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Report for America (RFA) has announced significant developments for its 2025-2026 program, including over 100 newsroom partnerships and new opportunities for journalists. The nonprofit organization continues its mission to revitalize local journalism by placing reporters in underserved communities and helping newsrooms achieve financial sustainability.
The upcoming cohort will feature a mix of 66 traditional host newsroom partners and 35 participants in RFA’s pilot accelerator program. These partnerships are aimed at tackling critical challenges in local news, with three-quarters of the cohort focusing on hosting corps members to cover essential beats.
“This expansion underscores the success of our model,” said Kim Kleman, RFA’s executive director. “We’re not only placing talented journalists in high-need communities but also stepping up efforts to help newsrooms secure financial stability.”
Size and Reach: 59% are small newsrooms with fewer than 10 editorial staffers, while the rest are midsize operations with up to 49 staffers.
Focus Areas: The most requested beats include rural coverage, environmental issues, and local government reporting.
Nonprofit Focus: 65% of the participating newsrooms are nonprofit organizations, while 35% operate as for-profit entities.
New and Returning Partners: Over half (57%) are first-time RFA partners, while others have hosted corps members in previous years.
A complete list of participating newsrooms and open corps member positions is available online.
For the first time, RFA is launching a pilot accelerator program designed to help newsrooms diversify their revenue streams by tapping into local philanthropy. Thirty-five newsrooms will participate in the program, gaining access to coaching, training, and fiscal sponsorship where needed.
The accelerator builds on RFA’s previous efforts to support more than 400 newsrooms, which have collectively raised $30 million since 2017.
“Local communities are stepping up to support their newsrooms in innovative ways,” said Morgan Baum, RFA’s director of local news sustainability. “Our accelerator program will provide newsroom leaders with the tools to build sustainable revenue models, enabling them to grow and thrive.”
RFA’s announcement comes alongside a call for new corps member applications. These positions offer aspiring and experienced journalists the chance to make a meaningful impact by covering underreported issues in underserved areas.
Additionally, RFA plans to expand opportunities in specialized fields, including photojournalism and education reporting. Details on these roles will be announced soon.
Founded to address the growing crisis in local journalism, Report for America places journalists in communities where coverage gaps are most pressing. By fostering partnerships with newsrooms and supporting sustainability initiatives, RFA aims to ensure that vital local stories are told.
For more information on newsroom partnerships, journalist opportunities, or the accelerator program, visit Report for America’s website.