Reporter Fellow, Local Investigations

The mission of The New York Times is to seek the truth and help people understand the world. That means independent journalism is at the heart of all we do as a company. It’s why we have a world-renowned newsroom that sends journalists to report on the ground from nearly 160 countries. It’s why we focus deeply on how our readers will experience our journalism, from print to audio to a world-class digital and app destination.

And it’s why our business strategy centers on making journalism so good that it’s worth paying for.

The Times is looking for reporters with a local story idea who want to investigate it under the editing guidance of Dean Baquet, The Times’s former executive editor, and a group of veteran investigative editors.

The goal of the Local Investigative Fellowship is to provide fellows the opportunity to learn the ways and means of investigative reporting from some of the best in the business. Our fellows will be based in the communities where they are reporting and make periodic trips to The Times’s offices for training and support.

This one year program is for reporters who have a local investigative story idea rooted in Louisiana, Mississippi, or Arkansas.

This is a NY Guild role based in Louisiana, Mississippi, or Arkansas.

• Spend a year producing signature investigative work focused on your state or region that will be published by The Times.
• Under the guidance of Mr. Baquet and a handpicked group of veteran editors, you will receive the rare opportunity to learn the judgment, skills and techniques needed to excel at investigative journalism from the best in the business.
• Demonstrate support and understanding of our value of journalistic independence and a strong commitment to our mission to seek the truth and help people understand the world.

• 3 to 5 years of professional experience as a reporter covering a beat for a local newspaper or local digital news outlet
• You are an independent journalist or a journalist employed at a newsroom willing to provide a yearlong sabbatical

• Significant experience covering a beat and an idea for an investigative story that you have not had the time, resources or editing support to pursue
• Ability to bring a new perspectives to investigative journalism

Learn more about the program here.

We appreciate proposals that are as detailed as possible. Successful applicants have included specifics about what they aimed to prove through their investigations.

For example, a reporter for The Baltimore Banner had reason to believe that the city’s overdose crisis was the worst in the nation. Mississippi Today had evidence of abuses in local sheriffs offices. And a reporter for The Desert Sun in Palm Springs, Calif., suspected a pattern of deaths inside local jails.

• Starts with high stakes
  How does the story affect people’s lives and livelihoods? Their health, safety and basic quality of life?
• Has a clear line of accountability
  Great investigations have a line of accountability to someone or some group with significant power.
• Reveals something
  Does your investigation reveal something that someone or some institution is trying to keep secret?
• Has a clear sense of place
  The most important element for any local investigation:
  How is it (e.g. the policy, the circumstance or the failure) unique to your community?

Applicants must be authorized to work in the United States. We will not sponsor new work visas for the fellowship, but we may consider you if you have an existing work visa or a valid student visa that can be extended via Optional Practical Training

Applicants will be notified about their status on a rolling basis.

Keep in mind that the fellowships are very competitive and generate a high level of interest. We won’t be able to accept applications that are mailed or emailed to us. Nor will we acknowledge the status of every application upon receipt or during the vetting…