Reporter Fellow, Local Investigations

About the Role, Mission or Department Overview

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 in local newsrooms or freelancers.

Responsibilities:

• 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.

Basic Qualifications:

• 3 to 5 years of 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

Preferred Qualifications:

• 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. 

To apply, upload a résumé, Cover Letter (as described below) and five clips. Applications that fail to include any of these materials or follow these instructions will not be considered. 

Your Cover Letter must include at least one story idea or pitch, but you may include multiple if you'd like. Please limit each story idea or pitch to 500 words. We are not looking for polished story ideas or pitches. Instead, your answers to these questions will help us assess where you are in the reporting process and what editorial support and resources the local investigative fellowship could offer you.

1. What is your investigative story idea or area of focus? How would your story expose something new, something no one else has already revealed?
2. Describe who has been harmed and in what way. Is the harm enough to spark outrage?
3. Will your story hold someone accountable? Who and how?
4. What critical records, data and human sources will be required to tell your story? Describe how you have, or could, obtain these critical sources.
5. What do you need help with to report this story, and what are the barriers?
6. Why is this story important to you?

Candidates should submit five published clips that show excellence — in evocative writing, through high-impact news stories and by highlighting the voices of local communities. Your clips should be uploaded to the additional materials application question below. Please ensure to include the full text of your clips, not just the links.

What makes a good local investigation?

• 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 may apply to the Local Investigations Fellowship once per calendar year. You also may apply for other newsroom opportunities, however separate applications must be submitted for each program.

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 process. We will contact you for interviews as needed.

These positions are represented by the NewsGuild of NY

The New York Times Company is committed to being the world’s best source of independent, reliable and quality journalism. To do so, we embrace a diverse workforce that has a broad range of backgrounds and experiences across our ranks, at all levels of the organization. We encourage people from all  backgrounds to apply.

We are  an Equal Opportunity Employer and do not discriminate on the basis of an individual's sex, age, race, color, creed, national origin, alienage, religion, marital status, pregnancy, sexual orientation or affectional preference, gender identity and expression, disability, genetic trait or predisposition, carrier status, citizenship, veteran or military status and other personal characteristics protected by law. All applications will receive consideration for employment without regard to legally protected characteristics.  The U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC)’s Know Your Rights Poster is available here. 

The New York Times Company will provide reasonable accommodations as required by applicable federal, state, and/or local laws. Individuals seeking an accommodation for the application or interview process should email reasonable.accommodations@nytimes.com. Emails sent for unrelated issues, such as following up on an application, will not receive a response.

The Company will further consider qualified applicants, including those with criminal histories, in a manner consistent with the requirements of applicable "Fair Chance" laws. 

For information about The New York Times' privacy practices for job applicants click here.

Please beware of fraudulent job postings. Scammers may post fraudulent job opportunities, and they may even make fraudulent employment offers. This is done by bad actors to collect personal information and money from victims. All legitimate job opportunities from The New York Times will be accessible through The New York Times careers site. The New York Times will not ask job applicants for financial information or for payment, and will not refer you to a third party to do so. You should never send money to anyone who suggests they can provide employment with The New York Times.

If you see a fake or fraudulent job posting, or if you suspect you have received a fraudulent offer, you can report it to The New York Times at security@nytimes.com. You can also file a report with the Federal Trade Commission or your state attorney general.