Mid-level Education Reporter

The Wichita Beacon is looking for a motivated mid-level career reporter to cover education, with an emphasis on advocacy and disparities in access. We also want to give that reporter the freedom to identify and pursue education stories they’re passionate about in our community.

The work will often look at national trends in education and reveal how they’re playing out in Wichita. We’ll look to this reporter to explain systemic problems and help guide our audience in issues around access and overall learning-based objectives in our community. Their reporting will be about what solutions are working, and which ones are not.

We rarely cover daily news at The Beacon, so this reporter will have the time to dig deeply into stories, producing three or four stories of 800-2,000 words each a month.

We want a curious reporter who sees journalism as a public service. They also need to come with a track record that shows strong reporting and writing talent.

While we set out requirements below, we encourage you to apply even if you don’t think you meet them. We just want someone who can thrive on this beat with stories that come with explanation and discovery.

Before any job interview, we’ll supply you with the questions ahead of time. Mostly, we’ll want to hear how you’d attack this beat. So come with a plan.

About us

We’re a journalist-founded, nonprofit, nonpartisan organization. We collaborate and share our coverage at no cost with other media outlets in Kansas and Missouri. Beacon stories are revelatory, explanatory and, at times, investigative. We put a big emphasis on impact and community engagement and feedback. In our fourth year of publishing, our parent organization has grown rapidly, now running newsrooms in Kansas City and Wichita.

Job description:

Stays on top of trends on the education beat. Develops sources and their own expertise on education-related topics.

Identifies, researches, pitches, writes, and reports stories on a level of sophistication that matches metropolitan newspapers.

Tracks source demographics.

Reports and writes long-form and shorter-turn stories about local and regional education with close attention to policies and legislation, outcomes, experience, industry behavior, and advocacy positions.

Finds and analyzes education data to uncover hidden developments.

Engages with readers and participates in radio shows, public events, and live video.

Uses sources, story ideas, research, and writing that reflects Wichita’s diversity and the difference in education for many communities.

Requirements:

A Bachelor’s degree or an equivalent combination of education and experience and at least five years of professional experience as a working reporter.

Preferred qualifications:

At least five years of experience reporting and writing for professional news organizations.

Bachelor’s degree in journalism, communications, or related field.

Powerful writing skills, proven news judgment, and a strong commitment to journalistic ethics.

A desire to diversify the sources in your reporting to cover a wide range of demographics and philosophical outlook.

Familiarity with the education industry.

A record of writing stories with impact, clarity, and thoughtful skepticism.

A demonstrated ability to take direction and work collaboratively.

A demonstrated ability to meet deadlines.

Enthusiasm for independent, nonprofit news media and collaboration with other outlets.

A passion for community journalism.

Residing in or willing to relocate to the Wichita metro.

Familiarity with data sets and records.

Knowledge of education policies and issues, particularly in Kansas.

Fluency in Spanish or another language besides English.

Salary: $60,000 to $75,000 a year depending on experience and reporting portfolio.

Compensation and benefits:

Full-time, competitive salary with benefits.

We pay 100% of employee monthly health, vision and dental premiums, and a portion of dependent premiums.

Paid time off: Federal holidays, a birthday holiday, the last week of the year and two weeks vacation/sick leave.

Hybrid work environment.

Paid parental leave.

Quarterly cell phone reimbursement.

$50,000 in employer-paid life insurance with supplemental life insurance available.

100% employer-paid long and short-term disability.

Next steps:

To apply or have questions: Email HR@thebeacon.media

Applications will be reviewed and interviews scheduled on a rolling basis, giving an advantage to early applicants.

We are an expanding and collaborative newsroom, successfully forging a new model for sustainable, intelligent, nonprofit journalism. We’re committed to diversity and especially encourage members of underrepresented communities to apply.