Report for America announces 78 new journalist corps

A new cohort of corps members will report on undercovered communities and issues while helping local newsrooms grow trust, engagement and sustainability. 

May 20, 2026 – Report for America announced today the placement of 78 journalists in newsrooms across the country, the organization’s latest effort to strengthen local news in communities across the country at a time when many newsrooms face growing financial and reporting challenges. 

“These journalists represent hope: a new generation committed to local news reporting that helps people better understand their communities and one another,” said Kim Kleman, executive director at Report for America. “Our model is designed not only to place talented reporters where they are needed most, but also to deepen community trust and build a more sustainable future for local news.”

The incoming corps members were selected from a competitive pool of more than 1,600 applicants, ensuring top talent for the 73 newsrooms that will welcome these reporters. Report for America’s newsroom partners go through an equally competitive process each year.

Across all 2026-27 corps members, a third will focus on communities of color and/or immigrant communities and more than a quarter will be covering rural communities. 

“These corps members are entering communities with curiosity, rigor and a deep commitment to listening,” said Earl Johnson, vice president of recruitment and alumni engagement at Report for America. “They will cover issues that too often go underreported while building meaningful relationships with the communities they serve. That work matters, not just for local newsrooms but for strengthening trust and connection at the local level.” 

The corps members will begin their assignments in July and report on a range of communities and community-informed issues that, in many cases, have never received dedicated coverage. Beats range from growth and development in Middle Tennessee to education and children’s services in Salem, Oregon to Latino communities in the Finger Lakes region of upstate New York. In addition, Report for America is launching a seven-member local sports corps, equipping newsrooms to better cover this popular, community-centered beat.

Among the 2026-27 class of corps members: 

● They come from 42 states and Puerto Rico. 

● Nearly half (46%) are people of color. 

● More than 60% are women. 

Find list of incoming 2026-27 corps members, including their newsroom assignments and beats here. 

The incoming journalists bring Report for America’s current, active reporter corps to 200, with 122 continuing their service into their second or third year. 

“Our model is built around a simple but powerful idea: when you invest in journalists, you invest in stronger communities,” said Jason Blakeney, director of corps and newsroom excellence at Report for America. “We support corps members with training, mentorship and professional development while helping newsroom partners build long-term sustainability around local reporting. The result is journalism that serves communities now while helping strengthen the future of local news.”

With this incoming cohort, Report for America will have matched more than 800 journalists with local newspapers, public radio stations, digital platforms, and television outlets across the country since its launch in 2017. To learn more about Report for America and its efforts to rewrite the story of local news one community at a time, please visit www.reportforamerica.org. 

About Report for America
Report for America recruits, places and supports talented journalists in local newsrooms across the United States. We provide salary support, training, and newsroom sustainability coaching, enabling our partners to expand coverage on critical, often overlooked issues and strengthen trust with their audiences. Report for America’s journalist-first model offers a practical, hopeful solution to rebuilding local news — one community at a time. Report for America is an initiative of Report Local, a nonprofit journalism organization dedicated to strengthening local journalism across the U.S. and around the world.

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