ProPublica is an independent, nonprofit newsroom that produces investigative journalism in the public interest. 

We’re looking for an ambitious reporter to take on compelling stories grounded in the Southwest but with national resonance, designed to surprise, reveal, inform and bring about change.

The Southwest has been the focus of some of ProPublica’s most ambitious coverage. Our investigations have exposed inequities in Arizona’s school voucher program and Colorado’s foster care system, and drawn attention to scientists’ destruction of Indigenous human remains, cities depriving unhoused people of their belongings and Arizona thwarting tribes’ efforts to secure water.

You’ll join our team of reporters covering the Southwest with a focus on Arizona, Colorado, New Mexico, Nevada and Utah. We’re particularly interested in reporters with experience in government and corporate accountability reporting in Arizona or a strong desire to make that their specialty. But we’re open to other topics that put a spotlight on powerful institutions and affect people living in any of the states we cover.

We’re looking for a reporter who:

  • Has a track record of at least five years experience producing investigative stories, ideally in the Southwest.
  • Aches to report accountability stories that are both important and powerfully told, and has a vision for how they’d cover this region and its diverse communities. 
  • Has experience with or ideas about all the possible ways we can do journalism now: from deep data digging to working with readers to marrying narrative and investigative forms.
  • Wants to bring an accountability lens to the issues of the day through quick investigations reported over a couple of weeks and longer projects that you dig into for a few months (or more).
  • Really likes working with others. We are a highly collaborative newsroom, both across our team and with other news organizations regionally and nationally. We believe we do our best work together.

This job is full time and includes benefits. The role is preferably based in our Phoenix office, but we will consider applicants who live or are willing to relocate anywhere in our Southwest coverage area. Applicants must be eligible to work in the U.S.

The expected salary range for this position is $90,000 to $130,000.

This is our best 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.

If all of this sounds exciting to you, you can apply using this form.

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. 

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Additional Information 2024

We are committed to diversity and building an inclusive environment for people of all backgrounds and ages, and we’re taking steps to meet that commitment. We especially encourage members of traditionally underrepresented communities to apply, including women and people of color.
 
The following questions are part of our efforts to ensure that we have attracted a diverse pool of candidates. Your answers to these questions will in no way affect your chances of being hired.  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. It's also completely fine to indicate that you do not wish to answer these questions, and it will in no way affect your chances of getting hired. 

If you're interested, see how our staff answered these questions in our latest diversity report.

Which of the following best describes your racial or ethnic heritage? Select as many as apply.










Which gender identity best describes you?







Are you a military veteran? (Select one)



Does one or more of the following apply to you? You were eligible for a Pell Grant, first generation in your family to go to college, or your family was eligible for a government assistance program. (Select one)



If you’re a member of a community we haven’t mentioned that is underrepresented in journalism, let us know which below. For example: being a first-generation American/immigrant, being involved in a faith community, living with a disability, etc. (Select one)



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