National Education Reporter at Capital B News

Do you have a passion for HBCUs and Black youth? Capital B is looking for an innovative national education reporter to cover the critical issues affecting students and educators across the country, from early childhood classrooms to college campuses. 

An inquisitive and versatile reporter will develop a beat that not only centers the higher education system, its issues, policies, and key players with depth, but captures life on HBCU campuses and what it means to be a young Black adult in these tumultuous times. 

A successful candidate will be dedicated to covering a wide spectrum of issues related to students inside and outside the educational system. This reporter will have an accountability mindset and look at HBCUs as entities and as engines of inequality reduction. They will analyze not just the differences that exist between HBCUs and other colleges, but the vast inequities that can exist between HBCUs as well — creating vastly different educational experiences and outcomes within the Black college system. They will also explore the achievements and unique challenges facing these institutions as they try to grow, adapt, and prepare Black students as well as report on access, admissions, and affordability.

While the reporter will have a mandate to stay on top of HBCU coverage, they will also focus broadly on the educational pipeline that exists before the college application process, looking at the K-12 experience of Black students that leads some of them to higher education and beyond, while others struggle to finish high school, complete a college degree, or find a way to enter the workforce. 

The ideal candidate is nimble and can juggle a mix of short; and long-term coverage that includes trending stories, enterprise pieces, and investigations. 

This position reports to the Deputy National Editor.

Salary: $70,000 - $80,000

Location: Remote

Requirements

Key Responsibilities:

• Publish at least four stories a month, with a keen eye for when to try out creative story formats.
• Deliver stories with a human centered focus.
• Monitor key databases and changes in federal regulation – and navigate public records. 
• Collaborate with the national politics reporter to keep track of lawmakers who have weighed in on diversity, equity, and inclusion in higher education.
• Keep a close eye on the ebb and flow of funding for HBCUs, the people who are behind the various moves, and the students and institutions it affects.
• Stay on top of nationwide K-12 education trends and connect the dots for our audience.
• Partner with our audience team to promote content and maximize our engagement. 
• Participate in media appearances and facilitate virtual and in-person events.

What you’ll bring:

• 3+ years reporting experience. 
• A passion and/or deep understanding of the issues facing Black students in America.
• Creativity and big-picture thematic story ideas.
• An understanding of ethics and sourcing.
• An enthusiasm for the challenges and opportunities of working in a startup environment. 
• Good time management, organization, and the ability to multitask.
• Understanding of how to break down data and make educational jargon accessible.
• Familiarity with emerging digital tools and social media platforms. 

Benefits

What we’ll bring:

• A compassionate, supportive workplace
• Unlimited PTO + company holidays
• 20 weeks parental leave
• 12 weeks caregiver leave
• 401(k)
• Dental, health, and vision insurance
• Life insurance
• Health and dependent care flex plans
• Short-term disability
• Professional development fund
• Home office stipend
• Monthly phone and internet stipend

Deadline to apply is January 13, 2024. Please submit your resume and a brief cover letter explaining why you’re a good candidate. Capital B is open to candidates with a diversity of experience, and we know that some very strong candidates won’t have all the qualifications we list. Don’t be shy — apply anyway!

Capital B is a nonprofit local/national news organization for Black audiences. Cofounded by Lauren Williams (former editor-in-chief and SVP of Vox) and Akoto Ofori-Atta (former managing editor of The Trace), Capital B aims to fill the void left by a declining local news business and the failures of mainstream media to adequately cover and serve Black people.

Starting in Atlanta, Capital B will open newsrooms in Black communities across the country and, through community listening and the diligent reporting work of locally hired journalists, give Black residents the news and information they navigate their daily lives and remain civically engaged. Our local newsrooms will be anchored by a national newsroom, where experienced reporters will produce deep investigative and enterprise journalism on the issue that affect Black people nationwide.

As we push for a better news ecosystem for all Americans, it's essential to us that we provide a positive, nurturing environment for our employees. Capital B's founding leadership understands that we can't serve the needs of our audience if we aren't serving the needs of our team first. We hope you'll join us and help us create the best news organization in the business.