Enterprise Education Reporter

Description:

This is a one-year fellowship through Report For America that may be extended.

We’re looking for a tough, ambitious reporter to tackle education reporting in our community. This is not covering school carnivals. Salem has the second-largest school district in Oregon where reading scores for students are abysmal. The central question that will guide your work for the next year: Why has student performance dropped while spending on schools has gone up?

Salem is a rich environment for reporting on the challenges of public education. It’s a large, diverse district with an expanding dual language program and high poverty rates. Several philanthropic efforts are underway to work with schools and neighborhoods to improve conditions for students. 

This will be a challenge. A reporter who is comfortable tearing apart budgets and parsing data has an excellent opportunity to develop potent watchdog reporting. Along the way, news reporting on local schools will be part of the job.

You will work under the direction of an award-winning managing editor, Rachel Alexander, and with Les Zaitz, an experienced editor, two-time Pulitzer finalist and veteran investigative reporter.

What you need to qualify:
*A demonstrated skill at data analysis..

*An ability to turn complex material into stories readers can readily understand.

*Fluency in Spanish – spoken and written – is a big plus.

*An eagerness to develop deeper reporting skills.

You get:

*Salary

*Medical insurance

*Retirement plan

*Paid vacation, holidays

*Expert coaching and editing

APPLY: Report for America application

DEADLINE: Feb. 16, 2026

Apply

https://www.reportforamerica.org/newsrooms/salem-reporter/