The Connecticut Mirror is hiring: Education Reporter in Hartford

Overview

The Connecticut Mirror (www.CTMirror.org) is a nonprofit, non-partisan local online journalism organization covering public policy, government and politics in Connecticut. Our 27-person full-time staff includes 22 journalists and five business team members. Four journalism positions have been added this year. This beat will be an integral part of our broader policy coverage, including justice, human services, health care, the state budget, the environment, and housing, with a mix of daily news coverage and deeper-dive enterprise stories on substantive policy and human-interest issues — especially those that would otherwise go untold. We are particularly interested in stories that hold government accountable and expose systemic problems. The reporter will also write a regular newsletter every other week, highlighting and explaining the latest news for readers interested in K-12 education.

Responsibilities

• Build sources within state and local education systems — including parents, students, teachers, administrators, local and state officials, researchers and advocates.
• Collaborate with other staff reporters to cover the intersection of K-12 education with other coverage areas (e.g., health, state finance and justice).
• During Connecticut’s annual state legislative session, track bills and write stories about proposed legislation that impacts school-age children and their families.
• Write daily news stories and enterprise reporting, with emphasis on accountability and human-interest angles.
• Produce a regular newsletter and explore storytelling across multiple platforms.

Qualifications

• A passion for great journalism that covers policy, government and politics.
• Interest in public K-12 education.
• At least three years of experience reporting at a daily news organization.
• Ability to balance long-form enterprise and daily incremental stories.
• Ability to translate complex policy into readable and relevant narrative copy.
• Talent for connecting government or system failures to human consequences.
• Willingness to tell stories in innovative, compelling ways across platforms and in a way that engages audiences.
• Ability to work well independently and collaboratively with CT Mirror staff and other news organizations.
• Reliable transportation and authorization to work in the United States.
• Passion for CT Mirror’s public policy mission and nonprofit ethos.
• We do not expect every candidate to be equally skilled in all areas; we value a range of backgrounds and experiences.

Location

This position will be based in our Hartford, Conn., newsroom. We strongly encourage candidates from diverse backgrounds to apply.

Compensation and Benefits

• Annual salary of $65,000–$75,000, depending on experience.
• Medical and dental benefits, and a 403b retirement savings program with company match.
• Generous time-off policy: 23 days of paid personal time off and 11 paid federal holidays.
• Professional development and the opportunity to learn from peers at industry conferences.
• Transparent internal review and feedback process.
• Cell phone stipend.

How to Apply

Please apply by Monday, September 22, 2025, by using this form: https://airtable.com/appmPgbUU6FJ7IgXB/shrL67lRE09FOZ8tC

You will need to include a resume plus three writing samples of your work. You may also include a cover letter describing your interest in this role, and any additional writing samples or pertinent information to advance your candidacy.

Questions

Questions? Contact State Policy Editor Erica E. Phillips via email at ephillips@ctmirror.org. No phone calls please.

CT Mirror is committed to building an inclusive organization that represents the people and communities we serve. We do not and shall not discriminate on the basis of race, color, religion, gender, gender expression, age, national origin (ancestry), disability, marital status, sexual orientation, or military status, in any of our hiring, procurement, volunteer recruitment, or other activities or operations. We are committed to providing an inclusive and welcoming environment for all members of our staff, board, volunteers, subcontractors, vendors, and readers.