Reporters in Residence (Winter 2026)

Omidyar Network is a philanthropic organization whose mission is to bend the arc of the digital revolution toward shared power, prosperity, and possibility. Digital technology is a powerful and ubiquitous force, that, harnessed wisely, makes wondrous things happen. We believe in working together to guide tech's trajectory intentionally. Our vision is for our shared humanity to steer our digital future.

So far, we have committed more than $1.94 billion to initiatives that share our vision. We engage, partner, and fund some of the world's brightest thinkers and innovators to guide our digital future toward the greatest good for the greatest number of people.

Omidyar Network is opening up the application period for the Winter 2026 Reporters in Residence program. The Reporters in Residence program is designed to enable a group of freelance journalists to devote more time to deep, nuanced reporting that drives national conversations and informs policy debates.  

Our goal is to provide participants with the resources, networks, and support they need to tell more stories with even more impact. This year’s cohort will include up to five participants whose reporting focuses on uncovering the emerging rules, institutions, norms, and narratives shaping our digital landscape. 

In our selection process, we will prioritize beats that intersect with some of our key focus areas, including but not limited to: Inclusive participation in the design and implementation of digital technology; Competition, market concentration, and/or fiscal investments in the tech sector and their impacts on innovation and safety; The intersection of technology and worker power; Open Source and public options specifically as it relates to generative AI; Tech Governance, including policies, laws, regulations, institutions, and accountability structures. While these are a few areas of focus, we welcome additional beats that explore how digital technology can and should serve the many, not the few. We will prioritize applicants focused on covering these issues in the United States for largely American audiences.  

Reporters in Residence will have regular access to Omidyar Network’s staff and our diverse network of grantees and partners. As part of our commitment to transparency and journalistic independence, Omidyar Network will have no editorial discretion over reporters’ work. 

Journalists from our past and current classes have published dozens of stories that have run in a wide variety of outlets, including ABC News, Fast Company, In These Times, Mother Jones, The Nation, The New York Times, Slate, Teen Vogue, The Atlantic, and Wired among many others.  

Responsibilities: 

• Individually develop, pitch, and publish approximately one piece per month related to their core topic area for the duration of the program. 
• Attend at least one in-person gathering at Omidyar Network’s offices in either Washington, DC or San Francisco, CA. Individuals that are unable to travel will be asked to join in convenings virtually.  
• Check in on a regular basis (~ twice per month) with Omidyar Network team. 

Qualifications: 

• Passion for covering technology and the digital revolution for a diverse array of audiences. 
• Actively working as a freelance journalist (with clips from the past 12 months) in any medium of reporting. 
• At least five years of published reporting experience, though a college or secondary degree is not required. 
• Candidates must have a current U.S. work authorization to be considered.

Compensation & Timeline: 

Our goal in the Reporters in Residence program is to help ensure talented freelancers can make ends meet while engaging in the kind of deep, nuanced reporting that drives national conversations, but may not always pay the bills. Reporters from any medium of journalism are welcome to apply. Applications will be open from October 15th to November 15th and the new cohort will be announced the week of December 18th. The application process will consist of one written application, with ~10% of candidates advancing to an interview. 

The Winter 2026 program will run from mid-January to mid-July of 2026. Each reporter contracted will receive a stipend of $8,000 a month and $2,000 travel budget (totaling $50,000).  
 
To apply, submit your resume, your location, social media handles, links to three clips, and a short statement (under 1,000 words) describing in as much detail as possible the stories you would aim to cover with additional resources. Use the “cover letter” upload for your statement and supporting materials. 

At Omidyar Network, diversity, equity, and inclusion are directly aligned with our fundamental belief that people are inherently capable, but they often lack opportunity. We know that a diverse workforce allows us to see problems in more nuanced ways, creating the thought leadership needed to have outsized positive returns on the world. We actively recruit, develop, and retain the most talented people from a diverse candidate pool. Omidyar Network is an equal opportunity employer and welcomes people from all experiences, abilities, and perspectives to apply.