Local Reporting Network Fellow

ProPublica is an independent, nonprofit newsroom that produces investigative journalism in the public interest.

ProPublica launched the Local Reporting Network in 2018 to help create vital, investigative journalism in communities where such stories would otherwise not be done.

We are now seeking five reporters to work with us for two years, starting in January 2024. ProPublica will pay the annual salary (up to $80,000), plus an allowance for benefits, for each full-time reporter. Successful candidates will have a proven track record of investigative reporting and impact, and provide a memo of potential stories to begin work on when the partnership starts. This particular round is not open to journalists who do not have prior investigative reporting experience. The new partnerships will begin on Jan. 2, 2024.

We are looking to take on ambitious accountability projects that wouldn’t otherwise be done. Unlike previous rounds of the LRN, the application for this two-year program does not require a single-topic proposal to be reported on for the whole partnership. Local reporters will work from and report to their home newsrooms, while receiving extensive support and guidance for their work from ProPublica, including collaboration with a senior editor and access to the nonprofit newsroom’s expertise with data, research, engagement, video and design. The work will be published or broadcast by your newsroom and simultaneously by ProPublica.

The deadline for applications is Nov. 1, 2023, at 9 a.m. Eastern time. We will begin reviewing applications as we receive them, but we will continue to consider candidates as long as the posting remains live on our site.

Applications should be submitted by newsroom leaders, and we will ask for the following information:

The reporter whom you envision spearheading the work and the annual salary you would need to pay them. This could be someone on staff or someone else — for example, a freelancer with whom you hope to work. (Freelancers must submit a joint application with an eligible news organization willing to collaborate with ProPublica and to publish their work.) The person must have an investigative track record to be considered for this position.
A personal statement by the reporter explaining their interest in and history with investigative reporting.
Three clips and an accompanying backstory potentially including: particular challenges or successes; the role the reporter played; any impact; and journalistic lessons learned.
A resume.
A memo of stories you’d like to pursue during two years of intensive partnership with ProPublica. These should be stories that would benefit from a collaboration, potentially including data, research and engagement reporting resources we can provide. These may include big stories, an ongoing series of shorter stories, text, audio, video or something else. All of them should have the potential to resonate with both local and national audiences. We recognize these may shift over the two-year program: The point is to get to know your reporter, their interests and how they approach their work. We would like you to identify at least one story that seems like a solid starting point for the partnership.

ProPublica reporters and editors are available to answer questions or to give you feedback on your application before you submit it. Please reach us at Local.Reporting@propublica.org.

No phone calls, please.

We know there are great candidates who may not fit into what we’ve described above or who have important skills we haven’t thought of. If that’s you, don’t hesitate to apply and tell us about yourself.

We are dedicated to improving our newsroom, in part by better reflecting the people we cover. (Here is a breakdown of our staff.) We are committed to diversity and building an inclusive environment for people of all backgrounds and ages. And we are taking steps to meet that commitment. We especially encourage members of traditionally underrepresented communities to apply, including women, people of color, LGBTQ+ people and people with disabilities. We are an equal opportunity employer and prohibit discrimination and harassment of any kind. All employment decisions are made without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, national origin, age or any other status protected under applicable law.