SBJ hires Claudette Riley as education, workforce development reporter 

A veteran journalist whose work has focused largely on the education sector has joined Springfield Business Journal.

Claudette Riley said today is her first day as SBJ's education and workforce development reporter. She joins SBJ from the Springfield News-Leader, where she's worked since 1998, save for a 2002-06 period at The Tennessean, another publication owned by USA Today Co. Inc. (NYSE: TDAY).

Riley said education and workforce development "go hand in hand."

"That is what schools do. They prepare the next generation of employers," Riley said, noting she's looking forward to covering schools and workforce development at SBJ. "It's still Springfield. It's still education, but it's going to be covering education in a new and interesting way."

She called education "the lifeblood of any community."

Riley added, "I fell in love with that in the late 1990s."

SBJ Executive Editor Christine Temple said with the addition of Riley, the publication’s newsroom now comprises six people, along with a researcher and a four-employee design and photography team.

“Claudette is one of the most well-respected and talented journalists to ever cover our community. I'm thrilled she is joining the SBJ newsroom,” Temple said. “Her focus on education and workforce development will greatly enhance our reporting on these important topics. The trust she has built with our local education institutions adds greatly to SBJ's mission to provide authoritative business content to our readers.”

Riley said Jan. 2 was her last day at the News-Leader.

"It's been emotional. It has been a training ground for me," Riley said of the News-Leader. "I've met some of my favorite people at the News-Leader – colleagues and sources."