Education/Watchdog Reporter

The Desert Sun / desertsun.com in Palm Springs, California, part of the USA TODAY NETWORK, seeks an education/watchdog reporter to cover the Coachella Valley’s three public school districts, private schools, and higher education institutions including College of the Desert (the area’s community college), and regional UC and Cal State branches.

This area east of Los Angeles is bursting with amazing stories to chase or conceive that speak to our audience’s high interest in how we educate our youth, and the high-stakes and often complex issues interwoven with our public and private schools at all levels.

We are looking for a reporter who can effectively distill crucial information, policies and data that help parents and students make informed decisions -- and hold public officials accountable -- on issues including: curriculum, programs, school safety, spending of tax dollars on facilities and campuses, and the expansion of higher education across the desert.

Although your first task is to serve the local community, we want someone who will strive to use this local beat as a launching pad for education stories with statewide or national impact. This job is well suited for a reporter who can think critically and creatively and write with clarity and impact on complex issues. We will expect you to break important news and develop stories that engage our audiences in short and long form, and on multiple platforms.

You must build trust with sources and have an eye for important details buried in local government agendas, budgets and public records. You should have work samples that demonstrate an aptitude for data-driven stories and familiarity with FOIA requests, and a track record of producing compelling, timely, well-sourced stories. We expect that you can recognize compelling, socially shareable stories and that you will be quick to jump on them.

In addition, we will ask you to connect with the community not just via social media, but on camera, and through community forums and events.

Responsibilities

Breaks news of high value to residents.
Develops deep sources in cities of responsibility.
Writes breaking news, features and analytical stories.
Writes articles that accurately inform, entertain and engage specific audiences and platforms using metrics.
Works toward becoming the community’s leading voice in area of expertise.
Connects with the community through storytelling and outreach (social media, on camera, forums, community leadership, etc.) Provides thoughtful analysis of complex issues.
Works with content strategist to evaluate what's working and what's not and develops ongoing plans to better satisfy audience needs.
Collaborates with content team to provide all appropriate elements for stories (i.e., photos, videos and graphics). Captures basic photos and video as needed.
Promotes personal brand, the brands of colleagues and the institutional brand.