Reporter, Education

About WFYI

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.

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.

WFYI’s education reporter will cover how decisions made at the statehouse, in school board meetings, and in district offices shape the lives of students and families. This reporter will also examine whether public commitments to students, families, and communities are being met. Coverage may include issues such as persistent achievement and access gaps, the growth of charter schools and the private school voucher program, and the reshaping of the Indianapolis public education landscape.

Ideal candidates will be comfortable moving between a breaking story and a month‑long investigation. As needed and assigned, this journalist will report in-depth digital investigations, sound‑rich audio features, daily news for web and newscasts, and video for social and television platforms. Strong candidates know how to find the human story inside a budget line or a legislative hearing and can make the stakes of education policy clear to families.

Reporting and Story Development

• 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.

News Gathering and Production

• Build and maintain a large network of sources.
• Conduct thorough research and news gathering, 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.
• Meet deadlines and follow WFYI’s editorial standards for accuracy, fairness, independence, clarity, and ethical journalism.

Audience Engagement and Platform Presence

• 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.

Editorial Collaboration and Special Coverage

• Actively 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.

Other Duties as Assigned

• Perform other duties as assigned.
• WFYI team members, including this position, must demonstrate an ongoing commitment to WFYI’s mission and to public media, journalism, education, and community engagement.
• WFYI team members, including this position, may provide back‑up support across…