Dorothy G. Wayman Environmental Reporting Fellow

The Enterprise Newspapers, Falmouth, Massachusetts. Full‑Time, Fixed‑Term (12 months). Start Date: June 1, 2027.

About Us

The Enterprise is an independent hyperlocal newsroom serving Falmouth, Sandwich, Mashpee and Bourne on Cape Cod. We cover the news that matters in the day-to-day lives of our community members—what is happening in town and in town government, what decisions are being made, what is being developed and what effect these decisions and developments will have on Cape Cod’s environment, water quality and preserved spaces. Through a very generous grant, the Enterprise newsroom is expanding its capacity for to cover these issues, and is excited to bring sustained, in-depth accountability journalism on issues that matter most to our communities through this yearlong fellowship opportunity.

Position Summary

The Enterprise seeks a full-time Fellow to serve a 12-month term covering development and overdevelopment across the Upper Cape, and the effects of that growth on traffic, water quality, open space and habitat. This is a dedicated beat position, and the Fellow will hold primary ownership of it: setting daily coverage priorities, identifying emerging stories before they become public news, and maintaining the kind of ongoing situational awareness that comes only from staying continuously engaged with a beat rather than checking in periodically. The Fellow will provide sustained watchdog coverage of local boards including planning boards, conservation commissions and the Cape Cod Commission, specifically its regional review process, and translate technical and regulatory information into clear, accountable reporting for the public and will be expected to know what's moving through the pipeline—what's before which board, what's about to be filed, what residents are already talking about—well before it becomes a story.

This position is structured as a guided fellowship, combining full-time reporting responsibilities with structured mentorship and professional development, defined learning objectives, and regular performance reviews.

Key Responsibilities

• Beat ownership & autonomy — full responsibility for the beat; continuous awareness of what's moving through planning and zoning boards and the Cape Cod Commission, not just after a decision is made; independently sets daily priorities and keeps supervisor informed.
• Regulatory & public records literacy — develop regulatory literacy and working fluency specific to local bylaws and regional review processes; familiarity with filing public records requests