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Health care disparities affecting Native Hawaiians, doctor shortages and access to care in more remote areas of Hawaii will be at the heart of a new yearlong reporting initiative we plan to launch this summer as part of a grant from Report for America.

Civil Beat is one of about 60 news organizations that will receive funding from the national service program that places talented emerging journalists in local newsrooms to report on under-covered topics and communities.

Launched in 2017 and donor-financed, aims to create a new, sustainable system that provides Americans with the information they need to improve their communities, hold powerful institutions accountable and rebuild trust in the media. It is an initiative of , an award-winning nonprofit media organization with an established track record of training and supporting teams of emerging journalists around the world and in the U.S.

“We’re excited and honored to be part of Report For America, a much-needed program aimed at strengthening local reporting and coverage of often-neglected topics,” said Jim Simon, Civi Beat managing editor. “The RFA reporter will allow Civil Beat to take a deep dive into Hawaii’s critical health care challenges.”

The reporter will be based in our Honolulu newsroom but our health care coverage will be statewide. Travel to neighbor islands, especially rural areas, will be a key component as we explore the state’s public health concerns.

We expect our new reporter to be on board by June 1. In fact, Report for America is still accepting applications to be a corps member until Feb 8. .

Corps members typically have three to six years of experience, although the organization encourages accomplished recent graduates to apply. More than half of the current corps members have returned to their home states, Report for America says.