Education Reporter, Austin Local Newsroom

A new Austin community newsroom launching in 2025 and supported by The Texas Tribune is hiring its inaugural Education Reporter.

The Education Reporter is responsible for coverage that makes sense of complicated education policies and their real-world consequences. This reporter will bring nuance and clarity to stories that matter most to Austins students educators and families ensuring their voices are reflected in our journalism.

A successful candidate in this position will also seek to use education coverage as a vehicle to connect other key issues in the Austin area. This role is not primarily about covering institutions its about centering everyday people in the reporting and producing journalism that helps inform the Austin education community while empowering them to make informed decisions for students.

Ideal candidates have experience covering all stages of education from early childhood education to elementary and middle school progress through high school completion and success in post-secondary education. Candidates should have a demonstrated interest in exploring innovative storytelling methods including short-form video explainers graphics and data visualizations to ensure stories are as impactful and accessible as possible.

The journalist in this position is expected to dive into data for trends and insights and be eager to experiment with new formats that help audiences understand the forces shaping education in Austin.

Most importantly this reporter should have a passion for connecting with people in the community bringing their experiences to light and producing journalism that inspires at a time when so much news can feel disheartening.

This reporter will thrive on collaboration whether with colleagues across the newsroom or journalists at other news organizations. Candidates should also be adept at using social media to build sourcing tell stories and convey information creatively and reach diverse audiences.

The Education Reporter reports to the Austin community newsroom Editor-in-Chief. The salary for this position will depend on experience. The minimum is $60000.

Responsibilities

• Identify and pitch breaking news features explanatory guides and enterprise stories.
• Write and update stories with accuracy and urgency.
• Collaborate with journalists across departments and formats including photography and audience engagement to tell impactful stories.
• Embrace innovative storytelling formats such as short-form video data visualizations and explainers.
• Analyze and incorporate data into reporting to reveal trends and insights.
• Use social media both as a reporting tool to build sourcing and as a publishing tool to connect with diverse audiences.
• Moderate panel discussions and represent the newsroom at public events.
• As an authority on Austin education news topics represent the newsroom and discuss your work with media partners including on-air television and radio and podcast appearances.
• Be available for occasional work on nights weekends and holidays as news demands.

Qualifications

• At least three years of journalism experience
• Demonstrated experience breaking down complicated education policy into clear accessible reporting
• Has a track record of producing accountability stories that have led to discernible change and shaped reforms
• Well-sourced in the education community and comfortable with building a source network in Austin quickly
• Terrific news judgment and breaking news skills
• Demonstrated ability to work well under tight deadlines
• Impeccable reporting fact-checking and writing skills
• Familiarity with journalistic ethics and libel law
• Embraces collaboration with colleagues and partners
• Experience working with data and spreadsheets is preferred.
• Spanish language proficiency is preferred.

We know some great candidates wont check all of these boxes and we know some might have important skills that we havent considered. If thats you dont hesitate to apply and tell us about yourself.

Location

This role will be based out of The Texas Tribune office in downtown Austin.

Benefits

This job is full-time and has the following benefits:

• Medical vision and dental insurance
• A cellphone stipend
• 20 days of paid time off each year
• Up to 16 weeks of paid family leave plus four weeks of additional job protection
• 401(k) matching
• Support for professional training and attending industry conferences
• Remote work flexibility

How to Apply

Submit your application by Oct. 26. Along with a résumé and cover letter please submit a memo detailing your vision for this position and how you would approach the work. We cant wait to hear from you.

The Texas Tribune is an equal opportunity employer and values diversity. We do not discriminate on the basis of race religion color national origin gender sexual orientation age marital status veteran status or disability status.

About The Texas Tribune

Heres what you should know about the Tribune. From day one weve had disruption innovation and risk-taking in our DNA. Were ambitious as all get out but still have the punch-above-your-weight mentality of a scrappy start-up. We believe we can meet the demands of our audience and our own expectations for excellence without breaking the bank or our staff. We understand not everything is a story for us we have to make choices but were always looking to expand our boundaries.

Were nonprofit because the challenging economic reality for media these days obligates us to find a different way reliable and sustainable to fund serious journalism. Were nonpartisan because we live in the United States of Confirmation Bias and we dont need to be part of the problem. We dont need to be yet another source of information affirming the voices and perspectives that are already in peoples heads. At the same time nonpartisan is not non-thinking. We call B.S. when B.S. needs to be called.

The Texas Tribune seeks to ensure that its newsroom and its news coverage reflect Texas by including a wide range of perspectives from people of different backgrounds ideologies and experiences.

Learn more about The Texas Tribune here.