Education Reporter

The Milwaukee Journal Sentinel , part of the USA TODAY NETWORK , is seeking an experienced reporter with multimedia skills to advance our daily, enterprise and explanatory higher education coverage. Our aim is to deepen and grow our connection with our audience, fully tapping into stories that resonate with students, parents, employers, taxpayers, faculty and administrators.


Coverage includes public and private four-year colleges and universities as well as technical colleges - a broad range of stories requiring a mix of interests and skills. In Wisconsin, the state's university system is at a pivotal point, as it copes with turnover in three key roles: the system president, chancellor of the state's flagship university in Madison and athletic director.


The ideal candidate will be able to understand budgets and funding, explain policy concerns and navigate the political and demographic changes that are creating a period of upheaval in higher education .


This reporter must demonstrate curiosity and be able to shift easily between different topics, such as the burden of student debt, interesting research, campus trends and education institutions' efforts to reimagine their mission.


Success in the job will require:

• Effort in reaching new audiences. We need someone who can mix creative stories aimed at drawing new readers and in-depth enterprise that will satisfy longtime subscribers.
• Flexibility in how to approach stories. We need someone comfortable telling stories via text, audio and video, and able to identify the right format for each story. The reporter should be able to tell stories quickly when needed, in-depth when called for and always with accuracy.
• Familiarity with the demands of a digital world. We need someone who can ensure content is optimized with strong headlines, links, video and photo galleries, aware of the contribution strong SEO can play in reaching our readers.
• Commitment to diversity in topics and sources. We need someone who sees all facets of higher education and how it intersects with people of different backgrounds.
• We're looking for someone who can smoothly partner with other reporters when stories touch multiple beats, bringing greater context to our readers.
• Patience and drive in creating a rich source network. We need someone who is able to put issues in state and national context.
• Ability to step back and see larger stories, and put issues in state and national context. We need someone who can maintain the rhythm of a daily beat while recognizing topics that are ripe for broader exploration or investigation.

Requirements:

• Bachelor's or master's in communications, journalism or an equivalent combination of education and experience.
• Minimum of three years of reporting experience.
• Strong command of newswriting grammar and style.
• Strong copy-editing skills and the ability to produce content that is clean, accurate and publication ready.
• Is passionate and enthusiastic about news and content that will work well with audiences on social platforms.
• Is comfortable using social media platforms to enhance reporting and deliver stories.
• Understands reporting ethics and sourcing.
• Excels in a fast-paced news environment and understands the digital first mission.
• Collaborates well with others and can work with a team on the biggest stories.
• Must be willing to travel on short notice to cover breaking news events.
• This role requires a valid driver's license, reliable transportation, and the minimum liability insurance required by state law.

Application instructions

We are eager to learn more about you and how you fit this role. When you apply, don't limit your upload to a resume; show us what you've done. To do so, please submit:

• Your resume - one to two pages.

• A cover letter that outlines how you would approach the job.

• Links to 3-6 online samples of your work. Show us what you've produced or had a hand in that best reflects what you can do in your desired role.

Completing these steps will ensure that your application receives the highest consideration.


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