Higher Education Reporter

About This Role

Reporting on national higher education issues is the core of this role, writing in-depth stories for The Hechinger Report's website and partner publications. The position suits a reporter with strong reporting and writing skills, an interest in data and accountability journalism, and a desire to develop expertise on the higher education beat.

Responsibilities

• Report and write enterprise stories on higher education for the Hechinger Report and partner publications, focusing on stories and angles not covered elsewhere for general audiences
• Develop and cultivate sources on the higher education beat
• Represent The Hechinger Report at conferences and participate in media interviews and panel discussions, as needed
• Collaborate with the Audience and Engagement team to build readership and expand the reach of Hechinger stories
• Write the biweekly higher education newsletter
• Other duties as assigned

Requirements

• Four years of reporting experience
• Bachelor’s degree in journalism, or a related field, or equivalent experience and training
• Excellent news judgment and ability to identify important stories and emerging trends
• Strong writing skills and ability to write compelling, in-depth features for a general audience
• Basic understanding of data and how it informs stories
• Excellent interpersonal and communication skills, with a demonstrated ability to meet deadlines and manage multiple assignments
• Experience with data and accountability reporting and an interest in developing investigative and narrative reporting skills

Nice to have:

• Experience covering higher education
• Five years of reporting experience, including for national outlets
• Strong data and investigative reporting skills
• Experience appearing in broadcast media
• Experience building and engaging a dedicated audience through newsletters, social media or other platforms

Benefits

• Comprehensive full-time employee benefits package

Important Details

• Application deadline: November 20 at 10:00 a.m ET
• Travel as needed for reporting and an annual trip to meet with colleagues in New York

Application Process

In your application, please include:

• Your resume
• A cover letter that describes a project or story that you are particularly proud of, why you are proud of it, and any impact it had
• A link or an accessible authorized PDF copy of the project or story you describe in your cover letter (Please label this sample 'Cover Letter Sample' followed by the story's headline or title.)