Deadline today to qualify for a subsidized reporter from Report for America, who could be a local recruit

By Al Cross

Director emeritus, Institute for Rural Journalism, University of Kentucky

Report for America has become well known for sending promising young journalists to news outlets all over the nation, including rural areas. But did you know that a news outlet selected for the program may recommend a preferred candidate for consideration as their reporter or photographer?

We learned about that possibility during the webinar we hosted with Earl Johnson, RFA's vice president for recruitment. It could appeal to rural news outlets that may want their journalist to have some familiarity with the region.

Johnson said local news outlets may be aware of good reporter candidates who have served as interns or worked previously in their newsroom, or perhaps for other outlets, who could be good reporters for them. In such cases, he said, if selected as a host newsroom with RFA, the news outlet may recommend a reporter as a preferred candidate to fill their corps member position.

The preferred candidate would still be required to apply to RFA and be selected for the program. This approach allows newsrooms to partner with RFA to identify the best reporter candidates from rural communities. Preferred candidates can include current part-time newsroom staffers—journalists the newsroom has wanted to bring on full time but hasn’t been able to—but they can’t be current full-time staffers.

RFA says successful newsroom applicants get:
● Service-minded reporters, photographers and videographers
● Diverse, hand-picked candidates from a pool of early-career and experienced journalists
● Subsidized salary support for the reporter: 50% the first year (up to $25,000), 33% the second year
● Local fundraising coaching and resources, including the opportunity for fiscal sponsorship to accept donations
● Extra training and mentoring for journalists

For more information, contact the recruitment team at recruitment@reportforamerica.org