FAQ for Journalists

We look for journalists who will do great work, can overcome challenges and be an asset to their community and newsroom. We look closely at the individual job descriptions and the needs of the host newsroom, to find candidates who are the best match. While some positions are well-suited for early-career candidates, others require deeper experience. In the application, we look for concrete evidence that the applicant can produce high-quality journalism, and has a spirit of public service.   

• A minimum of one year of professional journalism experience.
• Four professional work samples demonstrating high-quality journalism.
• Two strong professional references (these are submitted through a form we provide).
• Commitment to serving for the full two or three years in the program.
• Legal authorization to work in the U.S. for at least two years from the start date.
• Ability to start full-time work on the start date with no interfering commitments.
• Most positions require a valid driver’s license and access to a vehicle. 

Report for America requires a minimum of one year of professional journalism experience to be eligible for a position. This typically means one year of full-time employment in a professional newsroom, however you can qualify if you’ve had two professional journalism internships, or one internship plus student media experience. We are looking for evidence that candidates will thrive in a full-time journalism position. 

Tip: The application allows candidates to select up to five positions that most interest them. We encourage candidates with less experience to identify positions that are appropriate for entry-level journalists.

We look for journalists who will do great work, can overcome challenges and be an asset to their community and newsroom. We look closely at the individual job descriptions and the needs of the host newsroom, to find candidates who are the best match. While some positions are well-suited for early-career candidates, others require deeper experience. In the application, we look for concrete evidence that the applicant can produce high-quality journalism, and has a spirit of public service.   

You will work for a local news organization that has competed for the opportunity to host you.  We support public radio stations, newspapers, digital outlets and TV stations.  Any high-quality local news organization that needs your reporting skills to cover an undercovered topic in its community is eligible to be a host newsroom.

Applications for the 2026-2027 Report for America corps member cohort open January 19, 2026, and close February 16, 2026. The deadline for your two professional references to submit their recommendation forms is February 23, 2026. You can find the application on our website.

If you’re a finalist, you’ll hear from us in late March. You’ll interview with one or more newsrooms in April or early May, and you’ll learn soon after whether a newsroom has selected you as its Report for America corps member. (Those who aren’t finalists will be notified in late April or early May.) 

We announce the new class of corps members on May 20, 2026. Your program year begins the second Monday in July.

You may provide up to five preferences for specific positions, as well as location preferences on the corps member application, though we don’t guarantee you’ll get your top picks. Our selection team will review your preferences carefully to determine if there is a good match. You will never interview with a newsroom without expressing interest in that position.

 Report for America is a two-year program with an optional third year that we encourage all corps members and newsrooms to take advantage of. Positions begin the second Monday in July. The optional third year includes a special professional development program for corps members. 

The salary is set by the local newsroom and is consistent with other reporters with a similar level of experience in that newsroom.  The newsrooms must pay a living wage, based on the M.I.T. Living Wage Calculator, to be a Report for America host newsroom. As a result, salaries will vary, but we list salary ranges with each position, so there’s never a surprise.

You will be an employee of the local news organization. You will be edited and managed by them.

We call Report for America journalists “corps members” (never “fellows”) in the spirit of the nation’s finest service corps. We see our program as a synthesis between two different movements: the efforts to revitalize local journalism, and the national service movement. The main reason we view Report for America as national service is that local journalism is a public service.

Yes, yes and yes. As you know, news organizations are hungry for multi-talented journalists. But we may also find that news organizations have specific needs, in which case we’ll match reporters with specialties with those newsrooms that most need them. As a baseline, everyone must write well and report well.

No! The average age of a first-year corps member is 26, but we have a wide range of ages in the program.

No! Although many corps members are earlier in their careers, there’s a wide range of experience levels in our program. Likewise, some of our positions are well-suited for early-career journalists, while others require deeper experience. We encourage journalists of all experience levels to apply, if there are open positions they believe would be a good match.

Report for America will pay moving expenses up to $750 to get you to your new job if your newsroom doesn’t pay a moving stipend. (If your newsroom offers a lesser moving allowance, we’ll pay the difference.)  

No. We have great respect for high-quality advocacy journalists of all stripes, but this particular program is focused on nitty-gritty objective reporting. In fact, while you’re a Report for America corps member, you won’t be allowed to endorse candidates or advocate sides of any issues that your news organization might be covering.

We prefer that you’re utterly focused on your reporting. But if your newsroom allows part-time work, your editor is fine with the idea, and you’re a corps member in good standing, we won’t stand in the way.

You don’t have to be, though you can be. Our experience has shown that locals can provide great insight about the community, while out-of-towners often can bring a fresh perspective. 

At the start of the program, you’ll spend time learning from expert journalists and other trainers about your beat, specific skills to know, and more. Weekly (optional) training sessions throughout the year will build on that. You’ll also have the opportunity to be paired with a mentor who will give you personal, ongoing guidance. Each corps member also has a point person on the Report for America staff, called a regional manager, who can provide guidance and coaching. Every other year, Report for America also hosts an in-person gathering for corps members that includes workshops and professional development, plus third-year corps members have access to a special professional development training program.

Applicants must be authorized to work in the United States full-time at the time they apply. Applicants who need sponsorship at any point during the 2-year program will not be considered. Our host newsrooms and Report for America do not sponsor applicants for work visas.

You need to arrange your own housing. But your newsroom and our network of hundreds of other corps members and alumni are great resources to help you.

If hired, you must live in the same community as the newsroom, or the community you cover, if those communities are different. If your newsroom is hybrid or remote, you would work remotely in the community where your beat is located.