|
Getting your Trinity Audio player ready...
|
The New Bedford Light has once again been selected as a host newsroom by Report for America.
With the program’s support, The Light will launch an Oceans beat — covered by a new full-time reporter — that will explore the region’s rapidly changing relationship with the sea.
The Light will join an expanding network of more than 175 newsrooms benefiting from Report for America’s support. It’s an initiative of Report Local, a nonprofit dedicated to strengthening local journalism across the U.S. and around the world.
The new staff writer, who will start in the summer, will report on ocean science and innovation at the Woods Hole Oceanographic Institute, UMass Dartmouth School for Marine Science & Technology, and the University of Rhode Island’s Graduate School of Oceanography. The journalist will also cover the growth of the blue economy through efforts such as the New Bedford Ocean Cluster; the fishing industry; aquaculture and blue foods; and the restoration and protection of the sea.
This beat is especially critical to the South Coast of Massachusetts — anchored by the historic city of New Bedford and Buzzards Bay — where the ocean defines life, culture, and industry.
“We are thrilled to have been chosen by Report for America as a host newsroom for 2026 and beyond,” said Karen Bordeleau, executive editor of The Light. “This Oceans beat will help us fill a critical gap in coverage of the blue economy, a rapidly expanding field of economic and scientific opportunity. Our coverage will help inform residents, business leaders, and policymakers on how global ocean shifts are reshaping our lives and livelihoods.”
The New Bedford Light was first designated as a Report for America host newsroom in 2023. That designation allowed the news organization to establish an environment beat, which remains an important area of coverage today.
Report for America delivers a wide range of benefits to its corps members. Beyond paying up to half of the journalists’ salaries, it provides ongoing training and mentorship by leading journalists, peer networking, and memberships to select professional organizations.
“We’re thrilled to be working with partners who are bringing new programming, depth and scale to local news,” said Kim Kleman, executive director of Report for America. “I’m especially excited that our partnerships have the potential to expand to many more communities.”
Journalists interested in this position can apply here by Feb. 16, 2026, with references due by Feb. 23, 2026.