ATHENS COUNTY, Ohio — The Athens County Independent today announced the addition of a new reporter with support from Report for America.
Ryan Di Corpo is one of 78 journalists placed in newsrooms across the country by Report for America, a nonprofit organization that works to strengthen local news in communities across the country at a time when many newsrooms face growing financial and reporting challenges.
“We could not have expanded our reporting staff without the support of Report for America,” said Corinne Colbert, co-founder and editor in chief of the Athens County Independent.
Di Corpo will cover housing issues in Athens County, a topic ACI chose after reporting on local initiatives to combat housing insecurity.
“I am joining Report for America in recognition that trustworthy local journalism is a public service that informs residents, holds power to account and seeks answers when the truth is hidden,” Di Corpo said.
The beat also was inspired by a 2024 report from the Athens County Foundation on housing in Athens County.
“The foundation’s report put hard data behind something everyone ‘knows’ but hadn’t quantified,” Colbert said. “We wanted to be able to examine the many facets of the housing crisis — the scope, the underlying factors, the work being done to address it and, most importantly, how it affects residents of our communities.”
The incoming corps members were selected from a competitive pool of more than 1,600 applicants, ensuring top talent for the 73 newsrooms that will welcome these reporters. Report for America’s newsroom partners go through an equally competitive process each year: ACI was selected from among hundreds of applicants for host newsrooms.
“These journalists represent hope: a new generation committed to local news reporting that helps people better understand their communities and one another,” said Kim Kleman, executive director at Report for America. “Our model is designed not only to place talented reporters where they are needed most, but also to deepen community trust and build a more sustainable future for local news.”
More than a quarter of the 2026–27 corps members will be covering rural communities, including Athens County.
“These corps members are entering communities with curiosity, rigor and a deep commitment to listening,” said Earl Johnson, vice president of recruitment and alumni engagement at Report for America. “They will cover issues that too often go underreported while building meaningful relationships with the communities they serve. That work matters, not just for local newsrooms but for strengthening trust and connection at the local level.”
The corps members will begin their assignments in July and report on a range of communities and community-informed issues that, in many cases, have never received dedicated coverage.
Find a list of incoming 2026-27 corps members, including their newsroom assignments and beats here.
The incoming journalists bring Report for America’s current, active reporter corps to 200, with 122 continuing their service into their second or third year.
“Our model is built around a simple but powerful idea: when you invest in journalists, you invest in stronger communities,” said Jason Blakeney, director of corps and newsroom excellence at Report for America. “We support corps members with training, mentorship and professional development while helping newsroom partners build long-term sustainability around local reporting. The result is journalism that serves communities now while helping strengthen the future of local news.”
In addition to vetting applications for corps member positions, Report for America subsidizes a portion of corps member salaries at a decreasing percentage over the three years. Local newsrooms are responsible for the remaining portion of the salary, plus payroll taxes, health insurance, equipment and software licenses. ACI has established a dedicated fund to support its corps member; click here to donate.
