Open Campus is hiring a data and investigations team to strengthen the editorial support it provides to local newsrooms and to dedicate more journalistic attention to community colleges, higher ed’s most local, least scrutinized institutions.

Higher ed is a local story and it shapes the future of every community. To cover it that way, Open Campus adds dedicated reporters to newsrooms across the country who examine how colleges are shaping local economies, career pathways, and the livelihoods of the people who live nearby. (See a map of where we work.)

This new team doubles down on that mission. There’s nothing more local than community college. And every community deserves to know how well theirs really works. These institutions control billions of dollars and shape millions of lives. Yet they operate with a fraction of the journalistic attention given to the rest of higher education.

Open Campus works collaboratively with local newsrooms to provide expert coverage of higher ed for their communities. The new Open Campus journalists will partner with local editors and reporters to seed and support in-depth stories and investigative coverage in newsrooms across the country. They’ll coach reporters, guide projects, sharpen story ideas, do big-picture edits, analyze data, and provide national sources and context. They’ll also help develop resources, tools, and products to improve coverage of community colleges, deepen public dialogue, and better serve local audiences.

Open Campus is accepting applications for three positions:

  • Investigations editor. This person will serve as the editorial lead for Open Campus coverage of community colleges, manage the investigations team, and oversee investigative stories in local partner newsrooms across the country. 
  • Data editor. This person will lead data collection and analysis for investigative reporting, providing data coaching and training to reporters in local partner newsrooms, creating tools and resources, and ensuring accuracy. 
  • Investigative editor/reporter. This person will serve as a player-coach, working hand-in-hand with reporters in partner newsrooms to develop investigative stories, provide coaching on investigative practices, assist with reporting and data analysis, and do story edits. 

Salaries range from $75K – $120K depending on role and experience. 

We’re based in Washington, D.C., but you may work from anywhere in the United States.

Here’s what we’re looking for:

  • Journalists with an accountability mindset, investigative skills, and a track record of producing stories that make a difference for their communities
  • Journalists with experience untangling complex policies and communicating clearly about why they matter
  • Collaborators whose strengths lie in working with people, guiding, supporting, and inspiring them
  • Problem solvers skilled at creating structures and resources that improve journalistic work
  • People excited about our mission of strengthening local news coverage and serving diverse communities

We’re particularly interested in applicants who:

  • Attended community college
  • Have experience with higher education reporting or editing

We know there are important skills we haven’t thought of or strong candidates who don’t have this exact background. If that’s you, don’t hesitate to apply and tell us more.

Open Campus is committed to building an inclusive culture that reflects the full diversity of the nation. We encourage members of traditionally underrepresented communities to apply, including people of color, LGBTQ people, and people with disabilities.

Benefits of working at Open Campus

  • 20 vacation days, plus sick leave and major holidays
  • Health insurance
  • Disability insurance
  • Life insurance
  • 401(k) with matching
  • Up to 6 months paid family leave

About Open Campus

Open Campus is a nonprofit news organization that ensures communities have the independent information they need about higher ed. By placing expert reporters in local newsrooms across the country, we help people understand and influence the institutions that shape their futures.

Founded in 2019, we now work with 18 newsroom partners and have delivered more than $2 million to local news organizations. We’re supported by funders spanning journalism and higher education, including Arnold Ventures, the Lumina Foundation, and the American Journalism Project.

How to apply

Apply using this form. You may apply for more than one of these roles in the same application. We’ll review applications as they come in. But, we’re also going to take our time building this team — you might not hear from us to schedule interviews until early in 2026. 

Have questions about these positions? Contact us at jobs@opencampusmedia.org. 

Please note: We are not accepting résumés or applications via email. All candidates must apply through our official application process.