Training and Mentoring

Incoming Report for America corps members receive training from experienced journalists on building their beats and developing trust, plus continued training and mentorship throughout their term of service.

Report for America collaborates with top journalists and journalism organizations to provide training opportunities that help corps members sharpen their skills, enrich their craft and build resilience.

Rock-star journalists demystify their craft

“Astead’s candor and honesty about what is currently missing in political reporting and how to strengthen it.”

Feedback on an off-the-record Q&A with New York Times national politics reporter Astead W. Herndon

Hands-on training from working journalists

“This was one of the best sessions I have watched during my time at Report for America. It gave very real and very practical tips and advice.” Feedback on a session about reaching justice-affected sources with Nicole Lewis of The Marshall Project

Industry experts share best practices with corps members and newsroom leaders

“It was really refreshing to have a candid conversation about the reality of the job, our own limitations, how we can improve, and being honest about the things we can/can’t control is important.”

Feedback on a session about building trust from Trusting New’s Joy Mayer

In addition, Report for America provides targeted support. First-year corps members take part in orientation and training sessions during their first weeks to help them build their beats and tap into resources. Third-year corps members can take part in a career development program to help them lead from wherever they are within an organization.

Corps members also have access to free memberships to a list of leading journalism organizations, a supportive community of Report for America corps members and staff, and a rich online archive of training videos and tip sheets.

Trudi Gilfillian

Accountability, Diversity, Equity and Inclusion Coach, Asbury Park Press

Melanie Eversley

Executive editor, Black News & Views, a division of the National Association of Black Journalists

Robert Jimison

News Producer, The Daily at The New York Times

Ximena Bustillo

Multi-Platform Reporter, National Public Radio

Marcia Allert

Managing Photo Producer at Apple

Mike Feinsilber

Former News Editor and Assistant Chief of Bureau for News, The Associated Press

Mark Rochester

Managing Editor, inewsource.org

Christina Carrega

National Criminal Justice Reporter, Capital B

Nina Berman

Documentary Photographer

Rod Hicks

Journalist-on-Call, Society of Professional Journalists; former AP editor

Scott Dodd

Senior Staff Editor, The New York Times; Board Member, Society of Environmental Journalists

Catalina Camia

Free Press Managing Director, Freedom Forum

Ivette Davila Richards

Freelance multimedia journalist; Former Board Member, The National Association of Hispanic Journalists

Duaa Eldeib

Reporter, ProPublica Illinois

Liam Dillon

Staff Writer, Los Angeles Times

Cheryl Thompson

IRE Board President & Investigative Correspondent, NPR

Dalton Walker

Managing Editor, Indian Country Today

Matt Rocheleau

Data & Investigations Editor, Hearst Connecticut Media Group & Times Union

Mentoring

Corps members are paired with a mentor who is uniquely positioned to help them excel in their roles and who will provide support and encouragement throughout the year.

Our mentors are veteran, award-winning journalists from print, broadcast, digital, non-profit news and academia. They represent a diverse group in every aspect of the word and we are proud to have them supporting journalism and the next generation of journalists.

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If you take advantage of all of the wonderful perks of the program, like trainings, mentorship, a nationwide network of peers, etc., your experience will be so much more meaningful.

— Samantha Max, Report for America alum

The Power of a Network

One of the best resources corps members have is their fellow corps members. If one corps member has a question, there’s a good chance another has the answer.

Corps members are connected through an online community where they can ask questions, share stories, and create their own groups and virtual events. Peer support is helpful not only for reporting, it’s also a key to mental well-being and resilience.

After corps members graduate, they can stay connected through our alumni groups on Slack, LinkedIn and Facebook, and through our Alumni Directory.

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I’m tapped into this network of mentors and allies and people that I can also lend my experience to, in a way that I’ve never been before.

— Jackie Botts, corps member with CalMatters