Public Education Reporter

Date Posted	November 26, 2025
Industry	Newspapers
Specialty	Not Specified
Job Status	Full-time
Salary	Not Specified

Description:

Public Education Reporter

Reports to: City Editor

Classification: Full-time, Exempt

Safety Sensitive Position: Pursuant to Act 593 of the Arkansas Medical Marijuana Amendment

The Arkansas Democrat-Gazette seeks a smart, skilled and determined reporter to cover the Little Rock School District and public education in Arkansas. This is a beat for a reporter with ambition and a knack for finding big stories. Public education in the state commonly ranks in the bottom 10 nationwide. Little Rock schools are rich in history and rife with struggle. Less than five years removed from state control, the district operates on an annual budget of more than $340 million and oversees an enrollment of more than 18,000 students.

Our roots in Arkansas run deep, and so does our commitment to ensuring our reporting thoroughly informs readers about their state and the issues that matter most. We expect to lead Arkansas and America in the comprehensiveness of our reporting, the relevance of our work to our readers, our sense of urgency and our objectivity in pursuit of truth.

If you are a journalist who constantly wants to know more, who won’t be daunted by the challenges of a complex beat, if you are relentlessly inquisitive, if you know covering schools and education is about far more than attending meetings, if you won’t stop until you find the facts, we want to hear from you.

We are looking for journalists with a record of:

• Watchdog reporting that holds powerful people to account.
• Frequent use of public records to find stories, unearth facts and fuel reporting.
• Producing quick-turn stories as well as larger, long-term projects.
• Data reporting that demonstrates the ability to swiftly sift through reams of material and produce compelling content.
• Asking tough questions and finding answers even amid obfuscation by officialdom.
• Skilled writing to cogently communicate complex ideas.
• Source-building across a wide spectrum of people, from those of high rank to those on education’s front lines.
• Accuracy in reporting that ensures your copy is air-tight.
• Effective time management that has you where you need to be when you need to be there and ensures a consistent flow of strong copy.
• Productivity that keeps stories consistently cycling through from your beat.
• A competitive spirit that keeps you constantly at the front of the pack.
• Seamlessly working with digital teams to ensure the best possible reader experience.

What’s needed to be qualified for the job:

• One to three years of journalism experience either with a newspaper or online news organization or in a college setting that provides real-world reporting experience.
• A belief in objective reporting that ensures stories are free from actual bias.
• Exceptional writing skills.
• Rudimentary knowledge of public records and media law.
• High standards for accuracy.
• Basic knowledge of AP style.
• Strong interviewing and research skills.
• Ability to manage tight deadlines and multiple assignments.
• Strong communication skills.

Benefits

• 401K & profit sharing
• Paid vacation and sick leave
• Paid holiday and floating holiday
• Paid personal day
• Paid parental leave
• Health, dental, and vision insurance
• Life, disability, and accident insurance
• Critical illness and hospital indemnity coverage
• Employee assistance program
• Behavior program

We are an equal opportunity employer, and all qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, disability, veteran status, or any other status protected by law.

Applicants must pass a drug screening, undergo motor vehicle record checks, and complete a background check.

Submit a cover letter, resume and three pdf samples of your best work to Executive Editor Lee Wolverton at lwolverton@adgnewsroom.com. Please make the subject line “Public Education Reporter.”