Environmental Reporter

The Raleigh News & Observer is looking for a reporter to cover climate change and environmental issues, and contribute to our coverage of the vast science and research community in the Research Triangle. 

This beat offers the opportunity to develop exclusive reporting on one of the most consequential issues facing the region. Our environmental reporter will help readers in the Triangle understand how climate change affects their daily lives and will hold elected officials accountable for their public policy decisions. This reporter will also explain the impact of federal funding changes on research and researchers in the Triangle, which is home to Research Triangle Park and three major research universities: Duke, UNC-Chapel Hill and NC State. 

In recent years, our reporting has looked at balancing development and sustainability in one of the nation’s fastest-growing regions, chronicled efforts to save endangered species, and fact-checked rampant rumors in the aftermath of a deadly hurricane.

We’re looking for a reporter with a knack for finding the issues and stories that matter to our readers. That requires versatility — knowing how to break news, juggle quick-turn and longer-term enterprise, build sourcing in institutions and navigate public records. This is a job for a resourceful digger who is committed to accountability reporting, who can deftly pull together a complex narrative, and who understands that building a loyal audience around a topic requires publishing consistently and often. The ideal candidate will spotlight problems, highlight solutions and truly make a difference — all the reasons you got into journalism.

This reporter will join a close-knit team of experienced journalists dedicated to watching out for our community. Like all McClatchy journalists, this reporter must have the desire and skills to build audience loyalty, engagement and growth around compelling public service journalism. In turn, they will become part of a news organization dedicated to relentless learning, continuous improvement and built on a foundation of accuracy, independence and trust.

To apply, include a persuasive cover letter, your resume and four to six examples of your best work.

What you’ll bring: 

• Experience turning complicated scientific and political material into compelling, reader-friendly news and feature stories.
• Strong writing skills and deep curiosity. 
• Excellent news judgment and a demonstrated ability to “see the story” that is going to matter to readers.
• Unwavering commitment to accurate, ethical journalism.
• Ability to build source networks and bring a constant flow of story ideas.
• Enthusiasm for learning new skills and technologies, such as AI.
• Willingness to do multimedia storytelling, including recording vertical video.
• Comfort with a job that will be demanding, fast-paced and constantly evolving.
• Facility with data and public records.
• Valid driver’s license and vehicle insurance meeting or exceeding the legally mandated minimum requirements.

McClatchy Media’s journalists are expected to take advantage of opportunities to ethically harness and leverage artificial intelligence and other automation to enhance and elevate their work and to find efficiencies that free them to focus on source-building and high-quality, deeply reported journalism.

What we’ll bring:

As a journalist at McClatchy, you will join a supportive, flexible, collaborative team. McClatchy strives to be an employer of choice, and our benefits package is made with this goal in mind. With a focus on health, well-being, wealth and daily life, our package options include healthcare coverage for employees and their families, financial protection from expected and unexpected expenses, multiple no-cost wellness resources and even coverage for four-legged friends. 

Our overall benefits package also includes a 401(k) with employer match, competitive paid time off and corporate holidays, and a variety of mental health benefits. With an excellent support team and with focus on your well-being as a top corporate strategy, McClatchy provides benefits to support you and your family in achieving your health and wellness goals. For more information on McClatchy's benefit plan, please visit McClatchyLivewell.com.

About the McClatchy Media Company

The McClatchy Media Company features a portfolio of vibrant and trusted news, lifestyle, entertainment brands and a robust retail distribution network. Our iconic local news brands such as the Miami Herald, The Kansas City Star and The Sacramento Bee have collectively earned a total of 57 Pulitzer Prizes and are complemented by popular lifestyle and entertainment brands such as Us Weekly and Woman’s World. Together, our brands reach more than 100 million unique visitors a month. The McClatchy Retail Network, our distribution and logistics arm, offers delivery to more than 56,000 retail locations weekly.

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