[Hiring] Reporter @Civic News Company

Role Description

Civic News is seeking a Reporter to cover schools and education policy as part of the Chalkbeat Indiana team. This is a critical moment to report about education in Indianapolis, with significant changes in how the city’s schools are run and governed.

• Report and write compelling local education stories, balancing quick-turn news coverage with enterprise and accountability journalism.
• Develop and execute longer-term reporting projects that deepen readers’ understanding of local education issues.
• Serve as a trusted guide for readers by clearly explaining how education systems, policies, and decisions affect local communities.
• Hold public officials and institutions accountable through rigorous, fair, and well-sourced reporting.
• Engage with readers and community members to identify relevant stories, questions, and areas of interest.
• Collaborate with colleagues across Chalkbeat and with external news partners on reporting and special projects, including TV, radio, and panel appearances.
• Build and maintain relationships with a broad range of sources, including educators, education leaders, parents, students, and community members.
• Report stories that make an impact in the community and drive change.

Qualifications

• 3+ years of experience in journalism.
• Excellent news judgment.
• Breaking news metabolism and decisiveness.
• Ability to produce ambitious, agenda-setting enterprise journalism.
• Strong interpersonal skills, demonstrating empathy and understanding while being unafraid to have tough conversations when needed.
• 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 Indianapolis.
• Data journalism experience.
• Photo and social video skills.
• Fluency in a language other than English, especially Spanish.

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.