Investigative Editing Corps links experienced investigative editors with local news organizations that want to do investigative reporting. It was founded in 2017 by Rose Ciotta, a Pulitzer Prize-winning investigative editor who co-edited “Assault on Learning,” an investigation into violence in the Philadelphia schools that won the 2012 Pulitzer Prize Gold Medal for Public Service for The Philadelphia Inquirer.

This project recognizes that investigative reporting requires trained editors and producers who can bring these projects to fruition. It also recognizes that many newsrooms have suffered waves of staff cuts. At the same time, there are many experienced investigative editors who are eager to help.

This project creates a way for newsrooms to stretch their resources and for editors to work with local reporters and editors to uncover stories important to local communities. The editors’ help will make it possible for local newsrooms to do important stories that they otherwise would not be able to do.

Mission

Investigative reporting thrives when the team is led by an experienced editor/producer – a job that in many newsrooms has fallen victim to deep cuts. At the same time, there are many experienced editors eager to support local accountability journalism. Investigative Editing Corps seeks to link them with local newsrooms across all platforms to help them produce high impact investigative reports of interest to their local communities. The goal is to strengthen the news organization’s ties to its community and generate support for continuing investigative reporting. The program helps news organizations stretch their resources especially in areas where local media is most at risk.