INVESTIGATIVE REPORTERS

THE CITY is seeking aggressive and ambitious investigative reporters to produce groundbreaking journalism that exposes corruption, wrongdoing, negligence and violations of public trust. These are 3 new positions devoted to deep digging that yields journalism that breaks new ground and has an impact on the lives of New Yorkers.

THE ORGANIZATION

Launched in 2019, THE CITY is New York City's preeminent nonprofit, nonpartisan local news organization. Working across all five boroughs, our award-winning journalists bring diverse skills and backgrounds to the task of covering New York's neighborhoods, holding the powerful to account and making sense of the greatest city in the world.

Journalism by THE CITY uncovered the scheme that led to the indictment and resignation of New York's lieutenant governor, helped secure repairs in public housing, prompted solitary confinement reforms following the preventable death of a transgender woman on Rikers Island, and led to legislation addressing grueling working conditions of New York's delivery workers. During the COVID pandemic, THE CITY remedied inequities in vaccine access, prompted tougher oversight of emergency city contracts and led the Department of Education tocurtail child welfare investigations of families whose children lacked the technology to sign into online school.

THE CITY is in a growth phase that will add reporters and editors to our newsroom, strengthen our business capabilities and build our revenue-generating capacities.

THE POSITION

THE CITY is bolstering its investigative firepower, adding senior reporters to its award-winning newsroom. Investigative Reporters will produce high-impact journalism that prompts change.

Reporters will conceive and carry out focused, in-depth, long-term investigations that unearth stories that would not otherwise be in the public eye. The successful candidate will bring depth of reporting experience, a proven track record of high-impact coverage, goal-oriented persistence in getting the goods, lively writing and a sense of humor.

Ability to work independently is valued but collaboration with others in the newsroom is vital to success in this role.

PLEASE INCLUDE LINKS TO THREE INVESTIGATIVE PROJECTS IN YOUR COVER LETTER.

AS INVESTIGATIVE REPORTER YOU WILL…

• Develop leads, identify targets for investigation and develop reporting plans in collaboration with the Investigations Editor.
• Manage complex long-term projects on a focused and structured schedule.
• Interact with sources using the highest professional standards of ethics and integrity.
• Pursue and manage documents, data and other materials with persistence, creativity, ambition and discipline.
• Secure reliable expert support to ensure accurate and nuanced assessment of complex statistical, legal, regulatory, financial and other technical information.
• Team with others across THE CITY's newsroom, including news applications, visuals, engagement and reporting staff.
• Craft compelling narratives and other presentations, with a focus on engaging and serving diverse audiences.
• Collaborate with other news organizations on partnership projects. THE CITY's partners include ProPublica, WNYC/Gothamist, The Marshall Project, Texas Tribune, Chalkbeat, Documented and City Limits.
• Bulletproof your work in collaboration with editors and legal counsel.
• Do media and other public appearances, including community engagement work through THE CITY's Open Newsroom.
• Collaborate with communications, development and other stakeholders to make sure our investigative work is captured fully and accurately.
• Help write award submissions.

QUALIFICATIONS

• At least 3 years of experience in investigative reporting with a proven track record of holding the powerful to account and delivering results in the public interest
• A passion for all things New York and a deep investment in the power of local reporting
• Experience with investigative reporting methods, including obtaining primary materials through information requests, source cultivation and data acquisition and analysis
• Impeccable judgment and the ability to safeguard the highest journalistic standards under pressure
• A love of collaboration in and outside the newsroom and the ability to have tough conversations while building mutual trust and respect
• Ability to multitask, flipping seamlessly between poking around on leads to interviews to writing to finalizing an investigation to representing our work post-publication
• Last but not least, bring enthusiasm, curiosity and excitement to the newsroom

OTHER THINGS TO KNOW…

Salary range: $100,000 - $133,000

Benefits: Generous paid time off, including 20 vacation days, 10 holidays, 2 floating holidays and 8 paid sick days. Medical, Dental and Vision. 401k Plan

Location: New York City (obviously)

Job descriptions like this one are wish lists that are rarely completely fulfilled, even by the successful candidate. Don't hesitate to apply even if you don't check every box. You can be right for the job even if you're missing a bullet point or two, and you can have important skills we haven't thought of that would make you a compelling candidate. Even if this doesn't end up being a match, applying puts you on our radar – and it's free!

We are dedicated to improving our newsroom, in part by better reflecting the people of the city we cover. We are committed to diversity and building an inclusive environment for people of all backgrounds and ages, and we especially encourage members of traditionally under-represented communities to apply, including women, people of color, LGBTQ people, immigrants, veterans, people with disabilities, and those with lived experiences in the communities we cover.