WABE is looking for an education reporter to join its 25-person news team.  The reporter will cover education in daily, feature, enterprise, and series stories, and help with breaking news as needed on other beats, in consultation with their editor.  

This position will develop content for the multiple mediums that WABE utilizes with priority on radio and digital but also potentially TV and podcasts. 

About WABE 

WABE 90.1fm is one of the most listened to stations in the Atlanta metro area, a top ten U.S. media market. WABE reporters regularly file for National Public Radio’s newscasts and shows. We continue to expand our coverage of the metro area as we work hard to tell stories from underrepresented and underreported parts of Atlanta. 

WABE continues to see strong financial support from our community, board of directors and foundations, among others. The organization is expanding at a strong, sustainable pace to continue to deliver on multiple objectives in content as well as other departments. 

 This position is based in Atlanta. WABE’s newsroom is a flexible, hybrid work environment.  

What we believe in 

Collaboration 

–        We care about working with outside organizations to produce content that is richer and more substantial than we could possibly do on our own.  

• Our collaboration with American Public Media helped us become one of the first public radio stations in the country to develop and implement a source diversity tracker. 

•  Our collaboration with National Public Radio led to NPR first-ever Pulitzer Prize for audio for the podcast No Compromise. 

–        Internally, we collaborate both formally and informally, with occasional series and stories being created from ad hoc brainstorming sessions. 

• o   Collaboration among our team members has led to powerful reporting, including the multi-part series The Heat Effect. 

–        We care about departments outside of our own in the organization and work with them at times, especially on events that showcase the newsroom’s work. 

Diversity 

–      We want a diverse group of voices in the newsroom speaking up to make sure we are covering the right things at the right time and to add to the richness and accuracy of our stories. 

–      We believe in stretching our boundaries to tell stories that traditional media can often miss. 

–      We care about hearing from a variety of people in our reporting. 

–      We care about issuing feedback to management when problems and opportunities arise. 

Development  

–        It is important to newsroom leadership that everyone on the team learns and grows. 

–        We aim to play to each person’s strengths while we work together to improve areas that need more development. 

–        Newsroom leadership encourages cross training that will allow some positions to learn about other positions within the team, including potential opportunities to report, host, produce and edit. 

–        We encourage staff to participate in fellowships, grants and training opportunities outside of WABE. 

Wellness 

– Our newsroom leaders believe journalists deliver more impactful and powerful stories when they are in a good place physically, emotionally, and mentally. 

– Our newsroom is currently a hybrid of in-person and remote working with flexibility to do both for most positions.  

– Our newsroom provides free membership to scores of metro Atlanta YMCAs, free access to the Insight Timer app and flexibility in scheduling in coordination with direct supervisors. 

– See more in the benefits section for company time off and sick leave policy. 

The team 

Journalists with WABE’s multiple award-winning news team have a variety of experiences. Some folks are new to the Atlanta area; others have been here for years. Some are newer to journalism or public media, while others are more seasoned.   

WABE, with the creation of WABE Studios, is growing its video and TV unit as well as its podcast division. Opportunities will exist to expand newsroom content on these platforms in consultation with leadership. 

Your skills 

–The basics: We’re looking for a strong writer who believes in the importance of news media, has a strong work ethic, a high level of journalistic integrity and an understanding of audio storytelling; someone who is reliable, trustworthy, receptive to feedback and willing to grow and adapt. 

The education reporter should … 

• Report daily news while balancing future feature and series stories, bringing thoughtfulness to know when to triage and when to pursue stories. 

• Understand or be willing to learn about the Georgia education system to develop a deliberate coverage approach in collaboration with direct editor. 

• Challenge themselves creatively with use of sound, radio, and digital writing, as well as in story choice and reporting approach.   

• Work as a team player who is willing to collaborate with reporters on other beats, radio and digital editors and our newsroom photographer, and to contribute to special projects. . 

Ideally the person in this position will have experience in public media or a strong sense of what is needed from public media reporters. Creative journalists who don’t have public media experience are encouraged to apply, especially if they have ideas of where they think they could take this beat. While this is not an entry-level position, we encourage people with varying work histories to apply if they think they have relevant experience and ideas to bring to the job. 

Compensation and benefits 

This position has a salary range of $55-65,000 (based on the category of Reporter II-Reporter III. This is a full-time position eligible for benefits (medical, dental, vision, retirement) and paid time off.