Multimedia Journalist, Education & Opportunity

JOB SUMMARY (Two/Three Lines):

·        The Multimedia Journalist, Education and Opportunity covers the systems, institutions, and community forces that shape how people in the Lehigh Valley learn, work, and build their futures.

·        This beat spans public school funding and outcomes, workforce development, career pathways, and childcare as a barrier to economic participation.

·        The journalist in this role produces original content across digital, audio, video, newsletter, and social platforms, and brings a community first lens to stories about access, equity, and opportunity in the Lehigh Valley.

RESPONSIBILITIES (Tasks):

·        Own the Education and Opportunity beat, developing deep knowledge of the Lehigh Valley's public schools, school districts, workforce development programs, career pathway initiatives, and childcare landscape.

·        Build and maintain a strong, diverse source network across the beat, including educators, school administrators, workforce development organizations, parents, students, and community advocates.

·        Report and produce original content consistently across digital, newsletter, audio, and video formats, meeting deadlines and editorial standards.

·        Pitch story ideas regularly and work with the Director of Content to develop and execute a beat coverage plan aligned with LVPM's editorial themes.

·        Create and capture social-native content -- short-form video, photos, and clips -- from the field and from finished stories, in coordination with the Social Media Coordinator.

·        Engage with students, families, educators, and community organizations in ways that reflect LVPM's commitment to community-centered journalism.

·        Represent LVPM in the community, attending events, public meetings, and community gatherings relevant to the beat.

·        Contribute to LVPM's newsletters by providing beat content, story summaries, and updates on a regular cadence.

·        All other duties as assigned.

KEY ACCOUNTABILITIES (Results Ownership):

·        Consistent production of original, community-centered content on the Education and Opportunity beat across platforms, on deadline and to editorial standard.

·        A well-developed beat with active source relationships across schools, workforce organizations, and community partners.

·        Content that reaches audiences across digital, newsletter, audio, video, and social platforms.

·        Meaningful contribution to LVPM's social content through field capture, clips, and social-native storytelling.

·        Active participation in tentpole programming and community events relevant to the beat.

KEY COMPETENCY COMPONENTS (Behaviors Exhibited):

SKILLS: (Ability to use knowledge effectively and competently in execution)

•    Strong storyteller who can produce across formats and adapt tone and length for each platform.

•    Able to shoot and capture photos and video in the field to a publishable standard.

•    Comfortable recording and editing audio for podcast and digital distribution.

•    Creates social-native content that engages audiences on the platforms where they are.

•    Strong source builder who develops genuine, trust-based relationships across schools, workforce organizations, and the broader community.

KNOWLEDGE: (Facts acquired by a person through experience or education)

•    Solid grounding in journalism ethics, accuracy, fairness, and editorial standards.

•    Understanding of how content distributes differently across digital, newsletter, audio, video, and social platforms.

•    Familiarity with the Lehigh Valley's education systems, workforce landscape, and community organizations, or a demonstrated eagerness to develop that knowledge quickly.

•    Understanding of the policy and funding structures that shape public education and workforce development at the local and state level.

EXPERIENCE: (Work experience, degree attainment, professional certifications)

•    Two to three (2-3) years of professional journalism or content experience, including reporting, writing, and multimedia production.

•    Demonstrated experience producing content across more than one format -- text, audio, video, or social.

•    Experience covering education, workforce development, or related community beats preferred.

•    Bilingual in English and Spanish, preferred.

•    Bachelor's degree in journalism, communications, or related field, or equivalent professional experience.

TRAITS: (Distinguishing qualities of a person)

•    Curious

•    Dependable

•    Community-minded

CHARACTERISTICS: (The special trait that makes a person unique)

•    Genuinely interested in how education and opportunity shape life in the Lehigh Valley -- brings that curiosity and care into every story.

•    Approaches the work with a can-do attitude and figures out how to get things done across formats and deadlines.

•    Works well independently and as part of a collaborative team and is easy to edit.

OTHER WORK REQUIREMENTS: 

·        May be asked to work longer hours and occasional weekends, particularly for tentpole events, school board meetings, community programming, and breaking coverage.

·        As you will/may be driving a company vehicle or your own vehicle for company business, a valid driver’s license and a good driving record as determined by a driver’s license background check is required for this position.

·        All team members must successfully pass a background check (7 years), FBI fingerprint clearance and PA child clearance.