Ancil Payne Reporting Fellowship

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

The deadline for applications is Monday, Oct. 13, at 9 a.m. Eastern time.

ProPublica is looking for a two-year Ancil Payne Reporting Fellow to uncover powerful immigration investigative projects from our Washington office. We’re not interested in having you cover daily news. Your job will be to do enterprising, hard-hitting stories focusing on the many federal agencies that have been pulled into immigration enforcement, affecting government functions and people’s lives in unprecedented ways. 

Over the course of two years, we expect the fellow to take on a mix of short-, medium- and long-term stories. That includes reporting and writing stories of your own (here are some examples of other fellows’ work) and collaborating on some of ProPublica’s biggest and most complex projects, like this one about the dangers of certain booster seats that prompted a congressional investigation. We hope the fellow will take on increasingly complex stories during their time on our staff, working independently and with colleagues.

You will report to a managing editor, with some direction and support from our national immigration reporter and our senior editor in Washington. 

We’re looking for someone who: 

• Has at least three and no more than seven years of professional journalism experience and is eager to develop their investigative reporting skills.
• Brings a strong accountability lens and interest in focusing it on immigration through quick investigations reported over a couple of weeks as well as longer projects that may require a few months (or more) of digging.
• Has a track record of asking tough questions and publishing original, revelatory, in-depth or investigative stories. You don’t have to be an “investigative reporter,” but you do have to have shown a dedication to digging for the truth, holding people and institutions accountable. 
• Has demonstrated an ability to find sources in government agencies and locate new and original sources for information. 
• Has ideas for accountability stories that expose the myriad harms caused by the country’s dysfunctional immigration system and the distorted political debate that stands in the way of meaningful reform. 
• Seeks to report stories that are both important and powerfully told.
• Brings perspectives and life experiences that drive them toward fresh angles and approaches for covering the news.
• Can travel for assignments, staff meetings and trainings, as necessary.
• Works well with others. We are a highly collaborative newsroom, both across our teams and with other news organizations regionally and nationally. We believe we do some of our best work together.

A strong preference will be given to candidates with foreign language skills that they can use in their reporting, as well as those with experience using the best practices of trauma-informed reporting. 

The fellowship starts in January 2026 and runs for two years. The role is based in our Washington, D.C., office. We are not open to remote applicants. The candidate should either live in the area or be willing to relocate if hired. Applicants must be eligible to work in the U.S.

The salary for this full-time position is $75,000 per year and includes benefits. Read more information about ProPublica’s benefits.

This is a good-faith estimate of what we expect to pay for this position. The final salary figure will take into account a person’s experience, accomplishment and location. ProPublica is committed to paying its staff equitably, and these ranges should not be considered career salary limits or caps.

Questions? Send an email to talent@propublica.org. No phone calls, please.

We know there are great candidates who may not fit into what we’ve described above or who have important skills we haven’t thought of. If that’s you, don’t hesitate to apply and tell us about yourself.

We are dedicated to improving our newsroom, in part by better reflecting the people we cover. (Here is a breakdown of our staff.) We are committed to diversity and building an inclusive environment for people of all backgrounds and ages. And we are taking steps to meet that commitment. We especially encourage members of traditionally underrepresented communities to apply, including women, people of color, LGBTQ+ people and people with disabilities. We are an equal opportunity employer and prohibit discrimination and harassment of any kind. All employment decisions are made without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, national origin, age or any other status protected under applicable law.