Contributors wanted to write about media coverage of schools

The Grade is a foundation-funded independent effort to improve media coverage of schools. We cover education journalism like education journalism covers schools.

We’re looking for people who can produce high-quality opinion pieces. Recent examples of our work include pieces about the coverage of learning loss, Black homeschooling, rural schools, school board protests, and SEL — as well as commentary on the coverage from the New York Times and the Seattle Times and the newsroom response to the George Floyd protests.

We can pay $600 per 1,200-word piece or slightly more for pieces that feature original reporting. No journalism degree or beat experience required, but you do need to be brave about expressing strong opinions, quick at writing them down, and responsive to editing. Send clips & story pitches to thegrade2015@gmail.com with “OPINION” in the subject line.

Contributors have written some of the best and most popular pieces we’ve published (or republished).

Some contributors take on important issues of race, class, and inequality:

Why white journalists need to stop focusing on ‘learning loss’ (Ray Salazar)

Better ways to cover Black homeschooling (Khadijah Z. Ali-Coleman)

How do we get Black kids’ literacy to matter? Have more journalists cover it. (Colette Coleman)

What’s missing from back-to-school news? (Kei-Sygh Thomas)

Some contributors focus on a region or local news outlet where education coverage needs attention:

How the Seattle Times’ COVID coverage missed the mark (Alexandra Olins)

2 education reporters … for a metro region of nearly 8 million people (Joanne Jacobs)

In Connecticut, fewer reporters, more missed stories (David DesRoches)

Some contributors review a big magazine or newspaper article that got a lot of attention:

Praise and a wish for more from ‘Raising Kings’ (Joe Williams)

A cautionary tale about linking school choice and segregation (Gail Cornwall on the NYT)

The problem with the NYT’s “impoverished rural schools” narrative (Mara Casey Tieken & Sheneka Williams)

Some contributors focus on the importance of journalist-source relationships and reporter training:

Why education reporters need antibias training (Issac J. Bailey)

An open letter to education writers (Sarah Carpenter on parent-focused journalism)

Parents, here’s how to talk more effectively with reporters (Amy Silverman)

Student voices missing in coverage of NYC specialized school debate (Teens Take Charge)

Some contributors take on a coverage topic that’s important enough to get right:

5 tips on how to cover teacher layoffs (Chad Aldeman)

Writing better stories about students with disabilities (Amy Silverman)

Too vulnerable to fail? (Amy French on lax grading policies during remote)

Including English learners in COVID-19 coverage (Barbara Gottschalk)