Environment & Climate Change Reporter

CapRadio
Sacramento , CA

Application Deadline: Friday, Apr 16, 2021

Description

Department: Content/News
Status: Full Time, Exempt
End Date: Open Until Filled

 
Summary

Climate change is the crisis of all crises.

It is forcing communities to adapt to unthinkable new normals, amplifying inequities across geography, class and race — and bringing about devastating and deadly consequences.

The journalism produced by CapRadio’s next Environment & Climate Change Reporter will help Californians — and denizens of Earth! — better understand and navigate this emergency. It is essential public service journalism.

The ideal candidate will have a passion for covering environment news. Some weeks, you may be out in communities looking at how extreme wildfires dramatically affect everything from topography to livelihoods. Other days, you may be reporting on energy and transportation at the state Capitol, speaking with lawmakers and exploring how politics and climate change collide.

Our hiring committee will be focusing on candidates with journalism experience: at least three years spent at a press outlet, or commensurate time as an independent contributor or freelancer. It’s important that you have demonstrated an interest, or perhaps a deep knowledge, related to climate change and environmental justice issues.

This reporter will work on a variety of content deliverables. Most of your time will be spent on enterprise work, such as feature stories and special projects — maybe even a podcast. But there will be regular, weekly commitments to file daily stories; if we had to estimate, the equivalent of six to eight thoroughly sourced daily stories a month.

The ideal candidate will be comfortable reporting for a variety of platforms: shining as an audio journalist, quick with words and smarts on our talk programs and podcasts, and adept at producing content for digital.

We also are looking for a reporter whose instincts are to ask: Who is not included in this story but should be? Am I overlooking equity issues? What audiences need this information and how can we best serve them?

If you are a multilingual journalist or fluent in Spanish, that will help you in this role. We want to deliver for audiences who traditionally are underserved by public media.

We also encourage BIPOC journalists to apply for this position; you will be supported in our newsroom.

Editors and producers will be there with praise, constructive feedback, opportunities for self-care and even urging to take time-off to recharge. We may occasionally meditate. Keep an open mind!

And we’ll give you the training needed and space to succeed — and fail — and will support you as you continue to develop in this vital role.

Your work will reach millions of Californians, including via our statewide network of more than five dozen public-media frequencies and websites. Sometimes you’ll also appear on NPR or NPR.org.

In conclusion: This is an exciting opportunity to cover the most important issue of our time, climate change, in a state and community at the vanguard of environmental innovation, mitigation and adaptation, and with trustworthy co-workers who value collaboration and empathy.

If you have any questions, don’t hesitate to connect with Nick Miller (he/him), CapRadio’s Managing Editor of News & Information.

Position Responsibilities:

  • Pitches, develops, enterprises, reports, writes and produces “feature-length” audio stories and digital articles
  • Delivers special projects on a quarterly or bi-annual basis for all platforms
  • Conceives, develops, reports, produces and hosts podcasts
  • Reports and writes daily content for digital audiences, including regular web stories. You will be expected to deliver stories each week, of varying lengths and scope of reporting.
  • Reports, writes and produces daily content for broadcast. This will include “spot” packages, two-way interviews and more.
  • Files content for CapRadio’s statewide news network
  • Appears on CapRadio’s talk programs, including Insight
  • Files content for NPR and other national outlets as needed
  • Collaborates with colleagues at regular meetings
  • Participates in on-air fundraising and other CapRadio company activities
  • Comes to work each day with drive to collaborate, a willingness to listen and learn and a sharper sense of humor than the managing editor

Skills and Experience:

  • Newsroom experience is strongly preferred. If you lack this qualification but can demonstrate the skills, expertise and ability to do the job, then we will review your application.
  • Yes, our name is CapRadio. But we value skills in digital reporting and reporting for non-broadcast platforms, such as podcasts and on-demand, customized audio.
  • We are true believers in public radio and independent, nonprofit journalism. We hope that you’re a big fan of NPR and also value clear-headed news reporting and programming.

COVID-19 COMPLIANT

Remote work is temporarily available under shelter in place orders. Must be able to commute to our Sacramento, CA office once restrictions have been lifted.

Salary

The annual salary for this position is $64,000 a year.

CapRadio also offers:

  • competitive medical, dental, vision, chiropractic, and acupuncture insurance
  • a retirement plan with employer-matching
  • 14 paid holidays
  • two weeks of flexible, accruable paid time-off
  • paid sick leave
  • long-term disability and group life insurance
  • flexible spending plan for health and dependent care
  • cost of living adjustments applied to salary

How to Submit an Application

So, you’re going to apply? Great!

Here are the steps:

  • We don’t want a cover letter! Instead, share how your journalism experience applies to reporting related on climate change and environmental justice issues. How would reporting on class, race and geography intersect with this beat? Maybe pitch us a story? Please keep your ideas or pitch less than 150 words.
    a one-page resume.
  • Share three links to examples of your best journalism, and be sure to include digital work.
  • Tell us about one of your favorite podcast programs and websites (less than 100 words).
  • Please submit all documents in PDF format

Email your application to careers@capradio.org. You can address your cover letter to the hiring manager for this position, Nick Miller (he/him), Managing Editor of News & Information.

CapRadio
Attn: Human Resources
7055 Folsom Blvd.
Sacramento, CA 95826

Capital Public Radio is an equal opportunity employer.

For additional information about this position, please contact: