For many local news organizations, the challenge isn’t identifying the stories that need to be told—it’s having enough reporters to tell them. As newsrooms continue to navigate staffing shortages, tight budgets, retirements, and growing community needs, finding and developing new journalism talent has become more important than ever.
Journalism New England’s Career Lab offers one way to help address that challenge.
The organization is now recruiting news organizations interested in participating in its next Career Lab cohort, scheduled to begin in September 2026. The 12-week training program helps local newsrooms develop new community reporters by providing hands-on training, editing, and mentorship at no cost to participating newsrooms.
Rather than asking publishers to find experienced journalists, Career Lab encourages newsrooms to identify someone already connected to their community who has the interest and potential to become a local reporter. It could be a recent graduate, an engaged community member, a freelancer looking to expand their skills, or someone with strong local knowledge and a passion for storytelling. Newsrooms nominate their candidate, and Journalism New England provides the training while tailoring assignments to the newsroom’s coverage priorities.
Throughout the program, Career Lab fellows receive a $300 monthly learning stipend, paid directly by Journalism New England during the fellowship. Editors work closely with participants throughout the program, editing stories to AP style and delivering polished articles ready for publication. Participating news organizations decide whether to publish each story and are under no obligation to hire participants after the program concludes, although the program is designed to help create long-term freelance and employment opportunities.
Each participating newsroom designates a liaison who works with Career Lab staff to share story ideas, local events, and reporting priorities. Journalism New England provides ongoing editorial guidance throughout the fellowship, helping participants produce accurate, community-focused reporting while reducing the burden on already stretched newsroom staff.
Career Lab is built around a simple idea: the next great reporter for your newsroom may already be living in your community. By helping local news organizations identify and develop promising new talent, the program expands reporting capacity, strengthens community connections, and helps build the next generation of local journalists.
The next Career Lab cohort is expected to begin in early September 2026, and Journalism New England is currently seeking participating newsrooms from across the region.
Publishers interested in participating can express their interest by completing the online form: https://www.journalismnewengland.org/careerlab#careerlabcontact
For additional information, contact Erin O’Mara at erin@journalismnewengland.org.