InvestigateWest/Open Campus Investigative Reporter

Full-time, one-year position | Remote (Washington, Oregon or Idaho) | $60,000-$65,000

Overview
InvestigateWest is a nonprofit founded in 2009 to produce investigative journalism that sparks change across the Pacific Northwest. Our work has led to 15 new state laws and a number of other significant reforms. As local watchdog journalism shrinks, we produce high-impact investigations and partner with local outlets so that accountability reporting reaches the people most affected.

Open Campus is a national nonprofit news organization dedicated to investigating and elevating higher education. Open Campus is working to transform local reporting on college by combining the sophistication of a national newsroom that knows a topic very deeply with the engagement of a community newsroom that knows a place very deeply.

The Open Campus Community College Project is an investigative unit focused on American community colleges, the most local and least-covered part of higher education. The initiative is an extension of Open Campus' mission to ensure communities and individuals have the independent information they need to support thriving local economies and lives. InvestigateWest is serving as one of the host newsrooms for the program.

The role
This is a unique opportunity for an investigative reporter to be a member of the InvestigateWest news team and the Open Campus community college accountability initiative.

Washington, Oregon and Idaho are home to 55 community and technical colleges. They range from large campuses in Seattle, Portland and the Boise area to small schools serving rural towns. The reporter will examine and scrutinize how these colleges work for people across the Northwest, looking at their performance, governance, funding and outcomes for students. The role will also examine the economic, civic and workforce development roles community colleges play across the region.

Working with Open Campus investigative editors and InvestigateWest editors, this reporter will identify community college issues to provide better understanding and accountability for students and communities. In addition to investigative reporting and writing, the position will help translate investigative findings into digestible and accessible forms for all audiences.

The investigative reporter will also spearhead partnerships with other media outlets and community groups across all three states to amplify the work, building on InvestigateWest's practice of partnering with local newsrooms.

What you'll do

• Apply an accountability lens to community college reporting, devising unique and compelling pitches in partnership with the Open Campus investigative team.
• Report and write investigative stories about many facets of community, tribal and technical colleges in Washington, Oregon and Idaho.
• Leverage data and public records, including state public records laws, budget filings, board records and state and federal education datasets, to strengthen investigative reporting.
• Work closely with Open Campus and InvestigateWest staff.
• Collaborate with media partners and community organizations across the region.
• Receive training from experts in the field focused on investigative reporting, records requests and data, and coverage of higher education.

Who you are and what you bring
The ideal candidate should be able to demonstrate a range of skills, though we do not expect the same level of strength across all categories. We're looking for candidates with much of the following:

• Proven investigative journalism experience, preferably four years or more of professional experience.
• Strong research, reporting and writing abilities.
• Experience using data and public records.
• Strong news judgment and a demonstrated ability to develop sources.
• Ability to meet deadlines and adhere to editorial guidelines.
• Strong interest in connecting with diverse and underserved communities across the Northwest, including rural, Indigenous and migrant communities.
• A collaborative spirit, curiosity, generosity and coachability.
• An experimental mindset and an appreciation for new and creative ways to provide news and information.

Compensation and benefits

• Salary: $60,000-$65,000, depending on experience and skills
• Term: This is a one-year position, starting in January 2027.
• 100% coverage of health insurance and 50% dental coverage
• $100 monthly work-from-home stipend
• Three weeks of paid vacation and 11 paid holidays
• Support for professional development

Location
This is a remote position. The reporter may work from anywhere in Washington, Oregon or Idaho.

Our commitment
We are dedicated to making our organization better reflect the region we cover, and we are committed to fostering an inclusive environment for people of different ages and backgrounds. We encourage members of historically underrepresented communities to apply, including women, people of color, LGBTQ people and people with disabilities.

How to apply
Please submit a resume, a cover letter describing your interest in covering Northwest community colleges for InvestigateWest, and three or four clips showing your investigative or enterprise work, using this form. Applications are considered on a rolling basis. Deadline: Nov. 9. We will review applications as they arrive, and we will continue to consider candidates as long as the posting remains live on our website. Email questions to hiring@investigatewest.org. No phone calls, please.