Local Stories, Big Tech Changes

New money is pouring into schools, factories and labs across the U. S. after big events like the pandemic and new federal rules. This cash is reshaping how kids learn, how people work, and what the economy looks like today. But fewer reporters are left to tell these stories. In the last twenty years, local newspapers have shrunk by about 75 percent. That means fewer people hear how new tech affects their town. Meanwhile, politicians talk a lot about artificial intelligence and other tools that can change jobs. Because of this gap, an organization called New America teamed up with a nonprofit newsroom named Work Shift. They created the Future of Work Reporting Fellowship. The goal is to give local journalists money, training and a network so they can write about the mix of education, jobs and technology in real communities.

Fellows will investigate places that have new research centers or big industry groups. They might write about how a national lab brings jobs to a small city, or how federal programs from Commerce or Energy help local businesses grow. They can also look at new types of giving that come from the AI boom and how that money changes a town. The projects can be long articles, videos, photo essays or audio pieces. Whatever the format, the story must finish by August 2027 and be published in a media outlet. The first group of fellows will start soon, with winners announced this fall.

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