Reporter, Education

ABOUT WFYI

WFYI is a nonprofit organization providing trusted journalism inspiring stories and lifelong learning to Central Indiana and beyond for over 50 years. Through local content PBS and NPR programming WFYI connects audiences to trusted news educational programming and meaningful storytelling for an informed inspired and inclusive Indiana.

JOB SUMMARY

WFYIs education reporter contributes to WFYIs mission by producingaccurate fair independent and accessible journalism that helps audiences understand the education issues shaping students families schools and communities across Indiana. Through daily enterprise and investigative stories centered on students and families this position strengthens public understanding supports informed civic participation and connects local audiences to journalism that is relevant useful and accountable.

WFYIs education reporter will cover how decisions made at the statehouse in school board meetings and in district offices shape the lives of students and families. This reporter will also examine whether public commitments to students families and communities are being met. Coverage may include issues such as persistent achievement and access gaps the growth of charter schools and the private school voucher program and the reshaping of the Indianapolis public education landscape.

Ideal candidates will be comfortable moving between a breaking story and a months-long investigation. As needed and assigned this journalist will report in-depth digital investigations sound-rich audio features daily news for web and newscasts and video for social and television platforms. Strong candidates know how to find the human story inside a budget line or a legislative hearing and can make the stakes of education policy clear to families.

As WFYIs journalism priorities and audience needs evolve WFYI may adjust the assigned beat coverage priorities or reporting focus from time to time based on editorial priorities staffingor organizational needs.

ESSENTIAL FUNCTIONS AND RESPONSIBILITIES

The essential functions and responsibilities listed below describe the primary duties of this position. Duties may be adjusted based on staffing workload and organizational needs. As WFYIs journalism priorities and audience needs evolve WFYI may adjust duties work assignments assigned beat coverage priorities or reporting focusfrom time to timebased on editorial priorities staffing workloador organizational needs.

Reporting and Story Development

• Identifyand pitch stories while working with the editorial leadership team to develop and report original stories that feature individuals with lived experience.
• Use clear and concise writing to explain complex topics and their significance.
• Report write and present breaking news features enterprise and investigative stories as assigned.
• Adapt reporting focus source development and story planning as assigned when WFYI adjusts beats or coverage priorities to meet audience editorial staffing or organizational needs.

News gathering and Production

• Build andmaintaina large network ofsources.
• Conduct thorough research and newsgathering including capturing audio video photos and supporting materials to enhance the depth and quality of coverage.
• Collaborate with the digital team to produce engaging content tailored for broadcast digital and social media platforms.
• Meet deadlines and follow WFYIs editorial standards for accuracy fairness independence clarity and ethical journalism.

AudienceEngagementand Platform Presence

• Make regular appearances across media platforms including broadcasts social media podcasts andcommunityevents.
• Work with staff throughout WFYI to discover new stories and angles that ensure we are reporting for communities not on communities.
• Develop reporting that can serve audiences locally statewide and whenappropriate through regional or national public media distribution.

Editorial Collaboration and Special Coverage

• Activelyparticipatein editorial meetings and planning sessions collaborating with editors and content teams to shape story direction strengthen reporting and uphold journalistic standards.
• Contribute to the planning and execution of special coverage including legislative sessions elections breaking news and public forums.
• Collaborate with editors producers reporters and other colleagues to adapt reporting for multiple platforms and support coordinated coverage priorities.

Other Duties as Assigned

• Perform other duties as assigned.
• WFYI team members including this position mustdemonstratean ongoing commitment to WFYIs mission and to public media journalismeducation andcommunityengagement.
• WFYI team members including this position may provide back-up support across functions or positions as needed based on staffing workloadexpertise and organizational needs.

WORK LOCATIONTRAVELANDSCHEDULING

This position is based primarily at WFYIsmain officein Indianapolis Indiana.

Occasional travel may berequiredto support organizational needs.

The schedule for this positiongenerally alignswith WFYIs regular business hours Monday through Friday 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. Eastern. Because news does not always follow a regular schedule evening weekend or holiday work may be needed.

QUALIFICATIONS

The successful candidate shouldpossessthe qualifications described below.

Education

• Minimum:Bachelors degree in journalism communications or a closely related field;equivalent relevant experience may substitute for some orall ofthe formaleducationrequirement.

Experience

• Minimum:
  • At least three years of reporting or other relevant journalism experience.
  • Experience applying AP Style in journalism or newsroom writing.
  • Experience using soundnews judgment tocoverbreaking stories while managing longer-term projects including in-depth continuing coverage or investigations.
  • Experience translating complex policy legislation financial data or other technical information into clear accessible reporting.
  • Experience developing sources buildinga reporting specialization andidentifyingmeaningful story ideas.
  • Experience working collaborativelyin anewsroom or similar editorialenvironmentwhile managing assignmentswitha high levelof personal motivation.
  • Experience incorporatingdata and public records into reporting.

• Preferred:
  • Experience coveringeducationpolicyreporting.
  • Experience reporting for both broadcast and digital news platforms.
  • Experience producing journalism for digital audio broadcast social media video photography or other public media platforms.
  • Experience using a range of sources contacts data public records audience insights andcommunityperspectives to inform reporting and strengthen audience connection.
  • Experience collaborating with editors producers reporters partner organizations or other public media collaborators.

Technical Skills

• Minimum:Working knowledge of office communication and digital production tools sufficient to support reporting collaboration research writing editing and content production.

• Preferred:Experience with digital reporting content management audio editing video photography data reporting or social media production tools.

Additional Qualifications

• Minimum:

  • Ability to work eveningweekendor holidayhours and travel as needed to support organizational priorities.
  • Ability to adapt as WFYIs journalism priorities and audience needsevolve including changes to assigned beat coverage priorities or reporting focusfrom time to timebased on editorial priorities staffingor organizational needs.

• Preferred:Experience building trusted relationships with sourcescommunitymembers partner organizations or public media collaborators.

PHYSICAL DEMANDS

The physical demands described here are representative of those an individual must meet to successfully perform the essential functions of this position.

• Ability to communicate effectively in person by telephone and in writing.
• Ability to lift kneel carry and position equipment or other items weighing up to 25 pounds on an occasional basis.
• Ability tooperatestandard office equipment including computers phones printers and copiers.
• Ability to remain in a stationary position for extended periods and move throughout the workday as needed.

EQUAL EMPLOYMENT OPPORTUNITY EMPLOYER

To provide equal employment and advancement opportunities to all individuals employment decisions at WFYI will be based on merit qualifications and abilities. WFYI does not discriminate in employment opportunities or practices based on race ethnicity religion gender/gender expression or identity national origin sexual orientation age disability citizenship status military status or other characteristics protected by law.

WFYI will provide reasonable accommodation for qualified individuals with disabilities or religious needs unless doing so would result in undue financial or operational hardship. This policy governs all aspects of employment including recruitment application interviewselection job assignments compensation discipline termination travel and access to benefits and training. Applicants and employees may request accommodation before during or after the recruiting process including at the application or interview stage by contacting Human Resources at WFYI will review the request and engage inan appropriate processtodeterminewhether reasonable accommodation can be provided.