Deadline approaching for Independent Newsmedia-Report for America sports reporting applications

We’re thrilled to be selected as a partner newsroom for Report for America. We look forward to highlighting student athletes and teams that often go unnoticed in underserved communities by the media.”

Independent Newsmedia CEO Charlene Bisson

Independent Newsmedia, Inc., USA’s Arizona division is one of 70 newsrooms across the country selected to host a Report For America corps member in 2026. The reporter will cover high school and youth sports in the Valley.

Deadline for journalists to apply for a position is Feb. 16. Applicants need only fill out one application, though they may indicate interest in multiple positions, RFA said in the release.

The incoming host newsroom partners and available positions can be found here.

RFA, an initiative of Report Local, a nonprofit journalism organization dedicated to strengthening local journalism across the U.S. and around the world, announced the selection Tuesday, Jan. 20 in a news release. Journalists are now invited to apply for open positions at INI and other newsrooms across the country.

“We’re thrilled to be selected as a partner newsroom for Report for America,” Independent Newsmedia CEO Charlene Bisson said. “We look forward to highlighting student athletes and teams that often go unnoticed in underserved communities by the media.”

Following a rigorous selection process, incoming news outlets including INI will welcome Report for America corps members this summer, bringing the total number of RFA corps members in newsrooms to more than 200 by July 2026.

Bisson encourages high school coaches and athletes to email the newsroom at AzNews@iniusa.org now with story ideas and submissions.

This is the first year RFA has offered a sports corps, with five positions covering the role of sports in communities.

“Report for America invites journalists from diverse backgrounds to join the existing fabric of Report for America reporters and newsrooms, who ensure that critical local issues are amplified,” said Earl Johnson, vice president of recruitment and alumni engagement at Report for America. “With the addition of our sports corps, we are adding newsroom capacity to cover the economic impact of sports, build local identity and highlight athletic achievements, which can help to promote reader engagement.”

New corps members will join a group of more than 750 current and former Report for America journalists. They will begin working at their host newsrooms on July 13, 2026.

Interested journalists are encouraged to attend an information session and explore the benefits of becoming a corps member: reportforamerica.org/apply.