Reporters in Residence (Winter 2025)

About Omidyar Network:

Omidyar Network is a philanthropic organization whose mission is to bend the arc of the digital revolution toward shared power, prosperity, and possibility. Digital technology is a powerful and ubiquitous force, that, harnessed wisely, makes wondrous things happen. We believe in working together to guide tech's trajectory intentionally. Our vision is for our shared humanity to steer our digital future. So far, we have committed more than $1.86 billion to initiatives that share our vision. We engage, partner, and fund some of the world's brightest thinkers and innovators to guide our digital future toward the greatest good for the greatest number of people.

About the Reporters in Residence Program:

Journalism has always been a cornerstone of democracy – A formidable force that shapes public discourse, holds power to account and brings new ideas to life. At Omidyar Network, we believe this type of reporting is critical in fostering more equitable and inclusive societies. That’s why, as we evolve our mission and focus as an organization, we are also evolving this program. Our new strategy is rooted in optimism and pragmatism, acknowledging the massive, unbridled force of digital technology that has already transformed the lives of all Americans.
The story of our digital revolution is only beginning, and it’s crucial that we empower journalists who will inform the collective imagination and help shape the future so digital technology has a positive impact on our lives, livelihoods, communities, and society as a whole.

Omidyar Network is opening up the application period for the Winter 2025 Reporters in Residence program. The Reporters in Residence program is designed to enable a group of freelance journalists to devote more time to deep, nuanced reporting that drives national conversations and informs policy debates. Our goal is to provide participants with the resources, networks, and support they need to tell more stories with even more impact. This year’s cohort will include up to four participants whose reporting focuses on uncovering the emerging rules, institutions, norms, and narratives shaping our digital landscape. In our selection process, we will prioritize beats that intersect some of our key focus areas, including but not limited to: 

• Inclusive participation in the design and implementation of digital technology;
• Competition, market concentration, and/or fiscal investments and their impacts on innovation and safety;
• The intersection of technology and worker power;
• Open Source and public options specifically as it relates to generative AI;
• Tech Governance, including policies, laws, regulations, institutions, and accountability structures.

While these are a few areas of focus, we welcome additional beats that explore how digital technology can and should serve the many, not the few. 

Journalists from our past and current classes have published dozens of stories that have run in a wide variety of outlets, including ABC News, Fast Company, In These Times, Mother Jones, The Nation, The New York Times, Slate, Teen Vogue, The Atlantic, and Wired among many others.

Responsibilities:

• Individually develop, pitch, and publish approximately one piece per month related to their core topic area for the duration of the program.
• Attend at least one in-person gathering at Omidyar Network’s office in Redwood City. Individuals that are unable to travel will be asked to join in convenings virtually.
• Check in on a regular basis (~ once/twice per month) with Omidyar Network team.

Qualifications:

• Passion for covering the digital revolution for a diverse array of audiences.
• Actively working as a freelance journalist (with clips from the past 12 months) in any medium of reporting.
• At least five years of published reporting experience, though a college or secondary degree is not required.

Compensation & Timeline:

Our goal in the Reporters in Residence program is to help ensure talented freelancers can make ends meet while engaging in the kind of deep, nuanced reporting that drives national conversations, but may not always pay the bills. Reporters from any medium of journalism are welcome to apply. Applications will be open from September 16th to October 31st and the new cohort will be announced mid-December. Candidates who advance to the final round of interviews with our programs team but are not selected for the residency will receive a $2,500 stipend.
The Reporter in Residence program is a contractor 1099-status role with no benefits provided. The Winter 2025 program will run from January to June of 2025. Each reporter contracted will receive a stipend of $8,000 a month and $2,000 travel budget (totaling $50,000).
To apply, submit your resume, your location, social media handles, links to three clips, and a short statement (under 1,000 words) indicating which focus areas you would like to cover and describing what stories you would like to cover with additional resources. Please use the 'Cover Letter' upload for your statement and any supporting materials.
At Omidyar Network, diversity, equity, and inclusion are directly aligned with our fundamental belief that people are inherently capable, but they often lack opportunity. We know that a diverse workforce allows us to see problems in more nuanced ways, creating the thought leadership needed to have outsized positive returns on the world. We actively recruit, develop, and retain the most talented people from a diverse candidate pool. Omidyar Network is an equal opportunity employer and welcomes people from all experiences, abilities, and perspectives to apply.