Calling all Daily Yonder readers: Are you passionate about not just reading rural stories but telling them too? Do you want to put your writing, reporting, or storytelling skills to work in service of rural journalism?

If your answer to these questions is yes, you might be the right fit for one of many open roles in our newsroom. We are currently accepting applications and pitches to meet a variety of organizational needs and encourage interested individuals to contact us today.

All the details, including instructions for how to apply, are listed below. You can click on a specific role in the list below to jump straight to more details.

Current Openings

Data Reporter

From Covid-19 infections and vaccinations to job reports and census numbers, analyzing data about life in rural America is a core part of our work at the Daily Yonder. We are looking for a skilled data journalist to help not only support these efforts, but also strengthen and expand upon them.

Depending on the applicant, this role could be filled by a regular freelancer, a contractor, or a part-time or full-time employee.

Rural Policy Correspondent

The world of rural policy is busy right now with the Biden administration, the United States Department of Agriculture’s Rural Development team, and the committees of Congress all weighing different public investments and policy proposals with big implications for rural America. We’re seeking a regular contributor who can keep tabs and break it all down, covering Capitol Hill, the White House, and the other realms of rural policy-making for the Daily Yonder.

Depending on the applicant, this role could be filled in a freelance, contract, or part-time staff capacity.

General Assignment Reporters

There are more stories to tell across rural America than we have people to tell them. To help narrow the gap, we are looking for General Assignment Reporters who are available to take freelance assignments across a variety of topics. Our door is always open to pitches and submissions, but this is your chance to get first pass whenever there’s a story our team is itching to get published in the Yonder.

This is a freelance role.

Rural Reporting Fellows

The Rural Reporting Fellowship is our program for aspiring journalists and media strategists. The paid fellowship is geared toward any emerging professional or college student eager to sharpen their journalistic craft or build a portfolio of published work. We are currently seeking fellows for fall and winter.

More information on how the program works is available on our fellowship page.

Columnists

Do you have a unique perspective on a particular slice of rural life? We’re cultivating new voices to offer regular columns on a wide range of topics. Areas of interest include sports and recreation, environmental conservation, religion and faith, immigrant communities, and history. For inspiration, check out the work of some of our current columnists, like Donna Kallner, Eliza Blue, and Richard Oswald.

This is a freelance role.

Additional Opportunities

Beyond these specific needs, our inbox is always open to pitches and submissions, and we’re often looking for new contributors to join our roster of rural storytellers. You can use our submission form or email us at news@dailyyonder.com to get in touch.

How to Apply

To express your interest in any of these roles, simply email a résumé and a writing sample to news@dailyyonder.com.

Be sure to tell us in the subject line or body of your email which roles you are interested in filling.

More Information

Who We Are

If you’re new around here, the Daily Yonder is a digital media organization dedicated to telling the stories of rural communities and small towns across America (and beyond).

Our team produces news reporting, features, analysis, commentary, and more. We provide an online platform for authentic, grounded depictions of rural life. Daily Yonder stories go beyond tropes, clichés, and the view from afar. They showcase an asset-based vision of rural, defined by diversity, resilience, creativity, and community spirit.

Compensation

The Daily Yonder relies on a mix of staff, contractors, freelance contributors, and volunteers. We offer competitive nonprofit compensation across these groups. If you’d like more information on our rates for freelance work, let us know and we’re happy to provide additional details.

What Else You Might Like to Know

Our staff and contributors are located in numerous places across the country. We are committed to building an inclusive team that reflects and champions the full diversity of rural communities and our nation at large. 

Our publisher is the Center for Rural Strategies, a 501(c)(3) nonprofit that uses communications and media to improve conditions in the countryside. In addition to publishing the Daily Yonder, Rural Strategies also serves as coordinator of the Rural Assembly, a nationwide coalition of rural problem-solvers, policymakers, and change-agents.

The Daily Yonder is a member of the Institute for Nonprofit News (INN). Check out our About Us page to learn more about our team.

The Center for Rural Strategies does not discriminate based on race, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national or ethnic origin, age, disability or veteran status.

Questions?

If you have any other questions, let us know using our contact form or by emailing us at news@dailyyonder.com.

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