Search About Newsletters Donate

We are no longer accepting applications for this position.

The Marshall Project is looking for a staff reporter passionate about criminal justice. The reporter should be willing to produce short-form, quicker-turn enterprise reporting and analyses as well as in-depth investigative and explanatory long-form stories. An ideal candidate has demonstrated capacity in developing sources, writing both short and long-form articles, an interest in or record of writing about criminal justice, and a focus on reporting, framing and executing stories that produce impact.

The reporter would be able to unearth new angles and frame stories that stand out from the pack, understanding that The Marshall Project is a small organization competing against larger news outlets and so must produce articles that find fresh angles on topical stories about criminal justice. You should be comfortable working with public records and databases. You should expect to collaborate with colleagues from The Marshall Project and partner organizations — print, broadcast and online — including in local markets. A record of in-depth reporting on criminal justice — policing, prosecution, courts, prisons and jails — is a significant asset. A knowledge of juvenile justice and issues surrounding young people and criminal justice is an asset, but not a requirement.

Here are qualities we're looking for:

  • At least five years’ experience as a working journalist.
  • Track record of delivering short and long stories with demonstrable impact.
  • Experience in investigative journalism, including filing FOIAs and working with databases.
  • Experience in beat reporting, including expertise in a subject and writing in at least some of these forms: news, scoops, features, analysis, profiles, investigations.
  • Commitment to promoting your stories via social media and news interviews, and an openness to learning more about audience reach and engagement reporting.

We do not expect every candidate to be equally skilled in all these areas, and this is not a complete list of all relevant qualifications applicants might bring to the job. Please tell us about your other assets not mentioned here that may be valuable to this role. Reaching talent across a range of backgrounds and experiences is deeply important to us.

Our headquarters is in New York City, but we will consider remote candidates who live in the United States.

COMPENSATION AND BENEFITS

This job is full-time, with a competitive salary and benefits including employer-paid medical, vision, and dental insurance; 17 days of paid time off each year, plus a week off at the end of December; paid family leave; and 401(k) matching.

WHO WE ARE

The Marshall Project is a nonprofit news organization dedicated to covering America’s criminal justice system. In 2016, The Marshall Project was awarded the Pulitzer Prize for explanatory journalism and was a Pulitzer finalist for investigative reporting. We are not advocates—we follow the facts and we do not pander to any audience—but we have a declared mission: to create and sustain a sense of urgency about the criminal justice system. We do not generally cover breaking news (although we curate the reporting of other news outlets in our morning newsletter). Our work includes investigative and explanatory projects and shorter pieces aimed at highlighting stories that other news organizations miss, underestimate or misunderstand. To assure our work reaches a larger audience we partner or co-publish with other media outlets on almost all of our work; we have partnered with more than 100 newspapers, magazines, broadcasters and online sites.

We are an equal opportunity employer, committed to diversity. We welcome qualified applicants of all races, ethnicities, physical abilities, genders and sexual orientations, including people who have been incarcerated or otherwise involved with the criminal justice system.

To apply, use this form to submit a resume, cover letter, five clips and references. The deadline to submit an application is 11:59 pm Eastern on May 3.

Due to the expected volume of applications, we will follow up with the most promising candidates but cannot respond individually to all applicants.