Job Description

Summary/Objective

The environmental reporter for the Southern California News Group will report on the people, laws, policies and real-world implications involved with the region’s myriad environmental issues. SCNG covers a vast area that involves coastline, mountain ranges, deserts and densely populate communities, all of which have environmental priorities that affect how our readers live their lives. The reporter needs the ability to help readers understand what this all means to them with stories that are interesting, informative and human.

Essential Functions

• Report on environmental issues that affect Los Angeles, Orange, Riverside and San Bernardino counties.
• Develop a variety of sources from different fields whose knowledge is important to our readers.
• Write stories that capture differing points of view but also acknowledge that some things are not up for debate because of the science behind them.
• Develop an understanding of policy and science but don’t become so immersed in them that readers can’t follow. Stories about how people are affected by environmental issues always will be more relatable than the ones that are overloaded with data or jargon that require advanced degrees to understand.
• Discuss stories throughout the process with the assignment editor, including (but not limited to): idea development, overcoming hurdles, editing, strategy for presentation and analysis of analytics.
• Work with the photo and graphics teams to ensure exploration of all the visual ways stories can be told or enhanced
• Discuss stories from the beginning of the process with the Audience Engagement Editor and Digital Producers to provide the best possible opportunity for these stories to reach readers.
• Collaborate with local reporters on stories that might be more important to a particular city or county than others.

Competencies & Skills

• Ability to multitask, meet deadlines and accurately fact-check information
• Ability to write copy in a clear fashion, free of errors and using AP style
• Experience with social media for the purposes of reader engagement
• Excellent communication and networking skills
• Ability to work in a high-stress, deadline-driven environment
• Comfortable in use of general computer systems and programs

Travel

• Out-of-town travel is unlikely, but there will be a need to drive around SCNG’s four-county region.

Required Education

• Bachelor's degree or equivalent experience required

Required Experience

• At least three years of professional journalism experience

Preferred Experience

• Prior environmental reporting experience
• Ability to speak a language other than English that would be beneficial to coverage of the communities in Southern California
• Five (5) years of professional journalism experience

Work Environment

• Remote work environment

Physical Demands

While performing the duties of this job, the employee is regularly required to be able to communicate with interview subjects and editors.

Other Duties

This job description is not designed to cover or contain a comprehensive listing of activities, duties or responsibilities that are required of the employee for this job and may change at any time with or without notice.