A CALL FOR APPLICATIONS FROM NEWSROOMS IN IDAHO, NEW MEXICO, MONTANA, WYOMING AND COLORADO
January 23, 2019 — Report for America and Solutions Journalism Network announced today a special initiative to place up to eight reporters in local newsrooms throughout the Intermountain West.
News organizations must apply by February 22, 2019
Under the unique partnership, Report for America will pay for half the salaries of talented reporters that join local newsrooms in the area. Preference will be given to programs that either have had or want to have Solutions Journalism Network training.
Solutions Journalism Network, which already has trained staff at over 50 news organizations in the Intermountain West, also will provide guidance on reporting on engagement approaches, as needed, and support for solutions-focused projects.
Click here to learn more about how to apply.
“This is an important evolution of our work in the Intermountain West,” said Keith Hammonds, president of Solutions Journalism Network. “Report for America addresses a critical need of smaller newsrooms serving rural communities across the region.”
“Solutions Journalism Network has been one of the brightest lights on the news landscape,” said Steven Waldman, President of Report for America. “We’re thrilled to be working with them to help fill news deserts in these states.”
The Solutions Journalism Network is leading a mindset shift and practice change in journalism, building capacity for rigorous reporting about responses to social problems. In five years, over 10,000 journalists have been exposed to its curriculum. More than 180 news organizations have worked with SJN to produce reporting projects that cover society more comprehensively, revealing possibilities for civic agency and connection.
Report for America is a national service program that places talented emerging journalists into local newsrooms to report on under-covered topics and regions. RFA currently has reporters in Georgia, Mississippi, Kentucky, New Mexico, Illinois, Pennsylvania, Texas, and West Virginia. In 2019, it will have 60 reporters around the country. The program, funded by both private and public donors, pays for half of each reporter’s salary and the remainder is covered by the local newsroom and local benefactors.
RFA corps members typically have an average of three years of experience, while some are accomplished recent graduates. More than half of the current corps members have returned to their home states.
Report for America is an initiative of The GroundTruth Project, an award-winning nonprofit news organization dedicated to supporting emerging journalists in under-covered corners of the world. GroundTruth launched Report for American in January of 2018.
Press Contact:
Suzanne Gibbons-Neff
sgibbons-neff@reportforamerica.org
203-858-1325