Cheerful girl in coffee shop stock photo from GaudiLab/Shutterstock.

Greater Greater Washington is thrilled to announce that we're launching our very first urbanist journalism fellowship! It's a part-time, paid position for two local budding journalism professionals who are interested in the forces that shape how Washington grows and develops.

Right now our blog is powered by an incredible group of sharp and dedicated volunteer writers, and that isn't going to change. However, there's a dearth of opportunities for young reporters to gain paid experience, and we frequently have ideas for in-depth investigations that staff and contributors simply lack the bandwidth to execute. This fellowship is designed to help local journalists launch their careers, gain more of a background in urbanism, and provide our readers with an even richer array of stories.

Unlike our current volunteer writers, fellows must have prior experience in journalism (graduate students preferred). They will be expected to pitch, report, and write stories regularly — including short and long-form pieces — and will work closely with me to take a deeper dive into how the region is growing and changing.

In return, fellows will gain the opportunity to hone their journalism skills, deepen their urbanism knowlege, and publish a variety of pieces. Please note that we're willing to tailor the focus of the position to the unique interests and strengths of fellows — if you have a great story or project idea, let us know.

Here's who we're looking for

Can you sniff out a great story? Are you able to take wonky and esoteric subjects and make them relatable to a broad audience? Can you find and highlight the human impact of a policy? Do you have a unique perspective that is currently missing from regional conversations about urban planning? If that sounds like you, you just might be a great fit!

People who reflect underrepresented voices within the Greater Greater Washington community are encouraged to apply, including (but not limited to) people of color, women or non-gender conforming individuals, and people from or who currently live in areas of the region that are under-resourced or have been negatively impacted by historic urban planning policies.

If you know someone who may be a good candidate, please send them the fellowship announcement, and share this post widely with your networks.

How to apply

See the full fellowship description here. Please send the following to jobs@ggwash.org by 5 pm on Friday, August 10, 2018:

  • Resume
  • Two clips
  • Cover letter explaining your interest in and your qualifications for the fellowship, two relevant story ideas, and why you want to be a part of our team
  • Three references

Julie Strupp was Greater Greater Washington's Managing Editor from 2017 to 2019. Previously, she had written for DCist, Washingtonian, the Wisconsin Center for Investigative Journalism, and others. You can usually find her sparring with her judo club, pedaling around the city, or hanging out on her Columbia Heights stoop.