people of color, LGBTQ people and people who are differently abled. Please apply https://mississippitoday.org/careers/.

Questions? Email our Director of People and Culture at dpenny@deepsouthtoday.org.

Job Type: Full-time

Pay: From $60,000.00 per year

Benefits:

• Dental insurance
• Health insurance
• Life insurance
• Paid time off
• Parental leave
• Vision insurance

Schedule:

• Holidays

Work Location: In person

Salary : $60,000