Local Reporting Network State Government 2020

ProPublica launched our Local Reporting Network in 2018 to help create vital, investigative journalism in communities where such stories would otherwise not be done.

We are seeking new projects for 2020, and in this round of applications, we are looking for accountability stories about state government -- from the governor’s mansion to the legislature to the work of state agencies.

The influence of state government is far-reaching, touching aspects of life as varied as taxes, education, environmental oversight and health care -- yet elected officials and state bureaucrats are getting ever less scrutiny.

As local newsrooms are shrinking, the number of reporters working in statehouses across the country has dropped sharply in recent years. Some news organizations no longer cover their state capitals and others have reduced their bureaus to one or two reporters.

We will pay the salary, plus an allowance for benefits, for full-time reporters at seven partner news organizations who are dedicated to big investigative projects focused on state politics or state government. We expect that at least one winning proposal will come from Illinois to complement our own local work at ProPublica Illinois. Applications are due Sept. 27, and selected reporters will begin work on Jan. 2 and work on their projects throughout 2020.

Our state government projects in 2019 have exposed a deadly crisis in California jails, a broadband boondoggle in Kentucky and an ethical quagmire for the governor of West Virginia (he owns more than 100 businesses, many regulated by the state).

Policymakers are paying attention. In New Jersey, for example, our partner WNYC reported on how a company provided a false answer on an application for tax incentives, leading the state to freeze the firm’s $260 million tax break. And in August, the governor there vetoed an extension of the tax program at the heart of our reporting.

Later this fall, we will solicit proposals for our general local reporting initiative. All told, we will be working with more than 20 partners in 2020.

If your organization is selected, the reporter will continue to work in your newsroom but will receive extensive guidance and support from ProPublica. The work will be published or broadcast by your newsroom and simultaneously by ProPublica. While the reporter does not have to be based in your state capital, he or she will have to spend time there during the year.

National news organizations are not eligible to apply; all other newsrooms are. We are not looking to fund day-to-day coverage of state government or the legislature, but instead to enable your organization to do ambitious accountability projects that would not otherwise be done.

Applications should be submitted by newsroom leaders for a particular project and a specific reporter. If you lead a newsroom and are interested in working with us, we’d like to hear from you about:

• An investigative project. The proposed coverage can take any number of forms: a few long stories, an ongoing series of shorter stories, text, radio, video or more. Please tell us why this coverage will be crucial to your state, any similar coverage that has been done before it, why this project has particular urgency now and a plan for executing the work. Please also explain why your state and your newsroom are the right places to tell this particular story.
• The reporter whom you ideally envision spearheading the work and the market salary you would need to pay this person for 2020. This could be someone already on staff or someone else — for example, a freelancer with whom you aspire to work. Please include a personal statement by the reporter explaining his or her interest, at least three clips and, of course, a resume.

Freelancers are also welcome to apply, but they must find a news organization willing to publish their work and submit a joint application.

The deadline for applications is 11:59 p.m. EDT on Sept. 27. Please submit your proposal using this form. We have a detailed list of frequently asked questions available on our site. If you have questions that aren’t answered there, email us at Local.Reporting@propublica.org.

ProPublica reporters and editors are available to give you feedback on your idea before you apply. You can send your proposals to Local.Reporting@propublica.org and someone will get back to you within a few days. Entries will be judged principally by ProPublica editors. Winning proposals will be announced in late fall to enable work to begin on Jan. 2.