CHICAGO, February 8, 2018 —The Associated Press-NORC Center for Public Affairs Research Journalism Fellowship Program, with funding from the Alfred P. Sloan Foundation, announces a 10-month fellowship focusing on the economics of aging and work in the United States.

The fellow’s work has the potential for significant impact, as the enterprise stories written are distributed by AP, providing an unparalleled platform for the work.

“The AP-NORC fellowship has been an incredible learning experience. I had the opportunity not only to take classes at the University of Chicago, but I also actively participated in shaping a yearly survey of older workers,” said Maria Zamudio, the 2016-2017 fellow. “I had the time and resources to dive into an under-reported topic and write an array of stories for one of the most reputable news organizations in the country.”

The 2018-2019 Economics of Aging and Work Fellowship will be the fourth round of the fellowship, which aims to increase the number of journalists trained in the skills of data journalism.

“The American labor force is aging and more workers are staying employed well beyond the traditional retirement age,” said Trevor Tompson, Vice President for Public Affairs Research at NORC. “This trend is already having an impact on businesses and workers alike and this fellowship presents a great opportunity for a journalist to bring a data-driven approach to reporting that will illuminate this important issue.”

This AP-NORC Journalism Fellow is selected through a national competition open to reporters with at least five years’ experience and a demonstrated interest in research-based reporting on issues related to the economics of America’s aging workforce.  Journalists working in text, radio, television, and online are eligible to apply. Applications will be accepted until April 2, 2018.

The position is located in Chicago and offers a competitive salary and benefits. The 10-month fixed term will begin in late September 2018.

The fellowship has two main components: the opportunity to do in-depth journalism, and education and training.

  • Forty percent of the fellow’s time is devoted to training and skill development activities, mentored by a University of Chicago faculty member. There will be opportunities for formal and informal training in econometric and other social science research methods to facilitate data-driven journalism, including auditing courses at the University of Chicago and attending conferences and workshops.
  • The other 60 percent is spent developing in-depth reporting projects, obtaining hands-on experience with the assistance of AP and NORC senior staff. The fellow works one-on-one with an AP editor developing innovative reporting projects around the economics of aging and work in the United States. The articles are distributed by AP to its global worldwide audience and its thousands of subscribers and customers across all media platforms.

How to Apply

Details of the application process can be found on at the AP-NORC Working Longer website. Candidates are asked to submit a resume/CV. Selected candidates will be asked for a personal statement, a research statement, and three letters of recommendation.

About The Associated Press-NORC Center for Public Affairs Research
The AP-NORC Center for Public Affairs Research taps into the power of social science research and the highest-quality journalism to bring key information to people across the nation and throughout the
world.
www.apnorc.org

The Associated Press (AP) is the essential global news network, delivering fast, unbiased news from every corner of the world to all media platforms and formats. Founded in 1846, AP today is the most trusted source of independent news and information. On any given day, more than half the world’s population sees news from AP.
www.ap.org

NORC at the University of Chicago is an independent research institution that delivers reliable data and rigorous analysis to guide critical programmatic, business, and policy decisions. Since 1941, NORC has conducted groundbreaking studies, created and applied innovative methods and tools, and advanced principles of scientific integrity and collaboration. Today, government, corporate, and nonprofit clients around the world partner with NORC to transform increasingly complex information into useful knowledge.
www.norc.org

The two organizations have established The AP-NORC Center for Public Affairs Research to conduct, analyze, and distribute social science research in the public interest on newsworthy topics, and to use the power of journalism to tell the stories that research reveals.

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Contact: For more information, contact Eric Young for NORC at young-eric@norc.org or (703) 217-6814 (cell); Ray Boyer for NORC at boyer-ray@norc.org or (312) 330-6433; or Lauren Easton for AP at leaston@ap.org.