Freelance Pitch Form

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Position Summary & Responsibilities

ProPublica is an independent, nonprofit newsroom that produces investigative journalism in the public interest.

While the vast majority of ProPublica’s work comes from our staff, we occasionally consider supporting ambitious accountability stories or projects from independent journalists whose ideas align with the mission of our organization.

Here’s what journalists submitting proposals should know.

We’re open to investigations that are revelatory or substantially advance what is known on a subject of importance. The investigation should have the potential to trigger needed reforms by identifying a problem, who’s responsible and what should change. It should also clearly show harm. The investigation can be rooted in a place or focus on a person, but it should illuminate an issue of broader relevance.

The best proposals have a clear hypothesis, typically based on significant reporting: They don’t wonder whether something bad is happening, they know it. Please include not only a general description of the topic, but also a sense of the anecdotes/data/documents you have gathered, what you expect to find and possible accountability stories you want to tell.

In addition, applicants should detail, as much as is possible at the outset, what an investigation will require: data work, travel, obtaining public records. It’s also important for us to know what data, documents and/or source relationships the reporter already has. Finally, we’d like to hear a bit about why you are particularly suited to do this investigation.

We will begin reviewing applications as we receive them, and aim to notify candidates regarding your proposals within two weeks of submission. Questions? Send an email to talent@propublica.org. No phone calls, please.

For those proposals we accept, we pay competitive freelance rates, including reporting expenses. Freelancers are independent contractors and will not be treated by ProPublica as employees for any purpose.

Independent contractors are responsible for paying any required taxes on any compensation received and for understanding the applicable tax laws. We will begin reviewing applications as we receive them, and aim to notify candidates regarding your proposals within two weeks of submission.

🎯 Candidate Preparation Guide For Propublica Applicants

Key Role Competencies & Evaluation Highlights

Key Role Focus:

Evaluating investigative tenacity, rigorous fact-checking discipline, and moral courage to pursue stories that challenge powerful institutions.

📋 Preparation Priorities (Key Areas to Clarify):

1. Prioritizing speed or sensationalism over absolute factual accuracy and source protection
2. Inability to handle tough pushback on editorial premises or thesis construction
3. Lack of institutional curiosity regarding systemic corruption or policy failures

✨ Recommended Role Alignment Hook:

I combine deep investigative reporting with advanced data forensics to uncover systemic abuses that demand institutional accountability.

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