The Dispatch has been selected as a Report for America host newsroom partner beginning in 2022.
Report for America, an initiative of The GroundTruth Project nonprofit that started in 2017, is a two-year program — with an option for a third — that places emerging journalists in local newsrooms to report on under-covered topics and communities. The Dispatch is seeking a reporter to focus on the region’s economic and workforce development.
“We’re thrilled to have been selected as a host newsroom,” said Peter Imes, publisher for The Dispatch. “This will allow us to look more deeply at the social, educational, economic and environmental aspects of business throughout the Golden Triangle.”
The Dispatch was selected among 70 new newsroom partners nationwide that will expand Report for America’s network to 325 journalists working in nearly 270 newsrooms across all 50 states, Puerto Rico, Guam and the U.S. Virgin Islands, in 2022. It was the only new partner newsroom selected in Mississippi this year. The Associated Press and Biloxi Sun Herald are the only other host newsrooms in the state.
Report for America will pay up to half the journalist’s salary, and The Dispatch will pay 25 percent. Report for America requires the remaining 25 percent be raised through private community donations.
“Fundraising is a method of funding journalism that is becoming more widespread,” Imes said. “Public radio has shown it can work. While this is new for us, our hope is to find one or more benefactors who understand the importance of strong, independent journalism.”
Journalists must apply by Jan. 31 and are selected for the program through a highly-competitive process. Last year, more than 1,800 newsrooms applied.
Hired journalists become employees of their respective newsrooms on June 1, 2022. To help connect corps members to the community, they are required to do a service project, which often includes engaging middle or high school students in journalism related activities.
“Report for America provides a unique opportunity for journalists to pursue meaningful, local beat reporting that sadly is missing from many of today’s newsrooms,” Earl Johnson, director of admissions at Report for America, said in a press release. “Beyond talented reporters and photojournalists, we are looking for a diversity of individuals who see journalism as a calling, who want to make a difference within their communities.”
You can help your community
Quality, in-depth journalism is essential to a healthy community. The Dispatch brings you the most complete reporting and insightful commentary in the Golden Triangle, but we need your help to continue our efforts. In the past week, our reporters have posted 34 articles to cdispatch.com. Please consider subscribing to our website for only $2.30 per week to help support local journalism and our community.
You can help your community
Quality, in-depth journalism is essential to a healthy community. The Dispatch brings you the most complete reporting and insightful commentary in the Golden Triangle, but we need your help to continue our efforts. In the past week, our reporters have posted 34 articles to cdispatch.com. Please consider subscribing to our website for only $2.30 per week to help support local journalism and our community.
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