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Journalism in the public interest. And no, we're not shutting up.
Data Reporter
Location
United States
Posted
133 days ago
Salary
$110K - $135K / year
Seniority
Senior
Job Description
Data Reporter
ProPublica
• Find, or build, the data that uncovers stories with an accountability lens. • Conduct analyses that detect bias, influence and other harms. • Report and write sharp investigative stories that seize attention and spur change. • Explain your work and make it reproducible by writing engaging methodologies. • Scrape websites and wrangle data, including the unstructured, messy kind. • Develop accountability stories by combining data analysis, interviews and on-the-ground reporting with excellent storytelling. • Assist other ProPublica reporters with data brainstorming, acquisition, cleaning and analysis. • Clean, bulletproof and spot-check data that underpins our investigations. • Teach and encourage best practices and newsroom data policies. • Work with some of the best reporters on the planet on some of the biggest and most innovative projects in investigative and data journalism.
Job Requirements
- At least five years of experience working on data projects in a newsroom. Prior journalism experience is a requirement.
- 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 a few months (or more) of digging, using data and code to get there.
- Track record of developing and pitching data-driven news stories.
- Excellent interpersonal skills, solid editorial judgment and the ability to write quickly, cleanly and accurately on deadline.
- Extensive experience with cleaning and analyzing data in either Python or R is required.
- A track record of acquiring new skills as needed. This may include experience in several (but not necessarily all) of the following data reporting tools: SQL and database management systems, Google BigQuery, geospatial analysis, statistical inference, web scraping, finding and using undocumented APIs, machine learning and AI, including generative AI and large language models.
- Experience with best practices in data journalism, including a keen and careful eye for detail, documentation and version control. Your data work should be clean and reproducible.
- Familiarity with public data sources across several beats and experience requesting data through public records requests.
- Comfort spinning many plates. You’ll need to stay organized, focused and proactive.
- A talent for translating complex topics clearly and compellingly to our audience.
- The self-discipline to work independently, as well as an eagerness to work with teammates and local partner reporters on collaborative projects.
- Ability to travel for reporting and meetings as required.
- A deep desire to work on important accountability stories and an eagerness to dig for the truth to help spur reform.
Benefits
- This job is full time and includes benefits. The team is distributed, so remote applicants anywhere in the U.S. are welcome.
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