Education Beat Reporter:1,2, or 3

IMMEDIATE OPENING

Education Beat Reporter I-III

Work with a team of smart, collaborative colleagues to tell stories that matter.

WFAE, the award-winning NPR station serving the Charlotte region, seeks a full-time reporter. The successful candidate will be the lead reporter for our education coverage, and will also be expected to fulfill general assignment duties, including a daily news rotation.

Charlotte-Mecklenburg Schools is the 16th-largest school district in the U.S. With a population that’s growing increasingly diverse, CMS exemplifies all of the challenges, opportunities and drama impacting large, urban districts across the nation. It’s a fascinating and rich beat to cover, and we’re looking for the right reporter to explore CMS to find compelling, original stories. The successful candidate will also cover education trends and interesting developments in the surrounding counties, as well as issues of statewide concern.

We are searching for a journalist who can investigate difficult topics, ask tough questions and then translate that knowledge into easily understandable, well-produced audio and written reports. The reporter must be adept at filing radio spots, superspots and feature-length reports for local and national broadcast programming, as well as writing and editing articles for all WFAE distribution channels, including our website, podcast, and a weekly email newsletter about education news in the Charlotte region. Our reporters are expected to promote their work through social media, by appearing on Charlotte Talks and participating in WFAE events.

As a small, flexible newsroom, we will also train the reporters to fill in as a backup for our newscasters and newsmagazine hosts. The job requires someone who can work independently on tight deadlines but who also can work collaboratively on stories and projects. It also requires someone who can work well under pressure and maintain a clear sense of priorities in a demanding, fast-paced environment.

Occasional weekend and evening shifts are expected (the Charlotte-Mecklenburg School board generally meets every other Tuesday, for example, and everyone pitches in during fund drive weeks approximately four times per year).

This job is located in Charlotte, N.C., with a hybrid in-office/remote work schedule.

Requirements:

• Bachelor’s degree or equivalent years of relevant work experience
• 3+ years of directly relevant work experience
• Strong news judgment and ethical standards
• Strong writing and communication skills
• Ability to produce content for digital and broadcast formats
• Ability to effectively use digital platforms for engagement, content gathering and distribution
• Ability to be nimble and productive in a fast-paced news environment
• Ability and willingness to work varied shifts
  
  
  

Preferred:

• Audio production and editing experience
• Experience working in live radio or other broadcast media
  
  
  

Send your resume and cover letter and supporting application materials such as audio, writing samples and links to careers@wfae.org with Reporter (Education Beat) in the subject line. Please include your salary requirements in your cover letter in order for us to consider your application.

This position is covered by a collective bargaining agreement with SAG-AFTRA (Screen Actors Guild-American Federation of Television and Radio Artists)

Salary: $51,400 to $77,000 based on experience and skills

About WFAE

WFAE is a community-licensed public radio station that has served the Charlotte region for more than 40 years. Our newsroom has won 19 regional Edward R. Murrow Awards in the last four years, two national Murrow Awards in the last three years and a slew of other honors for our broadcast and digital work. Our work is routinely carried on national radio programs such as “Morning Edition,” “All Things Considered” and “Marketplace.”

WFAE is a fast-paced news organization offering an exciting and creative work environment. We look for ambitious and dedicated people ready for challenges. We offer a competitive compensation and benefits package.

Our corporate values are important to us. At WFAE, we strive to:

• Exemplify the highest levels of integrity and public trust.
• Serve as a national and industry model of journalistic excellence.
• Be doggedly committed to telling great stories and serving the public.
• Succeed through teamwork, respect and collaboration.
• Include diverse people, voices, thoughts and perspectives at every level of our work.
• Value and reward creativity, curiosity and humor.
• Be bold and take risks in service to journalism and our mission.
• Enter every room with a spirit of generosity and gratitude.
  
  
  

WFAE is an Equal Opportunity Employer.