Reporters placed in newsrooms by the Report for America (RFA) training program are increasingly moving into permanent positions at the publications hosting them.
Of 97 reporters placed in newsrooms in 2025, 55% of them were hired for permanent jobs, according to a chart published by NiemanLab. That percentage is up from 41% in 2024 and 27% in
2023.
Since 2018, shortly after its inception, the program has graduated 495 young journalists, of whom 165 were hired by newsrooms. In addition, RFA says 82% of its
graduates are still working in journalism in some capacity, not including public relations, marketing, communications and related fields.
“Our goal isn’t
necessarily to keep graduating corps members in their host newsrooms,” says Alison Griffin, head of communications for Report for America, NiemanLab reports.
“Many of them are ready for new adventures after two or three years with RFA. We’re thrilled so many stay in journalism.”
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