The Savannah Morning News/savannahnow.com, part of the USA TODAY NETWORK, is looking for an experienced climate change/environment reporter to cover environmental and climate issues that have local, regional and statewide significance.
This reporter will cover issues including sea-level rise and its impacts on beaches, barrier islands, and protected marshlands, the loss of freshwater wetlands to industrial and residential development. The correlation and causal relationships between climate and severe weather has grown in urgency as Savannah and Coastal Georgia face increasing hurricane threats, fewer cooler days in winter, and more high heat days throughout the year.
One of the key areas of concern is how unchecked growth and development, regional pressure from the Port Authority of Georgia, the Hyundai Metaplant, and economic development policies exacerbate environmental issues, including the loss of valuable tree canopy and the quality and supply of drinking water. Other areas to explore: the impact of growth on the locally grown food supply, the loss of agricultural lands and signature crops such as peanuts, cotton and soybeans. This reporter will need to build relationships not only with the usual suspects, such as environmental watchdog groups, but also with hunters, fishers, shrimpers, farmers, and ranchers, as well as builders, designers, industries such as paper mills, and engineers.
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The climate change reporter will cover and write about all aspects of climate change and its effects on the environment, economy, quality of life and trends. This beat calls for a storyteller who writes about how the lives of Georgia residents and communities are affected by climate change. Our goal is to foster an understanding of the complexities of climate change in order to empower readers. We value solutions-oriented journalism and accountability and infuse our reporting with those elements to provide our readers with the critical information they can use when making decisions about their lives. Our need to cover climate and environment has statewide interest. Content that has an even broader interest will be shared with the USA TODAY Network. This position is funded through 1Earth Fund, The Kendeda Fund and private, nonprofits that support efforts to inform communities about climate change causes, impacts and solutions.
Responsibilities:
- Creates storytelling that accurately informs, entertains and engages specific audiences and platforms through the use of metrics. Works toward becoming the community's leading voice in area of expertise.
- Connects with the community through storytelling and outreach (social media, on camera, forums, community leadership, etc.) Provides thoughtful analysis of complex issues.
- Collaborates with the content team to provide all appropriate elements for stories (i.e. Photos, videos and graphics). Captures basic photos and video as needed.
- Promotes personal brand, the brands of colleagues and the institutional brand.
- Explores and reports on the widest range of news and trends, connecting with our audience's passion.
- Content strategies include print, branded digital platforms, traditional and emerging social media, events, Apps and curation of contributed and expert content.
- Places a high priority on data analysis to identify trends that would otherwise go unreported.
- Demonstrates clear concise writing skills with strong nut graphs and "why this is important to me" content.
- Requires outstanding research skills and extensive contacts that can break news.
- Requires the ability to create trust within their niche community. The primary channel will be our digital products first, but the content will also appear in our printed publications.
- Identifies, cultivates and curates contributed, authoritative content and reporting that expands the footprint of the beat.
Requirements:
- Bachelor's or master's in communications, journalism or an equivalent combination of education and experience.
- Minimum of three or more years environmental reporting/newsroom experience.
- Strong command of AP grammar and style.
- Strong copy-editing skills and the ability to produce content that is clean, accurate and "publication ready."
- Is comfortable using social media such as X, Facebook, Instagram and Snapchat to enhance reporting and promote stories.
- Understands reporting ethics and sourcing.
- Excels in a fast-paced news environment and understands the digital-first mission.
- Collaborates well with others and can work with a team on the biggest stories.
- Must be willing to travel on short notice, to cover breaking news events.
- Work weekends and nights when there is major breaking news.
- This role requires a valid driver's license, reliable transportation, and the minimum liability insurance required by state law.
How To Apply:
We are eager to learn more about you and how you fit this role. When you apply, don't limit your upload to a resume; show us what you've done. To do so, put together a single document file that includes the following, in this order:
- Your resume - one to two pages.
- A cover letter that outlines how you would approach the job.
- Links to 3-6 online samples of your work or online portfolio. Show us what you've produced or had a hand in that best reflects what you can do in your desired role.
It is important that these items be assembled into a single document and uploaded in PDF format. Completing these steps will ensure that your application receives the highest consideration.
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