CatchLight and Report for America are announcing an expanded partnership to place subsidized photojournalists in up to 20 local newsrooms throughout the United States in 2025 and provide comprehensive photo desk support to all participating organizations.

The news represents a significant expansion of the CatchLight Local Visual Desk, which offers fee-based memberships for visual production, editing support, and training for its newsroom members. At a time when local newsroom photo desks have been decimated, the Visual Desk provides shared visual journalism services at a fractional cost so newsrooms can deliver information, advance representation, and engage their audiences through relevant, high-quality visual stories and content.

CatchLight and Report for America will pay half the photojournalists’ salary the first year, 33% the second year and 20% the third year. They will recruit photojournalists, creating slates of candidates for newsrooms to further vet and select. These journalists work directly for the newsrooms, receiving professional development, mentorship, and other opportunities from Report for America. As CatchLight Local Visual Desk members, newsrooms will have access to tools, training, and editing support for their photojournalist and other newsroom staff.

Photojournalists in the cohort receive coaching and editing support to develop visually-driven stories, features, and editorial products and maximize engagement online and in their communities. Their benefits also include workshops and professional development, networking and community-building with peers and mentors, and access to additional resources through the CatchLight Impact Fund. 

The deadline is Oct. 21, 2024. Interested newsrooms can find details and the application here [1].