{"id":3193,"date":"2026-10-26T20:27:52","date_gmt":"2026-10-26T20:27:52","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.tarbellcenter.org\/?post_type=job&#038;p=3193"},"modified":"2026-10-27T20:08:48","modified_gmt":"2026-10-27T20:08:48","slug":"reporting-grants","status":"publish","type":"job","link":"https:\/\/www.tarbellcenter.org\/careers\/reporting-grants","title":{"rendered":"Program Specialist, Reporting Grants"},"content":{"rendered":"\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><strong>Own and run the grants program that funds original reporting about AI, from freelancers or staff reporters.&nbsp;<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><a href=\"https:\/\/airtable.com\/appCNB423FvJENvAj\/pagPIoTVvLhu3ck56\/form\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Apply here by 11:59pm PT on Sunday, November 15, 2026.<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">About the Tarbell Center<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The <a href=\"https:\/\/tarbellcenter.org\/\">Tarbell Center for AI Journalism<\/a> supports journalism that helps society navigate the development and deployment of advanced AI. We provide funding and training to strengthen AI reporting at major news outlets.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Since 2023, we&#8217;ve raised &gt;$30M in funding and supported 75+ journalists through fellowships, grants, and residencies. We&#8217;re now entering a period of rapid expansion as we scale from a $4M budget in 2025 to $14M+ in 2027.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Across our programs, we\u2019ve supported a wide range of impactful reporting:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li><strong>Accountability reporting: <\/strong>Our journalists have broken corporate accountability stories about <a href=\"https:\/\/www.nbcnews.com\/tech\/tech-news\/openai-chatgpt-accused-using-subpoenas-silence-nonprofits-rcna237348\">OpenAI\u2019s legal tactics against nonprofits<\/a> and <a href=\"https:\/\/www.theinformation.com\/articles\/xai-broke-safety-policy-coding-model\">xAI violating its own safety policies<\/a>. An investigation into <a href=\"https:\/\/www.thebureauinvestigates.com\/stories\/2025-10-22\/gang-leaders-school-shooters-and-bestie-epstein-meet-character.ais-chatbot-companions\">Character.AI&#8217;s failure to protect minors<\/a> on its platform contributed to the company <a href=\"https:\/\/www.bbc.com\/news\/articles\/cq837y3v9y1o\">banning under-18s<\/a> within a week of publication.&nbsp;<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>AI policy coverage:<\/strong> Our reporters have produced <a href=\"https:\/\/www.lawfaremedia.org\/contributors\/kfrazier\">expert policy analysis<\/a>, revealed <a href=\"https:\/\/www.transformernews.ai\/p\/new-york-governor-hochul-raise-act-sb-53?utm_source=publication-search\">exclusive information<\/a> about state-level AI policy developments, and <a href=\"https:\/\/www.techpolicy.press\/inside-the-lobbying-frenzy-over-californias-ai-companion-bills\/\">investigated AI policy lobbying<\/a>.&nbsp;<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Effects from AI: <\/strong>Fellows have covered both the effects of current systems, ranging from <a href=\"https:\/\/www.technologyreview.com\/supertopic\/ai-energy-package\/\">climate <\/a>to <a href=\"https:\/\/www.technologyreview.com\/2025\/10\/01\/1124621\/openai-india-caste-bias\/\">mass discrimination<\/a>, and the emerging risks from frontier models, such as <a href=\"https:\/\/www.theguardian.com\/technology\/2025\/oct\/25\/ai-models-may-be-developing-their-own-survival-drive-researchers-say\">sabotaging shutdown mechanisms<\/a> or <a href=\"https:\/\/time.com\/7014800\/ai-pandemic-bioterrorism\/\">helping engineer pandemics<\/a>.&nbsp;<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Sensemaking:<\/strong> We\u2019ve supported explanatory journalism that helps the public make sense of <a href=\"https:\/\/www.bloomberg.com\/graphics\/2026-ai-circular-deals\/?srnd=undefined\">circular funding deals<\/a>, <a href=\"https:\/\/www.transformernews.ai\/p\/automated-ai-research-development-starts-writing-itself\">advancements in automating AI R&amp;D<\/a>, <a href=\"https:\/\/www.thebureauinvestigates.com\/stories\/2025-07-23\/selling-weapons-to-westminster-how-defence-giant-anduril-trained-its-sights-on-the-uk?utm_source=tbij-uncovered.beehiiv.com&amp;utm_medium=newsletter&amp;utm_campaign=breaking-ai-weapons-for-westminster&amp;_bhlid=f7401823a1637e4bafc216ce45b335c6bd2bda05\">military integration<\/a>, and <a href=\"https:\/\/www.wired.com\/story\/china-ai-boom-algorithm-registry\/\">developments in China<\/a>.&nbsp;<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">We believe journalism will be essential to helping society understand and respond to AI advancements in the coming years. By 2030, we aim to grow Tarbell into the leading institution supporting AI journalism globally.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">The opportunity<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">We\u2019re hiring a Program Specialist, Reporting Grants because our grantmaking is growing fast and this program needs an owner. Reporting Grants funds original reporting by individual journalists, mostly freelancers, independent writers and small newsroom teams. Today that means awards of $1,000 to $20,000 for specific stories, and we\u2019re expanding into larger grants that fund a reporter\u2019s time on a beat for six months to a year.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Most funders of AI reporting are either specialists in AI who fund journalism occasionally, or specialists in journalism who fund AI coverage occasionally. We want to be the funder that knows both, and the people making our grants are what make that possible.