Dallas Free Press seeks visual journalist for community storytelling
Help Us Report Asks the public for input, insights, clarifications, anecdotes, documentation, etc., for reporting purposes. Callouts are a type of crowdsourcing in journalism.
Dallas Free Press is looking for a visual journalist to add to our team. This person will approach reporting and storytelling by using photos, videos, data visualizations, graphics and art to capture community and civic life.
The images of our West Dallas and South Dallas communities that appear in local news media are mostly of crime and blight, which doesn’t at all reflect their beauty and assets. This visual journalist will change the narrative as a multimedia reporter with a photographic eye and the skills to meld images, video and audio for storytelling. The ideal candidate has journalism and reporting experience, is adept in two or more areas of visual storytelling, and shows propensity to master other skills and technology to excel in this role.
Your work will be part of groundbreaking efforts on the part of an award-winning Dallas news nonprofit that centers community voices and experiences to tackle complex civic issues and systemic inequities. South Dallas is predominantly Black, and West Dallas is predominantly Latinx with many residents whose native language is Spanish. We’re seeking applicants who reflect the culture, diversity and experiences of these neighborhoods, and we value the institutional knowledge that comes from living in and growing up in Dallas.
The Dallas Free Press visual journalist will be a Report for America corps member and benefit from incredible mentorship and professional development opportunities that Report for America provides. This residency is a two-year commitment with the goal of it becoming a permanent position.
Compensation and benefits
- Community-based office space and flexibility to work remotely
- $40,000-$50,000 full-time salary
- Flexible work schedule; some night/weekend hours may be needed
- No deadlines or work requirements during the 3+ weeks annually when Dallas Free Press’ office closes (spring break, one week in July and the span between Christmas Eve and New Year’s Day)
- Health care stipend
- Professional development opportunities
Hiring timeline
- Position posted: June 20-June 30
- Interviews: June 23-July 3
- Onboarding: July 7-11
- Start date: July 16
To apply, please fill out this form so we can get to know you better. Because of time constraints, we will not be able to respond to applications or questions submitted outside of this form, nor will we be able to interview every applicant.
About Dallas Free Press
Dallas Free Press launched in early 2020 to amplify voices in disinvested neighborhoods and explore solutions to our city’s systemic inequities. Executive director Keri Mitchell spent 15 years dedicated to community and civic journalism at Dallas’ Advocate magazines, and founded Dallas Free Press with the belief that all neighborhoods deserve reporting and storytelling that values their community and holds leaders accountable. Our newsroom efforts tie directly into our journalism pathway from Dallas high schools to newsrooms, and our Dallas Documenters program to train and pay residents as citizen journalists.
Dallas Free Press welcomes applicants from diverse backgrounds. We offer equal opportunity in employment for all qualified persons and prohibit discrimination in employment on the basis of race, color, religion, creed, sex (including sexual orientation and gender identity), national origin, ancestry, age, veteran status, disability unrelated to job requirements, genetic information, military service or other protected status.
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Keri Mitchell has spent 20+ years as a community journalist, including 15 years dedicated to community and civic journalism at Dallas’ Advocate magazines. She launched Dallas Free Press in early 2020 with the belief that all neighborhoods deserve reporting and storytelling that values their community and holds leaders accountable.
Mitchell says she is energized by “knowing our work is making an impact — listening to people, telling their stories with strong narratives paired with compelling data that leads to change. I also love spending time in our neighborhoods and with our neighbors, learning from them and working to determine how journalism can be part of the solution to their challenges.”
Mitchell is proud to be the winner of multiple awards during her journalism career including: Finalist in Magazine Feature Reporting (2018) and Finalist in Magazine Investigative Reporting (2017) from Hugh Aynesworth Excellence in Journalism, Best Feature Story (2011) from Texas Community Newspaper Association and Best Magazine Feature (2011) from Dallas Bar Association Philbin Awards.
Areas of Expertise:
local government, education, civic issues, investigative and enterprise reporting
Location Expertise:
Dallas, Texas
Official Title:
Founder + executive director
Email Address:
keri@dallasfreepress.com
