Open-Source Reporter, Visual Investigations

About the role

The New York Times Visual Investigations team is seeking an exceptional journalist to fill a temporary contract role focused on rigorous open-source reporting and accountability journalism. In this position, you will seize critical news moments and pursue a wide range of national and international topics with speed, precision, and depth. Your primary responsibility will be to source, verify, and analyze audio-visual evidence from the open internet and social platforms to uncover new information and clarify complex events. You will operate with a high degree of independence, developing exclusive angles and driving investigative projects from initial tip to final publication. A central part of the role involves collaborating closely with video editors and motion-graphics producers to translate findings into compelling video or video-driven text articles. You will be expected to turn your findings into clear, powerful narratives that advance the team's mission of explaining the world to readers. This is a temporary role designed for a self-starter who thrives under pressure and can own the full arc of an investigation.

Key facts

What you'll do

• Source audio-visual evidence from a wide array of digital platforms and social media sources.
• Geolocate and chronolocate visual evidence using mapping tools and temporal analysis techniques.
• Analyze satellite imagery, flight-tracking data, and ship-tracking platforms to verify locations and timelines.
• Pitch reporting and coverage opportunities to editors and senior producers based on emerging developments.
• Demonstrate a deep commitment to the value of journalistic independence and rigorous fact-checking standards.
• Report directly to a Senior Producer on the Visual Investigations team within a fast-paced news environment.
• Develop original angles on highly competitive news events through meticulous source and document analysis.
• Work closely with video editors and motion-graphics producers to shape findings into video or video-driven articles.
• Build and maintain source networks to support ongoing investigations and long-term accountability projects.
• Manage multiple concurrent assignments while adhering to strict deadlines in a breaking-news context.
• Produce clear, concise, and accurate written narratives grounded in verified visual and open-source material.
• Contribute to longer-term investigative projects that require sustained research and pattern recognition.
• Continuously refine your open-source toolkit and methodology to adapt to evolving information landscapes.

Requirements

• 5+ years of experience as an open-source researcher, reporter, or investigator at a top news outlet, NGO, or digital investigative organization.
• Proven ability to apply open-source research skills to map out critical incidents using visuals and other information.
• Extensive experience as an open-source researcher, reporter, or investigator at a top news outlet, NGO, or digital investigative organization.
• Experience writing clearly and concisely to visual material on tight deadlines and during breaking news.
• Strong portfolio of stories that demonstrate accountability and/or exclusivity through public-source reporting.
• Extensive familiarity with Google Earth Pro, satellite and aerial imagery, and flight- and ship-tracking platforms.
• Demonstrated understanding of the value of journalistic independence and a strong commitment to the Times mission to seek the truth and help people understand the world.
• You will report to a Senior Producer on the Visual Investigations team and work within the established standards and processes of the newsroom.

Nice to have

• Demonstrated experience developing original angles around highly competitive news events.
• Familiarity with the video production process, including collaboration with editors and producers.
• Programming skills or fluency in an additional language beyond English.
• Willingness and flexibility to work evenings and weekends as needed to cover critical stories.
• Strong time management skills and the ability to juggle multiple assignments under tight deadlines.
• Strong communication skills and the ability to work effectively with cross-functional teams across the organization.

Practical notes

This is a temporary contract position running from late August or early September through the end of December 2026. The role is based in New York, NY, and requires in-person presence. Applicants must be authorized to work in the United States without sponsorship for this position. No relocation assistance or visa sponsorship will be provided. Travel may be required as needed to support investigations and reporting. The successful candidate must be available to start in the late August or early September timeframe and maintain flexibility to meet evolving news demands.