ProPublica is an independent, nonprofit newsroom that produces investigative journalism in the public interest.
We are seeking to hire three experienced investigative reporters to cover politics, power and the inner workings of the federal government in Washington. ProPublica’s D.C. bureau will not be as big as those run by our competitors, but its reporters and senior editor will not shy away from the most urgent investigative targets and will have the time and resources to pursue stories with creativity and ambition. Our approach is different from others’, but we’ve shown that it’s effective at making an impact. We’re looking for reporters who are invigorated by the challenges of working in a dizzying news environment and skilled at identifying important investigative angles for stories that others have missed. We want reporters who have a record of producing stories that combine the kind of rigor that is a hallmark of the best accountability journalism with the narrative style of the best magazines. And we’re looking for reporters who have done stories that surprise, uncover injustice, expose harm, deliver life-altering revelations and bring about change.
We’re looking for reporters with:
- At least five years of experience producing original accountability journalism and a talent for, and dedication to, digging for the truth.
- Experience covering politics, policy or the federal government; you should be sourced and able to hit the ground running on impactful stories. We expect you to cover the transition of power and the new presidential administration. Previous investigative work in Washington is a plus, though not required.
- Storytelling chops and the ability to deliver findings in ways that connect with readers, as either riveting narratives or muscular, vivid investigative reports.
- A vision for what you’d like to cover at ProPublica.
- Experience with a wide range of reporting techniques, from underpinning stories with exclusive data analysis to using creative strategies to engage with readers and sources.
- An ability to bring an accountability lens to the issues of the day through quick investigations reported over a couple of weeks as well as longer projects that may require months (or more) of digging.
- The instincts to pursue urgent, high-stakes stories that are central to the national conversation or crisis of a given moment, which can require carving out a lane amid competition.
- A knack for working with others. We are a highly collaborative newsroom, both across our teams and with other news organizations regionally and nationally. We believe we do our best work together.
- An ability to travel as required.
This job is full time and includes benefits. This role will be based in ProPublica’s Washington, D.C., office, so candidates should live within the D.C. metropolitan area or be willing to relocate. Applicants must be eligible to work in the U.S.
The expected salary range for this position is $130,000 to $170,000.
This is a good-faith estimate of what we expect to pay for this position. The final salary figure will take into account a person’s experience, accomplishment and location. ProPublica is committed to paying its staff equitably, and these ranges should not be considered career salary limits or caps.
We will begin reviewing applications as we receive them, but we will continue to consider candidates as long as the posting remains live on our site.
Questions? Send an email to talent@propublica.org.
No phone calls, please.
We know there are great candidates who may not fit into what we’ve described above or who have important skills we haven’t thought of. If that’s you, don’t hesitate to apply and tell us about yourself.
We are dedicated to improving our newsroom, in part by better reflecting the people we cover. (Here is a breakdown of our staff.) We are committed to diversity and building an inclusive environment for people of all backgrounds and ages. And we are taking steps to meet that commitment. We especially encourage members of traditionally underrepresented communities to apply, including women, people of color, LGBTQ+ people and people with disabilities. We are an equal opportunity employer and prohibit discrimination and harassment of any kind. All employment decisions are made without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, national origin, age or any other status protected under applicable law.
