Childcare & Early Childhood Education Fellow

The Detroit Free Press seeks a reporter to cover childcare, early childhood education and other crucial areas that affect the lives of children ages five and under and their families in metro Detroit and across Michigan.

This is a 14-month fellowship in which the reporter will dive into the needs and challenges of stakeholders in the broad universe of young kids, examining, among other issues, quality, affordability and availability of childcare and the impact those factors have on families and communities.

This coverage is about the well-being of Michigan's youngest and the systems they and their families need to work in order for them to thrive. We're looking for an enthusiastic, organized and empathetic journalist to listen to children, parents, childcare providers, caregivers and educators and produce consistent, meaningful reporting on this pivotal time in a child's life.

This fellowship is supported by The Bainum Family Foundation.

Responsibilities:

• Develop a strategy that consistently listens to stakeholders in the lives of young kids and adapts coverage to their needs.

• Offer in-depth and useful multi-media coverage of the issues affecting kids five and younger and the people who care for them, highlighting challenges and solutions in ways that appeal to the stakeholders in children's lives and decision makers in Michigan alike.
• Create and disseminate storytelling and reporting in ways that inform busy and hard-to-reach families, childcare providers, educators and caregivers, and achieves the biggest possible reach and impact.

Requirements

• Three to five years of reporting experience on a beat.
• Proficiency on social media platforms; including but not limited to Facebook, Twitter, Instagram and Reddit.
• Proficiency in finding trends in data.
• Experience taking photos and video on a mobile device.
• Strong communication skills, news judgement and headline-writing ability.
• Ability to efficiently manage multiple stories and projects at the same time.
• Ability to multitask and excel under deadline pressure.
• Ability to work collaboratively.
• Strong writing, spelling and grammar skills; familiarity with AP style.

This role requires a valid driver's license, reliable transportation and the minimum liability insurance required by state law.

Application Instructions

We are eager to learn more about you and how you fit this role. When you apply, don't limit your upload to a resume; show us what you've done. To do so, put together a single document file that includes the following, in this order:

• Your resume - one to two pages.
• A cover letter that outlines how you would approach the job.
• Links to 3-6 online samples of your work. Show us what you've produced or had a hand in that best reflects what you can do in your desired role.

It is important that these items be assembled into a single document and uploaded in PDF format. Completing these steps will ensure that your application receives the highest consideration.

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