Research Reporter, USPFT

Position description

Freedom of the Press Foundation (FPF), a nonprofit organization dedicated to protecting, defending, and empowering public-interest journalism, is hiring a research reporter for its U.S. Press Freedom Tracker, the canonical news database documenting press freedom violations in the United States. 

Using research tools, public records, and strong news judgment, the research reporter plays a key role in the data management of the Tracker, connecting dots across an ever-growing dataset in support of press freedom and newsgathering rights. 

As part of the Tracker’s mandate to thoroughly document press freedom violations, this role requires a dedicated, detail-oriented researcher who can manage short- and long-term projects, navigate varying court systems, and conduct original reporting. Database experience and data fluency are crucial for keeping up the meticulous metadata that informs advocacy, academia, reporting, and research. A strong news reporting background that has fostered excellent news judgment is equally necessary for quickly and accurately verifying and reporting on press freedom incidents across the U.S.  

Responsibilities

• Research incident submissions for inclusion in the database, with a willingness to follow up on story leads, verify information, stay on top of developing‬ news, and write for publication.
• Report on press freedom incidents, balancing the competing priorities of breaking news updates with long-term research and reporting projects.
• Track incidents throughout the internal editorial process — from research and intake through editing and publication — and maintain editorial calendar.
• Paginate and proofread prepublication copy with a discerning eye for incident and category details.
• Research published incidents or categories with pending elements on an ongoing basis and write updates on developments as needed.
• Keep reporting and research organized via Google Workspace for the internal editorial team and external contributors, and maintain or support maintenance of multiple internal datasets.
• Review court case alerts and filter searches for actionable updates and potential new cases.
• Maintain the digital Rolodex, including sensitive contact information; cultivate source relationships and press freedom knowledge.
• Other responsibilities as assigned by the managing reporter.

Required qualifications

• Five-plus years of reporting or research background, preferably with experience in local news reporting and legal research.
• Experience with public databases like LexisNexis and Bloomberg, and federal and state court systems.
• Ability to use open sources, including court records and social media accounts, to identify, research, and verify news stories.
• Experience with datasets and database management.
• Strong project management skills with attention to detail. 
• An independent yet collaborative approach; a reliable team player adept at completing tasks in a timely manner while working with remote management and staff. 
• A passion for the First Amendment and protecting the press freedom rights of all.
• Understanding of or willingness to learn strong data privacy practices and appropriate custodianship of sensitive data and communications.

Working with us

This is a full-time role with a competitive nonprofit salary in the range of $80,000-90,000, depending on experience. This position will preferably be based in FPF's Brooklyn, N.Y., headquarters; however, strong U.S.-based remote candidates will also be considered. For more information on our full benefits package, please visit our website’s careers page. 

FPF does not discriminate on the basis of an individual’s sex, age, race, color, creed, national origin, alienage, religion, marital status, pregnancy, sexual or reproductive health decisions, sexual orientation or affectional preference, gender identity and expression, disability, genetic trait or predisposition, carrier status, citizenship, veteran or military status, and other personal characteristics protected by law.

How to apply

If you think you’d like to be a part of our team, please submit your résumé and a cover letter (no longer than one page). Applications will be considered on a rolling basis, and we reserve the right to close this process early due to high applicant volume.

After an initial application review, FPF’s hiring process involves: a phone screen with HR and the hiring manager, a skills-assessment test, an organization-wide panel, and a final interview with our executive director.