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">In this role, you\u2019ll run the reporting program end to end, with a grantmaking budget of $400,000 &#8211; $800,000 a year, helping Tarbell distribute more than $10M by the end of 2027 in broader grantmaking. You\u2019ll report to the Program Director, Grants, and have real ownership not only over what journalism the program funds, but over the design of the program itself, from how you source funding opportunities to the types of grants you make.&nbsp;&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">What you&#8217;ll do<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li><strong>Own and run the reporting grants program<\/strong>. You&#8217;ll own and run our reporting grants program end-to-end, reporting to the Program Director, Grants. This means you\u2019ll design and run the process for how to source and fund original reporting about AI from freelancers or staff reporters.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Active grantmaking.<\/strong> You\u2019ll identify the most important AI journalism stories that need to exist, and make them happen. You\u2019ll decide how to source pitches, likely using a combination of open calls, rounds focused on a single priority area, closed calls to select editors and outlets, and proactive outreach to editors and reporters.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Tarbell\u2019s external judging panel.<\/strong> You will decide what role <a href=\"https:\/\/www.tarbellcenter.org\/grants#judging-panel\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Tarbell\u2019s external review panel<\/a> will play in deciding what stories we fund, and own and manage the relationship with members of the panel.&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Complementing our institutional grantmaking.<\/strong> The reporting grants program you own will be one arm of a larger grantmaking operation, funding stories that fall outside Tarbell\u2019s institutional partnerships. Your program will largely provide support to freelancers and independent journalists who aren\u2019t attached to a newsroom and newsroom teams in need of additional funding for specific projects, and you will work closely with Tarbell\u2019s institutional grantmakers to ensure efforts are joined up and complementary.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Grow the team<\/strong>. Depending on how the portfolio develops, you could build and lead a growing team. This includes hiring, coaching, and developing your team members. &#8220;Hire the best, then invest&#8221; is a core operating value at Tarbell \u2013 you&#8217;ll help your people develop into increasingly senior roles with greater responsibility.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Track and report on outcomes<\/strong>, including what gets published, where, and what difference it made, and use that to improve how we fund. You\u2019ll take part in regular reviews of Tarbell\u2019s priority areas, using what you see in the pitch pipeline to propose what we should add, change or drop.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Help build Tarbell.<\/strong> As a small team, we all step in where we\u2019re needed. You\u2019ll occasionally take on work outside this description, and we\u2019ll make sure it helps you grow.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><strong>In your first 6 months, success looks like:<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>You\u2019ve run two full application rounds, from call for pitches through to decisions and grant agreements.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>You\u2019ve made at least two grants via proactive outreach. For example, by working with an editor to fund stories that otherwise wouldn\u2019t happen.&nbsp;&nbsp;<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>You\u2019ve scoped at least one grant that falls outside of Tarbell\u2019s usual grant design and either piloted it or brought a proposal to the Program Director for decision. For example, this could be a 6-month grant to a freelancer to report on AI, not tied to a particular story.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Who we&#8217;re looking for<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><strong>You&#8217;ll be a great fit if you:<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>Have experience working in journalism, ideally including in commissioning or editing. You\u2019ve killed pitches that sounded good and backed ones that didn\u2019t, and you can explain why.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Are energized by redesigning a process rather than administering one, and have evidence of having done it.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Can run rounds to deadline while protecting time for program design work and strategic thinking that has no deadline.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Write clearly: you\u2019ll draft funding recommendations, decline notes to good journalists, and public calls for pitches.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Have a keen sense of which journalism is impactful versus pieces that are just nice-to-have.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Care about <a href=\"https:\/\/www.tarbellcenter.org\/mission-statement\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Tarbell\u2019s mission<\/a> to support journalism that helps society navigate the development and deployment of advanced AI.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><strong>It&#8217;s a bonus if you:<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>Have covered AI, or can show you follow the field closely enough to judge whether a pitch is new.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Are comfortable using AI tools to automate the chasing, screening and prep work that would otherwise eat your week.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Have experience or an interest in managing people<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Have experience administering grants or managing a budget.