Freelance Pitch

Summary

Join ProPublica, an independent, nonprofit newsroom, as a freelance investigative journalist. Submit proposals for revelatory investigations that identify problems, those responsible, and potential solutions, demonstrating clear harm. Proposals should include a hypothesis, gathered evidence, expected findings, and potential accountability stories. Detail the investigation's requirements, including data work, travel, and public records acquisition. Highlight your suitability for the project. Competitive freelance rates are offered, covering reporting expenses. Freelancers are independent contractors responsible for their taxes. ProPublica is committed to diversity and inclusion.

Requirements

• Proposals should focus on investigations that are revelatory or substantially advance what is known on a subject of importance
• Investigations should have the potential to trigger needed reforms
• Investigations should clearly show harm
• Proposals should have a clear hypothesis, typically based on significant reporting
• Proposals should include a general description of the topic, a sense of the anecdotes/data/documents gathered, what is expected to be found, and possible accountability stories
• Applicants should detail what an investigation will require: data work, travel, obtaining public records
• Applicants should specify what data, documents and/or source relationships the reporter already has

Responsibilities

• Submit proposals for investigative journalism projects
• Conduct revelatory investigations that identify problems, those responsible, and potential solutions, demonstrating clear harm
• Include a hypothesis, gathered evidence, expected findings, and potential accountability stories in proposals
• Detail the investigation's requirements, including data work, travel, and public records acquisition
• Highlight your suitability for the project
• Pay any required taxes on compensation received
• Understand applicable tax laws

Preferred Qualifications

Experience in investigative journalism

Benefits

Competitive freelance rates, including reporting expenses