Company Profile

Company Description:

ACLU Foundation of Texas
Investigative Reporter
 
Position Overview
 
The Investigative Reporter is a new position on the ACLU of Texas staff, funded entirely by a grant from a national foundation, in support of an ongoing project to illuminate injustice, specifically along the Texas-Mexico border. This position is intended to augment and enrich the multi-layered programmatic efforts of ACLU of Texas staff and that of our partner organizations in the Lower Rio Grande Valley. This position will use data-based research, digital and social media communications and personal interviews with Valley residents - as well as various elected and appointed officials - to tell the story of border militarization and its impact on the lives of all people living along the southern border.  Using the skills of investigative journalism, strategic partnerships, and an approachable social media presence, the goals include: creating reports that show the extraordinary power of an immigrant community; capturing the true definition of border security; documenting cases of abuse of residents by federal, state and local law enforcement; and helping reframe the border-militarization story within the national dialogue about policing reform.  The reporting will provide the opportunity for community engagement, establish the need for accountability and reform, educate and inform policymakers and other opinion leaders, allies, and the general public, and use the courts where appropriate. It will provide a foundation for advocacy for the implementation of best policing practices and robust oversight measures for law enforcement agencies operating along the border.  The Investigative Reporter reports directly to the Deputy Director.  This is a two year position whose continuation will depend on renewed funding.
Specific Responsibilities
 
Reporting/Writing

• Within 18 months, produce one comprehensive investigative report that can be used for state, local and federal advocacy; that may provide potential litigation possibilities; and that will draw nationwide attention to the true stories of border life.
• Produce at least four interim reports.
• Develop regular blogs (frequency to be determined), infographics that tie the pieces together, and eventually collaborate on toolkits for reform.

 
Advocacy/Communications

• Serve as a spokesperson for the project, as appropriate.
• Work with ACLU staff to develop and implement integrated advocacy campaigns and high-impact strategies utilizing ACLU’s communication, legislative, field organizing and legal programs to achieve the program’s objectives.
• Produce a toolkit to educate and inform policymakers and other opinion leaders and lead four ‘insider’ events to promote the project.
• Working with the ACLU of Texas communications department, create video portraits of diverse stakeholders, citizens, and experts affected by law enforcement abuse, telling their stories through photography and short videos optimized to be shared on social media.
• With the Associate Director of Communications, work to:
  • Tie first-person stories to monthly action alerts to the 70,000-plus subscribers on our direct email system, engaging supporters in proactive advocacy.
  • Empower our followers to serve as citizen journalists, soliciting stories through consistent regular contact with our 12,000 Facebook friends and 7,000 Twitter followers.

 
Administration, Coordination and Support

• Collaborate and coordinate with the Rio Grande Valley Equal Voice Network and its members to ensure the widest possible net has been cast to capture individual stories.
• Track the publication of stories we have influenced, including them in a regular news round-up.
• Provide draft reports about this project as requested, including those required by the funder. 
• Provide other assistance as requested by the Deputy and Executive Directors and keep them, and the communications, policy and legal directors, updated about important developments.

 
Specific Skills

• A minimum of five years experience as a reporter and writer, with preference given to someone with long-form experience;

• Fluent Spanish speaker and writer – non-negotiable;
• Strong storytelling chops as well as data-combing and digital presentation skills;
• Knowledge and background using technology and social media to source investigations;
• Demonstrated ability to cover underserved communities;
• Self-motivated and self-directed;
• Photo and video skills;
• Ability to get along and work collaboratively with diverse personalities;
• A strong sense of humor;
• Ability to apply innovative, creative thinking to support  the project’s goals;
• Command of media law and principles of ethical conduct.

Compensation:
Salary based on experience. Excellent benefits include generous vacation and sick leave; 100 percent paid medical and dental insurance premiums for staff members and 50 percent of the premiums for their eligible dependents; life, accidental death and dismemberment, short- and long-term disability insurance; defined contribution plan with employer match; and paid holidays.
To Apply:
Please submit to jobs@aclutx.org a resume and cover letter describing: 1) your interest in this position, 2) the ways in which you satisfy the qualifications specified above, and 3) salary requirements. Please also include five clips that demonstrate how your experience applies. Please indicate in your cover letter where you learned of this career opportunity. No phone calls or walk-ins, please. These materials may also be sent to the attention of Human Resources: Investigative Reporter, ACLU of Texas, P.O Box 8306, Houston, TX 77288.
About the ACLU of Texas
The ACLU is a nationwide, non-profit, non-partisan organization dedicated to the defense and expansion of civil liberties and civil rights. The ACLU of Texas was founded in 1938. It is one of top 10 largest ACLU affiliates in the nation, with more than 12,000 members and a staff of 27, with satellite offices in Austin, Brownsville and Dallas. The ACLU Foundation of Texas is the 501(c) (3) arm of the organization.
The Rio Grande Valley Equal Voice Network, of which the ACLU of Texas is a member, is composed of eight community-based organizations, all committed to amplifying the voices of working families to enable local movements of social change and economic development. The organizations include:  the Brownsville Community Health Clinic and Proyecto Juan Diego from the Brownsville area; Texas Rio Grande Legal Aid (Brownsville, Weslaco, Edinburg); A Resource in Serving Equality (ARISE) (Alamo and Pharr); La Union del Pueblo Entero—LUPE (San Juan, Mercedes, Pharr, and Alton); Proyecto Azteca (San Juan); and the South Texas Civil Rights Project (Alamo).
 
The ACLU of Texas is an equal opportunity employer and does not unlawfully discriminate on the basis of any status or condition protected by applicable Federal or State law.