Newark Reporter, Chalkbeat

Location: Remote

Reports to: Philadelphia Bureau Chief

Type: Full-time

Salary Range:  $75,000 - $90,000, depending on location and experience

Civic News Company is leading a civic revival.

We were founded to address one of the most consequential market failures of our time: the collapse of local news. Since 2008, nearly two-thirds of U.S. newsroom jobs have disappeared, leaving communities without trusted reporting on education, elections, and public health. Our mission is simple and urgent: to help people understand how America works so they can make it work better.

Through Chalkbeat (education), Votebeat (elections), and Healthbeat (public health), we operate a national network of local news bureaus that combine deep local expertise with centralized national infrastructure. 

THE OPPORTUNITY

Civic News is seeking a Newark Reporter, Chalkbeat covering Newark schools. 

Newark is an exciting place to cover education and is the perfect setting for a reporter with an investigative or accountability reporting background. Newark is the largest school district in New Jersey and is often the centerpiece of tense political and policy conversations. The district educates more than 40,000 students, nearly a quarter of whom are multilingual learners. More than a third of Newark students attend charter schools — one of the largest shares in the nation — putting the city center stage in national debates about charter schools and their impact.

Capturing this story requires strong beat and accountability reporting as well as source development, relationship-building, and writing skills. You should enjoy a reporting challenge and be comfortable as one of Chalkbeat’s public faces in the community and representing the organization at public events. 

The key responsibilities for this role include:

• Balancing quick-turn news stories with enterprise and long-term projects. 

• Holding education officials accountable. 

• Collaborating effectively with colleagues across Chalkbeat and external media partners. 

• Engaging with readers to help identify and shape story ideas. 

• Serving as a knowledgeable guide for diverse readers on how education systems function. 

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!):  The person we seek:

• Five years of experience in journalism. 

• Track record of building diverse sources in a range of environments. 

• Expertise in investigative techniques; using public records and data to find compelling stories. 

• Breaking news metabolism and decisiveness. 

• Commitment to diversity, equity, and inclusion. 

• Passion for education and Chalkbeat’s mission is a must; knowledge of education is a strong plus, but not required. 

Bonus points if you’ve got:

• Connections to Newark. 

• Data journalism experience.

• Fluency in a language other than English, especially Spanish or Portuguese . 

Civic News Values, here’s how that shows up in our work together:

• We work as one team.
   Rebuilding local news requires collaboration. We actively nurture a harmonious environment of dignity, respect, and professionalism. We assume good intent, support one another’s growth, and have a team-oriented approach to solving  problems together.

• We pursue truth with intellectual honesty.
   Our work demands rigor. We seek facts, challenge assumptions, and engage thoughtfully with perspectives different from our own. We follow the evidence wherever it leads.

• We practice inclusive journalism.
   Strong civic life depends on representation and trust. We commit to antiracism, equity, and inclusive practices. We build meaningful relationships with the communities we serve and reflect their realities in our reporting.

• We earn trust every day.
   We develop subject-matter expertise. We operate transparently. We take responsibility for our work and keep learning so our journalism remains credible, relevant, and strong.

This full-time remote eligible position is based in the Newark area. Civic News Company has a presence in: Chicago, Colorado, Indianapolis, Newark, Pennsylvania, Arizona, Texas, Michigan, Tennessee, New York City, and Washington, D.C. 

The salary range is $75,000-$90,000; final salary will be determined based on level of experience and geographic location, with a generous benefits package, including:

• Medical, vision, and dental insurance

• Time off that truly supports rest, including 20 days of PTO, a paid one-week recess, 5 sick days, 3 floating holidays, and 12 paid holidays in 2026

• Retirement support through a 401(k) with a 4% employer match that is immediately vested

• 100% paid parental leave: 18 weeks fully paid, plus a 2-week part-time return-to-work ramp-up

• Flexible Spending Plan for eligible medical or childcare expenses

• Annual professional development stipend

• Employer-provided life insurance and short- and long-term disability coverage

• Monthly reimbursement for cell phone and internet expenses

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 included in the Civic News Company bargaining unit.

Physical Requirements of the Job

This role is primarily sedentary and involves extended periods of sitting and regular use of standard office equipment, including computers and phones, for up to 8 hours per day. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions of the position. 

Civic News Company Commitment

Civic News Company is committed to building a diverse, equitable, and inclusive organization. We believe restoring civic trust requires a plurality of voices, backgrounds, and experiences. Civic News Company is committed to equal employment opportunities and 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.