For the second consecutive year, VTDigger has been selected to host a journalist as part of the Report for America program.
In its application, the news site said it planned to base a reporter in the northwestern part of the state to cover topics of particular interest to residents of Franklin, Grand Isle and Chittenden counties.
Launched in 2017, Report for America is an initiative of the nonprofit media organization, the GroundTruth Project. It’s aimed at harnessing the skills of early career journalists — plus the creative spirit of local news organizations — in order to bolster coverage that has been drastically reduced through cutbacks in the newspaper industry and effects of the coronavirus pandemic.
The new VTDigger position is one of more than 100 new reporting slots announced Tuesday, bringing the total to more than 300 journalists working in more than 200 newsrooms across the country.
VTDigger’s first corps member, Emma Cotton, began her service last June and focuses the bulk of her coverage on communities in Southern Vermont.
“With the local news system shrinking, it’s important that we both put more and more reporters in the field — and that we help newsrooms that are working toward becoming more sustainable, and more grounded in the community,” said Steven Waldman, president and co-founder of Report for America.
The two-year program (with an option for a third) delivers a wide range of benefits to its corps members. Beyond paying up to half of the journalists’ salaries, it provides ongoing training and mentorship by leading journalists, peer networking and memberships to select professional organizations.
“Report for America provides a unique opportunity for journalists to really sink their teeth into local, issue-oriented reporting that is missing from so many newsrooms today,” said Norman Parish, Report for America recruitment director. “Beyond talented reporters and photojournalists, we are looking for individuals who see journalism as a public service and want to make a difference within their communities.”
Report for America also announced Tuesday that Vermont Public Radio and the Valley News would serve as host newsrooms next year.
