Washington Reporter, Defense

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

We are seeking an experienced investigative journalist to help expand our coverage of the Pentagon and the U.S. armed forces. The Department of Defense is the government’s largest agency, with a budget of nearly $1 trillion. Its operations at home and abroad are testing long-standing alliances and rules of engagement, just as policy changes have made its activities, and its leaders, harder to scrutinize. We’re looking for someone to add to ProPublica’s long history of holding this branch of government to account through deep reporting that has an impact.

The ideal candidate will have a proven track record of breaking through the wall of secrecy surrounding so much of what the U.S. military does; an insider’s understanding of its hierarchy, codes and traditions; and an outsider’s healthy curiosity and skepticism. They will be knowledgeable about the connections between the various agencies and the companies that influence or benefit from national security policies. They will have the kinds of sources who help them to both get behind the scenes of how decisions and policies are made and document their impact. And they will have demonstrated an ability to responsibly handle sensitive information. 

This reporter will be based in ProPublica’s Washington, D.C., office and will be part of a team assigned to nail big scoops and land agenda-setting investigations. Candidates must be willing to collaborate not only with their colleagues on the military beat but also with those working in other coverage areas.

We're Looking for Someone With:

• At least five years of experience producing original accountability journalism and a talent for, and dedication to, digging for the truth. Your portfolio should show that you are already doing this work.
• A vision for how they’d approach military investigations for ProPublica. You should strive to report and write stories that are both important and powerfully told.
• Expertise covering defense and national security; you should be sourced and able to hit the ground running on impactful stories.
• Experience with a wide range of reporting techniques, from underpinning stories with exclusive data analysis to using creative strategies to engage with readers and sources.
• Demonstrated storytelling skills. You should be a skilled investigative storyteller, capable of delivering findings in ways that connect with readers, either as riveting narratives or muscular, vivid investigative reports.
• An ability to bring an accountability lens to the issues of the day through quick investigations reported over a couple of weeks as well as longer projects that may require months (or more) of digging.
• The instincts to pursue urgent, high-stakes stories that are central to the national conversation or crisis of a given moment, which can require carving out a lane amid competition.
• Prior experience and an affinity for working with others. We are a highly collaborative newsroom, both across our teams and with other news organizations regionally and nationally. We believe we do our best work together.
• The ability to travel, as needed, for assignments, training and staff meetings.

This job is full time and includes benefits. This role will be based in ProPublica’s Washington, D.C., office, so candidates should live within the metropolitan area or be willing to relocate. Applicants must be eligible to work in the U.S.

The expected salary range for this position is $135,000 to $165,000.

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.

We will begin reviewing applications as we receive them, but we will continue to consider candidates as long as the posting remains live on our site.

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.