Equitable Cities Reporting Fellowship for Anti-Displacement Strategies

Job Description

Next City seeks a talented journalist for a two-year reporting fellowship examining the issue of gentrification and displacement in American cities. In this role, you will pitch and report news features on the solutions that cities and urban changemakers are developing to combat displacement and foster inclusive growth. 

This full-time fellowship is based remotely from anywhere in the United States and provides full healthcare benefits, paid vacation and personal days, and professional development opportunities. The two-year position will last from January 2025 to December 2026.

Communities across the United States increasingly feel the potential for displacement as the rapidly rising cost of housing dislocates people. But displacement can also be economic, cultural, social and political. It has its roots in a broad range of problems — climate change, the housing affordability crises, cycles of disinvestment followed by rapid investment. These drivers create environments where marginalized communities are particularly vulnerable, deepening pervasive health and racial inequities.

But solutions to curb eviction rates and foreclosures exist. Nascent efforts are expanding community land trusts and land banks. Artists and institutions are protecting cultural landmarks and traditions. Mission-focused bankers and developers are wielding systems historically used for disempowering communities of color to instead help build wealth and sustain communities. This fellowship is designed to bring these solutions and underrepresented voices to the forefront of the conversation about cities and their future. 

Our Equitable Cities Fellowships aim to provide journalists from communities that are underrepresented in media with the resources and time to delve deeply into beats that news outlets have covered less in recent years. Ideal candidates are early in their careers, have a demonstrated interest in urban policy, and published clips that demonstrate deft reporting on income and racial inequality and how it affects marginalized communities in U.S. cities. 

The fellowship will begin in January 2025. You will work with Next City editors remotely from anywhere in the United States. The fellowship includes a stipend for use on expenses, membership to the professional journalism organization of your choice, or professional development and thought leadership. 

Qualifications include:

• One-plus years of professional journalism and writing experience

• Strong and demonstrated interest in urban affairs, racial justice and social justice

• Outstanding research, writing and fact-checking skills

• Ability to independently develop story ideas and sources on a weekly basis

• Efficient and deadline-oriented approach to tasks

Bonus points for the following:

• Demonstrated interest in solutions journalism and movement journalism

• A portfolio that includes coverage of urban development, housing, real estate, gentrification, poverty, race, economics, public health, public policy or related topics

• Familiarity with anti-displacement and inclusive development policies and strategies, including inclusionary zoning, rent control, community land trusts, land banks and legacy business protections

• Experience in writing and producing newsletters, hosting webinars, moderating panel discussions and producing short-form social video

• Personal lived experience with the effects of gentrification and displacement

If you don't tick off every qualification above but are interested in this position and meet a portion of them, please still apply. We want to hear from everyone who is interested in this opportunity.

To apply, please submit the following in one PDF: 

• A cover letter – it can be short, but this helps us get to know you!

• A resume or CV

• Three published articles (hyperlinks or PDFs), preferably including at least one demonstrating your reporting on urban policy or a prevalent challenge facing cities today

Email your materials to info@nextcity.org with the subject line “Equitable Cities Reporting Fellowship - Anti-Displacement.”

About Next City

Founded in 2003, Next City’s journalism centers marginalized voices while amplifying solutions to the problems that oppress people in cities. At a time when cities face rampant inequality and urgent challenges, Next City’s work is critical: by spreading real stories and workable ideas from one city to the next, we connect people, places and solutions that move our society toward justice and equity.

Next City’s readers are the city-builders who share our vision for the transformation of cities. Our core audience consists of individuals working in city planning, finance, architecture, media, academia, transportation, the arts — or within any sector that must collaborate to make cities run more equitably. This dynamic group uses Next City as a trusted resource for professional education and exploration. The extended audience consists of the people who are part of the change process in cities: grassroots organizers, activists, advocates, elected officials, local business and nonprofit leaders, and voters.

Next City publishes hundreds of stories on solutions to urban issues each year. We also compile our best reporting into ebooks, host webinars with practitioners who share lessons from their work, and convene live events, such as our annual Vanguard Conference for rising urban leaders. Learn more at nextcity.org/about.

We are dedicated to improving our organization, in part by better reflecting the people we cover. We are committed to diversity and building an inclusive environment for people of all backgrounds, ages and abilities. And we are taking steps to meet that commitment. We especially encourage members of traditionally underrepresented communities to apply, including women, people of color, LGBTQ people and people with disabilities.

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