Education Reporter at Gannett in Salem, Oregon

Job Description:

Education Reporter

The Statesman Journal / statesmanjournal.com , part of the USA TODAY NETWORK, is hiring an experienced reporter to cover K-12 education in and around Salem, covering breaking news, trending/utility and enterprise stories, and projects.

Salem-Keizer Public Schools is the second-largest school district in Oregon. There also are several smaller, rural districts in the area. Many districts face financial challenges, declining enrollment, and divisive partisan politics.

We're looking for someone who knows how to build sourcesto reflect the perspectives of students, parents, teachers, administrators, school board members, and education experts.Our reporters seek out and represent diverse racial, ethnic, and economic perspectives in their coverage.

This reporter also will be comfortable digging into data to identify and analyze trends, and using social media for research and engaging readers.

Salem is the state Capital, and our reporter will help or lead coverage about state funding and policy when the Legislature is in session. There also are nearby colleges and universities that we occasionally cover at the state and local level.

Responsibilities:

• Cover breaking news about education, including educational achievement and equity, shifts in major policies, statewide testing results, school board elections and more.
• Identify and write enterprise and trend stories on topics such as funding challenges, school performance and social issues among teenagers.
• Research and report on solutions from other school districts that faced similar challenges to those in our community.

Requirements:

• Bachelor's degree in journalism or a related field or equivalent combination of education and experience.
• A minimum of two years of professional journalism experience.
• Demonstrated beat management excellence.
• Proven ability to manage multiple tasks in a fast-paced environment.
• Ability to take photos and record video/audio in the field.
• Solid news judgment that's guided by experience with audience metrics.
• Strong sense of journalism ethics and grounding in the basics of media law.
• Commitment to reporting with fairness, compassion and sensitivity.
• Command of AP style and dedication to accuracy.
• This role requires a valid driver's license, reliable transportation, and the minimum liability insurance required by state law.

Application Instructions

We are eager to learn more about you and how you fit this role. When you apply, don't limit your upload to a resume; show us what you've done. Put together a single PDF document file that includes the following, in this order:

Your resume - one to two pages.

A cover letter that outlines how you would approach the job.

Links to 3-6 online samples of your work. Show us what you've produced or had a hand in that best reflects what you can do in your desired role.

It is important that these items be assembled into a single document and uploaded in PDF format. Completing these steps will ensure that your application receives the highest consideration.

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