Reporter Fellow, Local Investigations - Mississippi & Louisiana

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.

About the Role

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 or Mississippi.

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

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 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 in one attachment. 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.

What is your investigative story idea or area of focus? How would your story expose something new, something no one else has already revealed?

Describe who has been harmed and in what way. Is the harm enough to spark outrage?

Will your story hold someone accountable? Who and how?

What critical records, data and human sources will be required to tell your story? Describe how you have, or could, obtain these critical sources.

What do you need help with to report this story, and what are the barriers?

Can you give us a sense of what has been written about the subject? Please include clips of notable reporting on the topic.

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 .

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 y…