Washington State University’s Edward R. Murrow College of Communication and Report for America have launched a statewide initiative, WSU Murrow Fellows/Report for Washington, to partner with local newsrooms to hire journalists, with the goal of supporting local reporting in all 39 counties. We are accepting newsroom applications through July 1, 2026. Click here to apply.   

What is the goal of the initiative?
The partnership aims to ensure that every county in Washington has access to reliable local reporting by 2029. The initiative will also help newsrooms become more financially sustainable by offering hands-on help to do that. The ultimate goal is to permanently expand the reporting capacity of newsrooms throughout the state while ensuring deeper coverage of civic affairs and wider distribution of general news and information in each community.

How many reporters will the program support?
The initiative will place 39 reporters in Washington newsrooms over three years, generally one per county, beginning with an initial cohort of up to 13 reporters in January and July of 2027. Each reporter will serve up to three years in the program.

How is Report for Washington different from the existing Murrow News Fellowship? The initiative builds on the Murrow News Fellowship, a state-funded program launched in 2023 that placed 16 early-career reporters in Washington newsrooms for two years, hiring them as WSU employees managed by their newsroom supervisors. The new partnership adds Report for America’s recruiting, training, fundraising, and sustainability support. Newsrooms that participate in Report for Washington will directly employ their reporters. Most will pay half the salary of their reporter the first year; 66% of salary the second year; and 80% the optional third year. Newsrooms are also responsible for benefits. All the while, we work with newsrooms to fundraise, including becoming the free fiscal sponsor for for-profit newsrooms to accept donations. To support newsrooms that cannot accommodate the standard funding formula, additional assistance—up to the full salary in certain cases—will be made available.
 
How is Report for Washington funded?
The program combines state support, philanthropy and newsroom investment. We estimate the program will cost $10 million over five years. We are actively working to raise the necessary support to ensure this vision. 

Which newsrooms are eligible to apply?
Local Washington news organizations committed to public-service journalism and community coverage are welcome to apply. They can be big or small, for-profit or nonprofit newsrooms in any medium—daily and weekly newspapers, commercial and public radio and TV, digital-only newsrooms. Newsrooms that have hosted a fellow or Report for America corps member may apply for Report for Washington, too. For newsrooms currently supervising a Report for America  corps member, that corps member’s term must end before a fellow can begin in the newsroom. 

What kinds of reporting positions will be supported?
The initiative prioritizes coverage of civic affairs and underserved areas, including rural communities and undercovered beats. 

Will newsrooms need to contribute financially?
Most newsrooms will pay half their reporter’s salary the first year, 66% of the salary the second year, and 80% of the salary the optional third year. The newsroom also pays benefits. The program allows for more support for some newsrooms, in some cases significantly more, depending on their revenue and other factors. In the application, you can let us know if you need more support. 

What support will host newsrooms receive beyond salary assistance?
Support includes recruitment assistance, training, mentorship and intensive fundraising help. Report for America can become the free fiscal sponsor for for-profit newsrooms in the program to accept tax-deductable donations from local supporters. 

What commitment is expected from host organizations?
Host newsrooms must be committed to the reporter’s growth, provide good editing support, and be willing to try to fundraise. They are expected to pay their part of a living wage for the reporter, as outlined in the MIT Living Wage Calculator. They also must be available for periodic check-ins with Report for Washington staff.

I run a for-profit newsroom. If I host a fellow, will I be required to give away content? Yes. All fellows’ bylined stories will be available via Creative Commons permissions, though each newsroom can establish a preferred embargo period of up to a week.

My newsroom is interested in collaborating with another newsroom on a position. Is that possible?
Yes, we encourage collaborations. The reporter would be employed by one news organization, though both newsrooms could contribute to the salary. The reporter would have one main editor to oversee their work, though assignments could come from both newsrooms. Please reach out to us to talk details if you're considering a partnership.

If the 39 reporters will be deployed in the first three years, why is it a five-year initiative? The additional two years allows for possible additional hiring, so that 39 reporters, or more, are working throughout the state concurrently in later years. Also, reporters who start in Year 3 will be in the program for two to three years. 

When will applications open for the first round of host newsrooms?
June 10 through July 1, 2026

When will the selected newsrooms be announced?
Mid-August 2026

How many newsrooms will be selected to kick off Report for Washington?
We’ll select 13 newsrooms and reporters to begin in 2027, some starting in January and the rest in July. We know newsroom budgets are tight. Because host news organizations are expected to commit to their share of two years of salary and benefits, they’ll have the option of bringing on their reporter in January or July 2027. No matter the start date of the reporter, all newsrooms selected for 2027 will have immediate access to financial sustainability services offered through Report for America. 

When would a selected newsroom get a reporter?
We expect the first Report for Washington reporters to be in their newsrooms by Jan. 11, 2027. Others of the 2027 cohort would begin July 12. 

How will reporters be selected and matched with newsrooms?
Program staff will select newsrooms, aided by one or more external advisors. We’ll then recruit reporter candidates with the desired skills and will create a candidate slate for each newsroom. Newsrooms will select the final candidate. If a newsroom has a preferred candidate—a reporter they’ve worked with as a freelancer or intern, say—we’ll include them in the slate provided they apply for the program and meet the criteria.

Which reporters should apply?
Candidates should be interested in public-service reporting and local community coverage. The program is open to reporters of all experience levels, not just early-career reporters. They don’t have to be graduates of WSU or any Washington institutions. Previous fellows or Report for America corps members may apply too, but they cannot return to a newsroom they previously served.

How long will placements last?
This is a two-year program with an optional third year. Our goal is that after that time, the newsroom is able to permanently increase its capacity and make the position permanent. We’ll be working with the newsroom to make that possible.

When can reporters apply?
August 12 - 30, 2026

Who can newsrooms or reporters contact with questions?
Send questions to info@reportforamerica.org. Or join one of our information sessions on Tues., June 16 from noon to 1 pm PT, or Thurs., June 25 from 4 to 5 pm PT. Register here for the June 16th session; and register here for the June 25th session.