Daniel Owens

Daniel Owens is Senior Correspondent: Education, Workforce & Upward Mobility at Just Right News, where he leads coverage of the systems that shape American opportunity. He reports across two core beats—Education, Workforce & Upward Mobility and The Learning Curve—connecting what happens in classrooms and training programs to what families, employers, and communities need to thrive. Born on June 14, 1984, in Cleveland, Ohio, Daniel grew up in a city that knew both the dignity of work and the pain of losing it. Watching neighbors navigate factory closures and families fight for a better future taught him an early lesson: opportunity is built, not bestowed. That perspective guides his reporting to this day. Now based in Raleigh, North Carolina, he brings the vantage point of both the Rust Belt and the fast-growing Sun Belt—two regions that showcase how policy, culture, and local initiative can accelerate or stall upward mobility. Before joining Just Right News, Daniel worked on the ground—in classrooms, community programs, and job sites—helping learners of all ages build the skills to earn a paycheck and a promotion. He has mentored students, collaborated with small-business owners trying to hire and train, and walked alongside adults returning to the workforce after setbacks. Those experiences cemented his belief that strong families, rigorous academics, skills-based training, and a vibrant private sector are the surest ladders to the middle class. At Just Right News, Daniel’s approach is clear: results over rhetoric, and common sense over fads. He focuses on what works—phonics-based literacy, high expectations, parental partnership and transparency, and career pathways that align with real jobs. He scrutinizes bureaucratic bloat and mission creep that siphon resources from classrooms and shop floors, and he elevates models that restore accountability, reward excellence, and respect local control. His reporting emphasizes the role of faith, family, and civic institutions alongside free enterprise as pillars of mobility that government should empower, not replace. The Learning Curve, Daniel’s flagship series, examines how children and adults actually learn, featuring evidence-tested practices in reading, math, and career and technical education; the promise and pitfalls of technology; and the bridge between K–12, apprenticeships, community-based training, and good jobs. He sits with teachers who turn around struggling schools, parents who advocate for their kids, veterans and returning citizens who re-skill for new careers, and entrepreneurs who create pathways to work and wealth. He brings the same care to data and personal stories, believing both are necessary to tell the truth. Daniel’s voice is grounded, hopeful, and unapologetically practical. He seeks out solutions that are scalable, affordable, and aligned with American values—merit, responsibility, and opportunity for all. Living in Raleigh, he stays close to the people his reporting serves, visiting classrooms, touring training sites, and listening at kitchen tables. As Senior Correspondent, his mission is simple: expose what’s broken, highlight what works, and champion the ladders that help every willing American climb.