Refreshed 5 October 2026. ProPublica’s Local Reporting Network is recruiting for its spring 2027 cohort, supporting local accountability reporting from 1 April 2027 to 31 March 2028.
Eligibility and support
This round welcomes applicants from English-language local and regional newsrooms in the United States and its territories. ProPublica reimburses the partner newsroom for a selected reporter’s salary, with the 2027 announcement listing a cap of $82,500 plus a benefits stipend. It is not an unrestricted cash award to individual applicants.
The form still contains an older $80,000 figure. Confirm the applicable 2027 financial terms with ProPublica before relying on them.
Application documents and deadline
Prepare a CV, partner-newsroom and editor details, a project outline, a memo of no more than 2,500 words, three reporting samples with context, and an editor’s reference. Explain originality, proposed reporting, possible obstacles and other funding.
Applications are reviewed on a rolling basis, with a final spring-cohort deadline of 25 January 2027 at 11:59 pm Eastern Time. Use the official Local Reporting Network application. Other cohorts have different dates and geographic restrictions.
Develop a realistic reporting plan
As editorial preparation, separate what you already know from what you propose to investigate. A hypothesis should remain open to revision as evidence emerges. Identify the records, sources and expertise that could help test it, and explain what would make the story relevant to the community.
Discuss time and resources with the sponsoring newsroom before submitting. A credible plan recognises access problems and describes alternative approaches without promising findings that have not been established.
For each sample, make your personal contribution clear. Describe a reporting challenge and how you addressed it. Protect confidential sources and avoid including sensitive material that is unnecessary for the application.
| Programme | Local Reporting Network, spring cohort |
|---|---|
| Duration | One year |
| Deadline | 25 January 2027, 11:59 pm ET |
| Application route | Reporter with partner newsroom |
Keywords: ProPublica Local Reporting Network, investigative journalism fellowship, 2027 reporting support.