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Compensation and benefits<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>Starting salary per location, with your offer based on your experience:\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>US remote $110,000-$123,000<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Washington DC $115,000-$128,000<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>New York City $119,000-$133,000<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>San Francisco $124,000-$139,000<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>UK remote \u00a366,000-\u00a374,000<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>London \u00a374,000-\u00a382,000<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>33 days of annual leave in total<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>20 weeks of paid parental leave<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>$2,000 per year in professional development funding<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Up to 5% employer contribution towards a standard pension\/401(k)<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>For employees based in the US: Gold health, dental, and vision plans, with 95% of employee premiums paid for by Tarbell<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Flexible working hours; productive, collaborative offices in London&nbsp;<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">We allow remote work for candidates located in the US or UK. We prefer candidates based in London, Washington D.C. New York, or the San Francisco Bay Area. London-based candidates will be expected to work from our office two days a week. As we open offices in other locations, the same expectation will apply there.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Please inquire with recruitment@tarbellcenter.org if questions or concerns regarding compensation or benefits might affect your decision to apply.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Our hiring process<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Interested candidates should <a href=\"https:\/\/airtable.com\/appCNB423FvJENvAj\/pagPIoTVvLhu3ck56\/form\" data-type=\"link\" data-id=\"https:\/\/airtable.com\/appCNB423FvJENvAj\/pagPIoTVvLhu3ck56\/form\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">submit an application<\/a> by November 15, 2026 at 11:59pm PT.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Our process includes:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ol class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>Application: under 30 minutes<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Paid work test<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Structured interview<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Reference checks<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Paid work trial: 1-2 days<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">We acknowledge every application and aim to get back to candidates within 10 business days of the application deadline. Our ideal start date is February 2027.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Please apply even if you&#8217;re unsure<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Research shows many people only apply when they meet every requirement. If this role excites you but you don&#8217;t match every point, we&#8217;d still love to hear from you.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><em>Tarbell is proud to be an Equal Employment Opportunity employer. We do not discriminate against qualified employees or applicants based upon race, religion, color, national origin, sex (including pregnancy, childbirth, or related medical conditions), sexual orientation, sexual preference, marital status, gender identity, gender expression, age, status as a protected veteran, status as an individual with a disability, genetic information, or any other characteristic protected by federal or state law or local ordinance.<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">If you need an adjustment or accommodations to apply or interview, email <a href=\"mailto:recruitment@tarbellcenter.org\">recruitment@tarbellcenter.org<\/a> and we&#8217;ll make it work.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"Own and run the grants program that funds original reporting about AI, from freelancers or staff reporters.&nbsp; Apply here by 11:59pm PT on Sunday, November 15, 2026. About the Tarbell Center The Tarbell Center for AI Journalism supports journalism that helps society navigate the development and deployment of advanced AI. We provide funding and training [&hellip;]","protected":false},"template":"","job_tag":[37,44,43,40],"class_list":["post-3193","job","type-job","status-publish","hentry","job_tag-london-san-francisco-new-york-or-washington-dc-preferred-us-uk-remote-possible","job_tag-salary-uk-66000-82000","job_tag-salary-us-110000-139000","job_tag-apply-by-sunday-november-15"],"acf":[],"yoast_head":"<title>Program Specialist, Reporting Grants &#8211; Tarbell Center for AI Journalism<\/title>\n<meta name=\"robots\" content=\"index, follow, max-snippet:-1, max-image-preview:large, max-video-preview:-1\" \/>\n<link rel=\"canonical\" href=\"https:\/\/www.tarbellcenter.org\/careers\/reporting-grants\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:locale\" content=\"en_US\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:type\" content=\"article\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:title\" content=\"Program Specialist, Reporting Grants &#8211; Tarbell Center for AI Journalism\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:description\" content=\"Own and run the grants program that funds original reporting about AI, from freelancers or staff reporters.&nbsp; Apply here by 11:59pm PT on Sunday, November 15, 2026. 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