Reporting Fellowship - Immigrants and Immigration Policy

Location: Des Moines, Iowa
Job Category: Online | New Media,Radio
Job ID: 13468
Employment Type: Full time
Salary: per year
Posted: 01.13.2026

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Occupations:

Job Description:

The Midwest Newsroom is awarding a 12-month reporting fellowship to cover immigration policy and its impact on individuals and communities. If you want to be on the forefront of covering one of the biggest issues of our time, this is your opportunity to do so with the support of a strong team of editors and a data journalist.

We’re looking for a journalist who has been covering immigration through previous reporting. This person will amplify voices that often go unheard, dig for answers and craft compelling narratives for audio and digital audiences. The job will combine investigative and accountability projects and short-term stories based on partner needs.

Based at KCUR 89.3 in Kansas City, we are a partnership between NPR and member stations to provide investigative journalism and enterprise reporting for audiences in Iowa, Kansas, Missouri and Nebraska. The goal of the fellowship program is to broaden the range of backgrounds, experiences and interests within the field of investigative journalism, where a variety of perspectives is critically important. 

10  things about the fellowship:

1 - This fellowship is open to journalists with at least one year of newsroom experience. 

2 - This is a full-time position for 12 months.

3 - The fellow will be an employee of Iowa Public Radio. 

4 - They can work from there OR one of our partner news organizations, with a combination of remote and onsite hours. 

5 - Radio experience is not required. We will provide training.

6 - The salary is $42,000 and health benefits will be provided.

7 - Students are not eligible. 

8 - There will be travel. 

9 - Spanish or other language skills are a plus but not required.

10 - We will select one fellow.

The partners in this collaboration are Iowa Public Radio, KCUR and St. Louis Public Radio in Missouri, Nebraska Public Media and NPR. We work closely with NPR, Harvest Public Media and the Kansas News Service. 

What you’ll get:

The Midwest Newsroom Fellowship will provide this reporter with time and space to pursue stories of their own and report assigned stories for our partner newsrooms.

 The Fellow will have the opportunity to learn or enhance their skills in:

• Audio reporting

• Data journalism

• Public records

• Writing for multiple platforms

• Social media storytelling

Job Requirements:

• At least one year reporting experience
• Demonstrated interest (through previous published/aired work) in reporting on immigrant communities and immigration policy
• Ability to travel

Applying for the Fellowship

The application deadline is Feb. 16, 2026. Please submit the following:

• Resume

• Cover Letter (one page), which should include:

• Why you want this fellowship

• How this fellowship fits in with your professional goals

• A brief description of the most impactful immigration story you’ve done, with a link or attached file.

• Story Pitch 

• Tell us about a story you might do as a fellow with The Midwest Newsroom

• Be sure to include:

  • What the story is, in no more than two sentences

    • What is the key question you are seeking to answer and/or what is the key finding you want to impart?

  • Who is the audience for this story?

  • What impact do you think this story could have?

  • What data and public records would you seek out? 

  • Have you done any initial research or reporting on this story?

 

NOTE: Pitching does not lock you into doing that story, nor does it imply The Midwest Newsroom will greenlight the story. We simply want to learn how you think about the process.

 

Questions? You can email Managing Editor Holly Edgell: hollyedgell@kcur.org