This position has been filled. We’re still reviewing applications for regional correspondents.
The Columbia Journalism Review is seeking a freelance correspondent to cover press freedom, transparency, and First Amendment concerns related to local and state-level journalism for its United States Project.
The United States Project aims to support accountability journalism in local markets around the country by offering intelligent criticism of media coverage, fostering dialogue among journalists, and delivering original reporting on local and statewide news organizations. The project deploys a roster of correspondents with regional portfolios around the country to monitor policy and politics coverage and report on a wide range of media outlets that produce that coverage. An archive of our work to date is at cjr.org/united_states_project.
A substantial new focus of the project this year is press freedom, and we are seeking a correspondent to lead coverage of this issue. The press freedom correspondent will not have a regional portfolio, but will report on news events and emerging stories as they relate to journalists working for local and state-level media organizations. Story subjects may include access to public records, gag orders, legal battles over drone journalism, and more, but this is not a Snowden/NSA/encryption beat. Responsibilities include writing three posts per month for publication on CJR.org, working in partnership with the project’s regional correspondents as a resource and occasional co-author, and appearing in other media outlets to discuss the project’s work.
This is an ongoing freelance position that pays $1750/month. We anticipate the correspondent will devote an average of 10-15 hours per week to the project, on a flexible schedule. The project is grant-supported and funded for up to two years beginning March 2014.
We’re seeking candidates with demonstrated reporting skills, a base of knowledge in the legal issues surrounding this beat, and energy and enthusiasm for the project’s mission. The correspondent will be expected to develop an active social media presence on this beat and work to ensure stories have maximum impact. To apply, send a resume and cover letter that includes two brief story ideas to unitedstatesprojectcjr@gmail.com. We look forward to hearing from you.
We’re also seeking regional correspondents for the project. To view that announcement, click here.
The Editors are the staffers of the Columbia Journalism Review.