Reporter
COMPANY OVERVIEW
Tennesseans for Student Success is a statewide network of teachers, parents, community leaders, and volunteers dedicated to supporting, championing, and fighting for Tennessee’s students and their futures. Our organization’s efforts, including legislative advocacy, grassroots organizing, and engagement across the state, and issue advance to support high-quality public education systems across Tennessee.
In 2022 Tennesseans for Student Success launched the Tennessee Firefly. Named after Tennessee’s official state insect, the Tennessee Firefly seeks to strengthen our communities through factual journalism with a local focus to increase civic engagement and awareness.
POSITION OVERVIEW
The Tennessee Firefly Reporter is a creative writer who is committed to telling the untold and under-told stories about education and government in Tennessee. As an essential member of our Firefly team, you will be responsible for pitching, developing, and writing content for the Tennessee Firefly each day.
MISSION
The mission of the Tennessee Firefly Reporter is to generate stories daily for the Firefly website. This position will help grow the website’s presence and reach to be the preeminent source for education journalism in Tennessee.
RESPONSIBILITIES
The Tennessee Firefly Reporter will have the following primary responsibilities:
- Use creative storytelling to accurately inform and engage our readers about the problems and solutions impacting Tennessee’s students.
- Demonstrate clear, concise writing skills and an emphasis on “why this is important to me.”
- Develop and pitch unique education stories weekly.
- Participate in daily editorial decisions.
- Works with managing editor to evaluate what’s working and what’s not and develops ongoing plans to better satisfy audience needs.
- Captures basic photos and video as needed.
- Provides great customer service, helping readers find answers and solutions.
- Performs other duties as necessary.
COMPETENCIES
You are a proactive and persistent problem solver. You hold yourself personally responsible for results and are patiently persistent as you follow up and follow through on assignments. You find ways to get the information you need to meet your deadlines. You do not wait to be told what to do. You’re adept at working sources, finding interesting news pitches, learning the important details of education-centered topics, and following up with important updates as they happen.
You are a “details” person. Your notes are well-organized, and you can find documents in just a few seconds. You make sure things don’t fall through the cracks. You would be embarrassed to go into a meeting unprepared.
You understand the world of education and government. You have an exceptional ability to understand the macro- and micro-level dynamics that shape education in Tennessee. You are comfortable reading the agenda for a school board meeting or legislation under consideration at a state education committee. You can quickly articulate the outcomes of important decisions in a way your readers will understand. You know who to seek out to gather information and who will be making the decisions that impact Tennessee families.
You have credibility as a journalist. You demonstrate competency and fairness on a wide range of government and education topics. You strive to be accurate, fair, and thorough along with acting with integrity.
You are an excellent communicator. You use clear and concise language without being overly verbose. Your writing is concrete and creative.
REQUIREMENTS:
Education: Bachelor’s degree required.
Experience: One (1) year of experience reporting, ideally with experience covering education.
Physical: Ability to stand or sit for prolonged periods.
Job Type: Part Time, Hourly (28 hours weekly)
Travel: As needed depending on the story.
COMPENSATION $30 to $40+ hourly depending on experience.
APPLICATION INSTRUCTIONS
To apply, please send cover letter and PDF of your resume via email to sky@tnsuccess.org.
- Cover letter and PDF of your resume.
- A writing sample similar to that which may be produced in this job.
Journalism Internship
COMPANY OVERVIEW
Tennesseans for Student Success is a statewide network of teachers, parents, community leaders, and volunteers dedicated to supporting, championing, and fighting for Tennessee’s students and their futures. Our organization’s efforts, including legislative advocacy, grassroots organizing, and engagement across the state, and issue advance to support high-quality public education systems across Tennessee.
In 2022 Tennesseans for Student Success launched the Tennessee Firefly. Named after Tennessee’s official state insect, the Tennessee Firefly seeks to strengthen our communities through factual journalism with a local focus to increase civic engagement and awareness.
POSITION OVERVIEW
The Tennessee Firefly Writing Intern is a highly motivated writer taking part in a 14-week internship. Intern will assist the Firefly team in Nashville with writing and research on education topics. Intern will be a highly motivated individual who will work remotely to research and write on education topics in their part of the state.
MISSION
The mission of the Intern is to help the Firefly team generate stories daily for the Firefly website. This position will help grow the website’s presence and reach to be the preeminent source for education journalism in Tennessee.
RESPONSIBILITIES
The Tennessee Firefly Intern will have the following primary responsibilities:
- Commitment of 10 to 20 hours a week. Interns typically work remotely for two 5 hour shifts a week. Working hours will be flexible.
- Ability to make 14-week commitment.
- Works with managing editor to develop and write education stories weekly.
- Captures basic photos and video as needed.
COMPETENCIES
- Basic knowledge of writing, social media, and a willingness to learn.
- Ability to learn and write about the dynamics that shape education in Tennessee.
REQUIREMENTS:
Education: Junior-year standing or recent college graduate, ideally with a journalism or education major.
Experience: College/High School publication experience or previous internships preferred, but not required
Physical: Ability to stand or sit for prolonged periods.
Job Type: Part Time, Hourly
Travel: Some travel will be expected.
COMPENSATION $15 an hour.
APPLICATION INSTRUCTIONS
To apply, please send cover letter and PDF of your resume via email to sky@tnsuccess.org.
- Cover letter and PDF of your resume.
- A writing sample similar to that which may be produced in this job.