In These Times Magazine Launches Leonard C. Goodman Institute for Investigative Reporting

Investigative reporting is getting a much-needed shot in the arm from venerable and fiercely independent media voice, In These Times. The progressive, nonprofit magazine recently announced the launch of the Leonard C. Goodman Institute for Investigative Reporting in an effort to support and expand the number of investigative reports published In These Times while also providing reporters with necessary resources to pursue under-reported national and international topics. According to the magazine, the institute is being supported by a grant from Chicago attorney Leonard C. Goodman and will ultimately provide money and editorial support to journalists involved in tackling major investigative projects that relate to In These Times’ mission of advancing democracy and economic justice. While the magazine does not get into specifics regarding award amounts for accepted pitch proposals, it says that it “is committed to compensating writers fairly for their work.” The magazine also promises reporters a competitive per-word rate and compensation for travel and other expenses. All stories funded by the Institute will be published in In These Times and on the magazine’s website, InTheseTimes.com. Founded in 1976, In These Times has remained an independent media voice, inspired by Progressive Era muckrakers and reformers such as Upton Sinclair and Ida B. Wells who helped move forward key issues including women’s suffrage, an eight-hour workday and an end to child labor. The magazine has been credited with early and critical reporting on major stories from the Iran Contra scandal in the 80s to genocide in the Sudan in 2004. “This fund is intended to support independent journalists willing to dig for the real story,” says Goodman. Joel Bleifuss, In These Times editor and publisher, believes that the past decade’s industry-wide decline in funding for investigative reporting has gone hand-in-hand with an increasing consolidation of media ownership. “This crisis in journalism has implications that go far beyond the industry itself. Whatever new journalism models emerge in the coming years, In These Times and other members of the independent press must work to ensure that journalists are able to support themselves through investigative reporting that is free from the influence of advertisers, corporate media entities and political pressure,” says Bleifuss. He adds that the institute was established to “give journalists the resources they need to uncover the stories that the public needs to know in order to hold governments accountable, keep public officials honest and guard against corporate malfeasance.” Interested journalists are encouraged to submit story proposals by February 15, 2014 to In These Times assistant editor Nyki Salinas-Duda (nyki@inthesetimes.com) with the subject line “Submission.” Pitches should include: A detailed story pitch, including background on the extent to which the story has already been covered in the press, and the story’s relevance to In These Times’ mission A plan for research and interviews A proposed timeline for your reporting An outline of any anticipated reporting expenses A resume and 3-5 clips or links to your previous work For more information, visit inthesetimes.com. Connect with the magazine on Facebook or Twitter@inthesetimesmag, and follow the hash tag #IIR14 for all the latest on the Institute.

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In These Times Magazine Launches Leonard C. Goodman Institute for Investigative Reporting

Alan Krawitz

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Alan Krawitz