First Amendment Fellow

The mission of The New York Times is to seek the truth and help people understand the world. That means independent journalism is at the heart of all we do as a company. It’s why we have a world-renowned newsroom that sends journalists to report on the ground from nearly 160 countries. It’s why we focus deeply on how our readers will experience our journalism, from print to audio to a world-class digital and app destination. And it’s why our business strategy centers on making journalism so good that it’s worth paying for.

Note for US based roles: Any offer of employment is contingent on providing proof of Covid-19 vaccination prior to your start date, subject to approved medical and/or religious exemptions, in accordance with applicable law.

Job Description

The New York Times Company is currently accepting applications for the one-year paid First Amendment Fellowship in its legal department. The fellow manages The Times’s freedom of information litigation docket, which covers a range of subjects of interest to our journalists, such as national security, police brutality, political corruption, governmental abuses of power, and public health. The fellow also assists on other matters, which may include: defending libel suits, vetting articles in pre-publication review, advising our journalists and editors on legal issues, litigating access to court records, and handling intellectual property matters.

The position, which will have a start date of early September 2024, is designed to be a learning and work experience for a lawyer in the first three years of practice or a 2024 law school graduate.

The ideal candidate will have a demonstrated interest in media and First Amendment law, an outstanding academic record, excellent writing skills, and the ability to work both independently and collaboratively under pressure. The position is based in New York. It is for a set one-year term and will not lead to continuing employment with The Times, but it is designed to develop future media lawyers.

Applicants should submit a resume and cover letter as a single PDF on or before August 18, 2023.

Basic Qualifications

J.D. degree from an accredited U.S. school of law and admission to the New York State Bar by or before January 2025.

The annual base pay range for this role is $110,000.00 plus benefits.

The New York Times is committed to a diverse and inclusive workforce, one that reflects the varied global community we serve. Our journalism and the products we build in the service of that journalism greatly benefit from a range of perspectives, which can only come from diversity of all types, across our ranks, at all levels of the organization. Achieving true diversity and inclusion is the right thing to do. It is also the smart thing for our business. So we strongly encourage women, veterans, people with disabilities, people of color and gender nonconforming candidates to apply.

The New York Times Company is an Equal Opportunity Employer and does not discriminate on the basis of an individual's sex, age, race, color, creed, national origin, alienage, religion, marital status, pregnancy, sexual orientation or affectional preference, gender identity and expression, disability, genetic trait or predisposition, carrier status, citizenship, veteran or military status and other personal characteristics protected by law. All applications will receive consideration for employment without regard to legally protected characteristics. The New York Times Company will provide reasonable accommodations as required by applicable federal, state, and/or local laws, and will consider qualified applicants, including those with criminal histories, in a manner consistent with the requirements of applicable "Fair Chance" laws.