This position has been filled.

The Marshall Project is seeking a reporter to cover criminal justice issues in Washington, D.C.

The ideal candidate is an experienced, versatile, self-starting and open-minded reporter with an eye for original stories, an interest in criminal justice, the ability to develop good sources and dig up documentary evidence, and a gift for writing fair, clear and engaging stories about complex subjects. He or she should have a demonstrated fluency with public records requests and be comfortable working with data.

THE JOB

This is a pivotal moment in the history of criminal justice in our country, with a growing bipartisan concern that the system is broken and a new administration that seems inclined to double down on a more muscular approach. While we expect the reporter to be attentive to the legislative, political and regulatory developments in criminal justice, this is not a daily beat. We are looking for revelatory stories and original analysis. These may include investigative projects (pursued alone or as part of a team), sophisticated news analysis, explanatory pieces and profiles.

The reporter should get to know the key players and most interesting thinkers on criminal justice in Congress and the executive branch, think tanks, lobbying and advocacy groups both as sources and as potential profile subjects. He or she should acquire a deep understanding of federal policies that affect policing, prosecution, the court system, prisons and jails, and the rights and conditions of the formerly incarcerated. This includes the criminal-justice aspects of immigration policy, drug laws and firearms. The reporter should be attuned to the role race and class play in the dispensing of criminal justice.

The reporter should expect to collaborate with colleagues from The Marshall Project or partner organizations — print, broadcast and online.

WHO WE ARE

The Marshall Project is a nonprofit news organization dedicated to covering America’s criminal justice system. In 2016, The Marshall Project was awarded the Pulitzer Prize ​for explanatory journalism and was a Pulitzer finalist for investigative reporting. We are not advocates — we follow the facts and we do not pander to any audience — but we have a declared mission: to create and sustain a sense of urgency about the criminal justice system. We do not generally cover breaking news (although we curate the reporting of other news outlets in our morning newsletter.) Our work includes investigative and explanatory projects and shorter pieces aimed at highlighting stories that other news organizations miss, underestimate or misunderstand. To assure our work reaches a larger audience we partner or co-publish with other news outlets on almost all of our work; we have partnered with more than 70 newspapers, magazines, broadcasters and online sites.

We are an equal opportunity employer, committed to diversity. We welcome qualified applicants of all races, ethnicities, physical abilities, genders, and sexual orientations, including people who have been incarcerated.

Send resume, clips and references to info+DC@themarshallproject.org