We are looking for an experienced researcher to help us uncover documents, data and sources for hard-hitting investigative projects. You’ll team up with reporters and editors to do the kind of deep digging required to put out rigorous, powerful investigations.
You’ll plot out the best way to find everything that is needed for a story. This could including filing a FOIA request or tracking down a difficult-to-find source.
You’ll collaborate across the ProPublica newsroom and with publishing partners on projects that can take a variety of forms, from newspaper investigations to magazine features to interactives and podcasts.
- Advanced skills in using public records databases to ferret out facts. Being able to search Nexis or PACER is great, but what we want is somebody who’s eager to dig even deeper.
- The ability to track down people who are hard to find and background them as comprehensively as possible
- Experience with the Freedom of Information Act and state open-records request processes and laws and who knows how to negotiate to get datasets and documents
- A sense of fun and commitment to collegiality and collaboration
The most important part of your application is your past work. Send us links to your best stuff that you’ve worked on. Let us know how your research and reporting shaped and improved the stories or work product. Don’t be shy — tell us what worked (numbers and evidence of impact welcome) and how you’d do it differently next time. And send us your resume.
Research is about far more than digging up documents and data. It’s about putting that material into meaningful context. Show us how you think. Lay out your vision for what research projects we should do at ProPublica and tell us how you would approach the job.
We want to hire journalists who bring a diversity of experiences, talents and viewpoints to their work. So, if you don’t think you can check off every box on the list above but are confident you can contribute to our efforts, please don’t hesitate to apply. A background in journalism is not required for this position.
We are dedicated to improving our newsroom, in part by better reflecting the people we cover. 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.
This position is full-time with benefits and you’ll be based in our office in Manhattan. We are not considering remote applicants for this position. Applicants must be eligible to work in the United States.
You can send questions to [email protected]. No phone calls, please.