Project Editor — Firsthand

Project Editor — Firsthand, The Bell

• Reports to:
  
  Executive Director
• Status:
  Independent Contractor; 8-month term

The Bell is launching Firsthand, a national student journalism initiative exploring innovation and engagement in America’s schools, told directly by the young people experiencing it.

Inspired by a large body of research on Gen Z and education from Gallup and the Walton Family Foundation, the project will elevate what students say is working — and not working — in their K–12 schools, and translate those lived experiences into rigorous, student-led journalism.

This is not a traditional newsroom project. It’s a student-powered reporting effort designed to shift the national conversation about schools by centering the people who know them best.

We are looking for an experienced editor to design and lead the project end-to-end.

The Project Editor will lead the editorial execution of Firsthand’s pilot year. You’ll work closely with The Bell’s leadership and program teams to turn a strong vision into a clear, step-by-step editorial process that supports student reporters in New York City, Jackson, Mississippi, and across the country.

You will:

• Set clear expectations for what makes a strong student story
• Build simple, usable systems for pitches, edits, deadlines, and publication
• Work directly with students to shape their reporting and revisions
• Ensure published stories meet a high bar for accuracy, sourcing, and clarity

This role is equal parts systems-builder, mentor, and hands-on editor.

This is an independent contractor role.

Contract Term
: 8 months (with potential extension by mutual agreement)

Commitment
:
Expected average of 30 hours per week; some periods will be busier than others over the course of the term.

Compensation
: $6,500–$8,000 per month, commensurate with experience

Hours
:
Flexible, project-based schedule; must be largely available for collaboration during standard business hours (10 a.m. to 5 p.m. ET)

Location
:
New York City preferred; open to U.S.

-based remote

The Project Editor will design and manage the full project from ideation to final publication.

• Create a Firsthand style guide and clear editorial standards
• Build a pitch review process with transparent criteria
• Establish a straightforward workflow:
• Pitch → Reporting Plan → Draft → Revision → Fact-Check → Publish
• Set clear timelines and keep multiple work streams moving at once

• Use insights from Gallup and the Walton Family Foundation’s Gen Z research to define clear reporting lanes (e.g., AI in schools, career-connected learning, belonging, assessment, mental health)
• Help students move from broad topics to focused, reportable story ideas
• Develop pitch frameworks that make expectations accessible for first-time reporters

• Review, refine, and greenlight student pitches
• Edit written features, audio pieces, and short-form video
• Push for strong sourcing, sharp angles, and clear structure
• Provide feedback that strengthens the work without diluting student voice
• Help students develop habits around deadlines, revisions, and fact-checking

• Manage intensive reporting and editing during the summer production period
• Work in-person with students in New York City and/or Jackson, Miss., where we plan to host non-overlapping summer workshops
• Meet virtually with student reporters from other parts of the country on regular cadence to monitor progress and offer support
• Lead the transition from reporting and drafting to publication-ready stories

• Oversee final edits and fact-checking
• Ensure stories are publication-ready across formats
• Support coordinated rollout with media and distribution partners

We’re looking for someone who believes students are credible narrators of their own education and who knows how to support them as journalists.

You may be a strong fit if you:

• Have 7+ years of newsroom experience, including experience as an editor
• Have experience with education reporting, solutions journalism, youth media, and/or community-centered…