Reporter, Education

About the role

WFYI is a nonprofit organization providing trusted journalism, inspiring stories, and lifelong learning to Central Indiana and beyond for over 50 years. Through local content, PBS and NPR programming, WFYI connects audiences to trusted news, educational programming, and meaningful storytelling for an informed, inspired, and inclusive Indiana.

Job Summary

WFYI’s education reporter contributes to WFYI’s mission by producing accurate, fair, independent, and accessible journalism that helps audiences understand the education issues shaping students, families, schools, and communities across Indiana. Through daily, enterprise, and investigative stories centered on students and families, this position strengthens public understanding, supports informed civic participation, and connects local audiences to journalism that is relevant, useful, and accountable.

Essential Functions and Responsibilities

• Identify and pitch stories while working with the editorial leadership team to develop and report original stories that feature individuals with lived experience.
• Use clear and concise writing to explain complex topics and their significance.
• Report, write, and present breaking news, features, enterprise, and investigative stories as assigned.
• Adapt reporting focus, source development, and story planning as assigned when WFYI adjusts beats or coverage priorities to meet audience, editorial, staffing or organizational needs.
• Build and maintain a large network of sources.
• Conduct thorough research and newsgathering, including capturing audio, video, photos, and supporting materials to enhance the depth and quality of coverage.
• Collaborate with the digital team to produce engaging content tailored for broadcast, digital, and social media platforms.
• Maintain accuracy, fairness, independence, clarity, and ethical journalism while meeting deadlines.
• Make regular appearances across media platforms, including broadcasts, social media, podcasts, and community events.
• Work with staff throughout WFYI to discover new stories and angles that ensure we are reporting for communities, not on communities.
• Develop reporting that can serve audiences locally, statewide, and, when appropriate, through regional or national public media distribution.
• Participate in editorial meetings and planning sessions, collaborating with editors and content teams to shape story direction, strengthen reporting, and uphold journalistic standards.
• Contribute to the planning and execution of special coverage, including legislative sessions, elections, breaking news, and public forums.
• Collaborate with editors, producers, reporters, and other colleagues to adapt reporting for multiple platforms and support coordinated coverage priorities.

Qualifications

• Education: Bachelor’s degree in journalism, communications, or a closely related field; equivalent relevant experience may substitute for some or all of the formal education requirement.
• Experience: At least three years of reporting or other relevant journalism experience. Experience applying AP Style in journalism or newsroom writing. Experience using sound news judgment to cover breaking stories while managing longer-term projects, including in-depth continuing coverage or investigations. Experience translating complex policy, legislation, financial data, or other technical information into clear, accessible reporting. Experience developing sources, building a reporting specialization, and identifying meaningful story ideas. Experience working collaboratively in a newsroom or similar editorial environment while managing assignments with a high level of personal motivation. Experience incorporating data and public records into reporting.
• Technical Skills: Working knowledge of office, communication, and digital production tools sufficient to support reporting, collaboration, research, writing, editing, and content production.
• Additional Qualifications: Ability to work evening, weekend or holiday hours and travel as needed to support organizational priorities. Ability to adapt as WFYI’s journalism priorities and audience needs evolve, including changes to assigned beat, coverage priorities, or reporting focus from time to time based on editorial priorities, staffing or organizational needs.