Local Investigations Fellow

About the role

The mission of The New York Times is to seek the truth and help people understand the world. 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.

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.

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
• 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 perspective to investigative journalism

Benefits

Annual base pay range: $85,262.84 - $85,262.84 USD

• Medical, dental and vision benefits
• Flexible Spending Accounts (F.S.A.s)
• A company-matching 401(k) plan
• Paid vacation, paid sick days, paid parental leave
• Tuition reimbursement and professional development programs

Application

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.