Report for America grant application period opens Sept. 15

Application to apply for consideration opens Sept. 15 for participation in the Report For America national service program that places journalists into local newsrooms to report on under-covered issues and communities.

Deadline for applications is Oct. 20.

RFA has placed over 700 reporters into more than 450 newsrooms in all 50 states to fill critical news holes and coverage gaps. Several newspapers in Texas have benefited from the program.

An information session for members of Texas Press Association to learn about the mission and application process is planned in September. More information will be announced.

RFA host newsrooms receive the following benefits:

• The agency will recruit a local reporter for participating newsrooms who is passionate about the beat designated as a need for coverage.   

• RFA will help expand newsroom coverage by paying half of the salary of the reporter for the first year and 33% of the salary the second year.

• RFA offers ongoing training and mentoring for the reporter through RFA’s Training and Service team throughout the two-year commitment.

• RFA’s Local News Sustainability Team partners with participating newsrooms to help raise money from the local community to sustain the corps member position and provide ongoing resources for the newsroom.     

• Participating newsrooms will have access to a network of several hundred like-minded host newsrooms to collaborate and use as a resource. 

More information will be announced. Information is also available on the RFA website, www.reportforamerica.org.