The inaugural group of Murrow News fellows, now interviewing for this vanguard program, is expected to begin reporting on local civics in April, with the second cohort likely to be in the field by summer 2024.
That’s quite a feat since the last state legislative session gave the nod to the Murrow College to use a $2.4 million budget provision to place 16 reporters in newsrooms for two years, based on their proposals to strengthen civic coverage.
State Sen. Karen Keiser [D-Des Moines/33rd] asked the Murrow College to craft a proposal for the state reporting corps.
“A strong press is fundamental to a thriving democracy,” said Keiser, a former journalist. “Yet Washington has lost 20% of its newspapers over the past two decades. That means in many communities, school board meetings aren’t being covered, court proceedings aren’t being scrutinized, and local government actions aren’t being questioned.”
Keiser and other legislators, citing the decline of the local news corps, recognize that key issues get less ink in their communities. Murrow College leaders expect fellows tasked to report on issues important to an informed electorate will deepen local reporting.
The fellows will be employed by the university, earning $55,000 a year with benefits, but will be directed by their assigned newsroom.
Ben Shors, chair of journalism and media production, worked with other Murrow staff to develop a program with three objectives: hire early career journalists to inform local communities; build a curriculum to support their continuing education over two years; and help support local newsrooms. The fellowship program will also regularly produce reports on the state of the Evergreen State’s media landscape.
In October, newsrooms began to submit their plans to direct a reporter on a local civic beat. Murrow received 40 proposals, representing news organizations whose coverage would span 36 of the state’s 39 counties.
In December, the selection committee – which includes three external experts – began to consider the newsroom proposals, narrowing the pool to a list of 12 finalist newsrooms.
The fellowship was widely advertised, producing a candidate pool of 64, most of whom were raised or educated in Washington. A hiring committee is now interviewing candidates, expecting to match them this month with host news organization.
The fellows will assemble in Pullman for the Murrow Symposium April 3-4. At that time, they’ll onboard as WSU employees, learn more about the certificate program they’ll engage in over the next two years, and meet their fellow fellows.
The first group of fellows will be joined by a second in the summer, totaling 16, as the program moves to follow a fiscal cycle. Watch the Murrow News fellow website for more information.