Ideas Editor, Chalkbeat

Civic News Company, parent company of the nonprofit newsrooms Chalkbeat, focused on telling the story of education in America; Votebeat, dedicated to in-depth reporting on elections and voting; and Healthbeat, covering public health and health policy both nationally and locally, is seeking an Ideas Editor, Chalkbeat. This role will be responsible for launching and shaping new editorial products focused on explaining, interrogating, and elevating ideas for improving schools across the U.S.

This position reports to the Editor-in-Chief, Chalkbeat.

The key responsibilities for this role include:

• Shaping the editorial direction of Chalkbeat Ideas coverage, including its voice and scope. 

• Writing reported columns that spark discussion and make an impact while embodying Chalkbeat’s editorial values. 

• Launching and growing a newsletter aimed at education policy-focused readers.

• Collaborating with other newsroom leaders to elevate themes surfacing in local and national Chalkbeat reporting. 

What background and skills do you have? (We know not all strong candidates will have all the skills we list. That’s OK. What else do you bring to the table? Please tell us!):

• At least 10 years of journalism experience.

• A keen eye for noteworthy trends, sharp arguments, and what potential readers need to know next. 

• Strong writing skills paired with an authoritative voice.

• An interest in experimenting with new ways to reach readers.

Bonus points if you’ve got:

• Experience analyzing and interpreting data. 

• A track record of growing a newsletter audience or engaging readers through events. 

This full-time, remote-eligible position may be based anywhere in the continental United States. Civic News Company already has a presence in Chicago, Colorado, Indianapolis, Newark, Pennsylvania, Arizona, Texas, Michigan, Tennessee, New York City, and Washington, D.C. 

The salary range is $90,000-$130,000; final salary will be determined based on level of experience and geographic location, with a generous benefits package, including:

• Medical, vision, and dental insurance

• 20 days of PTO and a paid one-week recess

• 401(k) matching program

• Paid parental leave

Civic News Company recognizes a staff bargaining unit, Civic News Company, affiliated with the Writers Guild of America, East, a labor union representing thousands of members who write content for news and online media, motion pictures, and television. This position is not included in the Civic News Company bargaining unit.

About Civic News Company

At Civic News Company, our mission is helping people understand how America works so they can make it work better. Committed to equal employment opportunities, Civic News Company welcomes applicants and employees from diverse backgrounds, including but not limited to races, colors, national origins, ancestries, creeds, religions, genders, ages, disabilities, veteran status, sexual orientations, and marital statuses. We encourage individuals of all backgrounds to apply and contribute to our shared vision.

Civic News Company participates in E-Verify and will provide the federal government with your Form I-9 information to confirm that you are authorized to work in the U.S. If E-Verify cannot confirm that you are authorized to work, Civic News Company is required to give you written instructions and an opportunity to contact Department of Homeland Security (DHS) or Social Security Administration (SSA) so you can begin to resolve the issue before Civic News Company can take any action against you, including terminating your employment. Civic News Company can only use E-Verify once you have accepted a job offer and completed the Form I-9.