Education Reporter

Date Posted	July 06, 2026
Industry	Newspapers
Specialty	Education
Job Status	Full-time
Salary	Not Specified

Description:

The Northwest Arkansas Democrat-Gazette seeks an education reporter to join our team.

Northwest Arkansas is a great place to live and build a career. The region combines a growing economy with a friendly, small-town feel and the amenities of a much larger metro area. We’ve got three Fortune 500 companies, a world-class art museum, hiking and biking trails galore, a minor league baseball team and a thriving culinary scene.

There’s never a dull moment on our education beat. The reporter covers a two-county area that’s home to more than 90,000 K-12 public school students, Arkansas’ largest community college and a career-technical school. We want a reporter who’s not only capable of writing a story on deadline from a school board meeting, but also driven to produce interesting enterprise pieces on newsmakers and trends relevant to their beat. We want someone who's eager for the watchdog role and who will keep an eye on how public institutions are spending taxpayer dollars.

The successful candidate should have a degree in journalism or a related field and knowledge of AP style. The best candidate will demonstrate enthusiasm for the topic of education; a clear, inviting writing style; and a desire to write enterprise stories. Experience at a daily newspaper is preferred; however, entry-level applicants with strong clips will be considered.

Position works from our Fayetteville and Bentonville offices. Work schedule includes nights and occasional weekend duty. Applicants must have a good driving record, a valid driver’s license and their own means of transportation.

The benefits package includes paid vacation, holidays, sick leave, personal days, and parental leave to support a healthy work-life balance. Health, dental, vision, and additional insurance coverage are provided, along with long-term disability insurance and retirement plans. Employees have access to an Employee Assistance Program and behavioral health support, offering confidential resources for personal and professional challenges.

This is a safety-sensitive position. Candidate must pass drug screening and background checks.

We are an equal opportunity organization and do not discriminate on the basis of race, national origin, gender, gender identity, sexual orientation, protected veteran status, disability, age, or any other legally protected status.

To apply: Please submit your resume, cover letter and at least three writing samples to Managing Editor Dave Perozek at dperozek@nwaonline.com.