Frequently Asked Questions for Journalists

Report for the World is unique from many other global reporting fellowships in that we give priority to local reporters who are from, and who live in, the communities they are serving. We’re looking for people who want to be a local journalist in that community for years to come—not candidates who are looking for a short-term or fellowship opportunity.

The program is initially for one year. After the first year, if you and your news organization want to extend the agreement, it can be renewed for a second year.

While you don’t need to have been trained as a journalist, experience working as a journalist or in a news organization is important. Host newsrooms will have their own specific requirements for the job.

You’re only required to speak the language of the communities you’re going to cover, but speaking English is a plus, since it will allow you to interact more easily with the other corps members, staff and trainers. 

No. The program is designed so you become a full-time employee of the host newsroom and develop your beat. Your efforts should be focused on your newsroom for the duration of the program. 

You will be an employee of the local news organization. You will be edited and managed by them.

Since you will be an employee of the news organization, your salary will be in the local currency, following their pay scale and according to the requirements for the position and your experience/skills.

There’s no age limit, though newsrooms tend to select emerging journalists—those relatively new to their journalism career, because they are more likely to benefit from the training and other professional development opportunities in the program. 

The start date is agreed with the host newsrooms at the start of every cohort cycle. Check our announcements for more details of each cycle.

While we expect you to focus on your assigned beat, we understand that there can be times when breaking news happens and your editor might need you to cover other topics. In those cases or when your reporting intersects with other topics, we encourage you to follow those stories. 

Our program was born following the success of our sister program Report for America, which established the term “corps member” in connection with their mission to be a  service program to local communities, similar to other organizations like Americorps and Teach for America. 

Although our program differs in some ways from Report for America, we like to think of our reporters as providing a service to their communities, thus the name.

Throughout the program, you’ll have opportunities for professional development, learning from seasoned journalists and other trainers about your beat, specific skills and more.

Email us at info@reportfortheworld.org.