[Hiring] Newark Reporter @Civic News Company

Role Description

Civic News is seeking a Newark Reporter for Chalkbeat covering Newark schools. Newark is an exciting place to cover education and is the perfect setting for a reporter with an investigative or accountability reporting background. The district educates more than 40,000 students, nearly a quarter of whom are multilingual learners. More than a third of Newark students attend charter schools, putting the city center stage in national debates about charter schools and their impact.

The key responsibilities for this role include:

• Balancing quick-turn news stories with enterprise and long-term projects.
• Holding education officials accountable.
• Collaborating effectively with colleagues across Chalkbeat and external media partners.
• Engaging with readers to help identify and shape story ideas.
• Serving as a knowledgeable guide for diverse readers on how education systems function.

Qualifications

• Five years of experience in journalism.
• Track record of building diverse sources in a range of environments.
• Expertise in investigative techniques; using public records and data to find compelling stories.
• Breaking news metabolism and decisiveness.
• Commitment to diversity, equity, and inclusion.
• Passion for education and Chalkbeat’s mission is a must; knowledge of education is a strong plus, but not required.

Requirements

• Connections to Newark.
• Data journalism experience.
• Fluency in a language other than English, especially Spanish or Portuguese.

Benefits

• Medical, vision, and dental insurance.
• 20 days of PTO, a paid one-week recess, 5 sick days, 3 floating holidays, and 12 paid holidays in 2026.
• Retirement support through a 401(k) with a 4% employer match that is immediately vested.
• 100% paid parental leave: 18 weeks fully paid, plus a 2-week part-time return-to-work ramp-up.
• Flexible Spending Plan for eligible medical or childcare expenses.
• Annual professional development stipend.
• Employer-provided life insurance and short- and long-term disability coverage.
• Monthly reimbursement for cell phone and internet expenses.