Freelance Reporter

Start date: Immediately

Public Square Amplified (PSA) is an award-winning grassroots local nonprofit newsroom founded by a team of Black women with over 80 years of combined experience in the nonprofit, academic, journalism, and community organizing sectors headquartered in Newark, New Jersey. 

PSA positions journalism as a civic tool and creates a pipeline for a new cadre of local journalists of color representing their geographic and ethnic community. Our reporting centers on democracy, social and economic justice, racial equality, and the immigrant experience. 

Freelance Reporter reports to the Newsroom Editor. Must be locally based and be familiar with Newark and surrounding towns.

Responsibilities

  • In collaboration with the news management team, responsibilities include:

    • Will pitch, report, and write stories that center the Black, immigrant, and working-class communities, making complex issues accessible. They will work closely with the news management team to produce impactful coverage across the Public Square Amplified website, newsletters, and social channels.

    • Produce long form stories [850-1200 words]

    • Produce short for stories [650-850 words]

    • Investigative journalism articles are encouraged 

    • Produce news packages–multimedia format with print framework

    • Attend editorial meetings, both individual and team

    • Adhere to all organizational’s editorial policies, practices, and processes

    • Be available to cover live events such as protests and public meetings

Skills and Experience

  • Deep knowledge of New Jersey politics and communities

  • Adept in liberatory journalism and civics

  • Bachelor's degree or equivalent experience

  • Exceptional writing, reporting, multimedia, and editing craft 

  • Solid news background and at least three years’ experience as a reporter

  • Adept of all journalism writing standards in writing and reporting

Reporting: Contractor will report to the Newsroom Editor

Timeline: TBD

Compensation: Paid within 3 weeks of story publication

  • Print stories: $125 - $250

  • News packages: $250

  • Investigative journalism pieces are available and pay is dependent upon pitch

Please use this link to apply: https://forms.gle/eHfHU3UcXrvVzsHd8 

or submit a pitch