Columbus Climate Change Reporter
Description
The Columbus Ledger-Enquirer is hiring an environment reporter to cover climate change and environmental issues in west Georgia and east Alabama. Our coverage area includes coal-fired power plants and family peach farms, fast-growing cities and sparsely populated counties in a state that has become a national political battleground.
The position will focus on accountability stories and solutions journalism, writing stories that hold leaders and institutions accountable while highlighting progress toward solving climate change and related issues.
Environmental topics can often seem national or global in scale, issues that concern but don’t impact our daily lives. This journalist will work to localize these issues, examining the impact of climate change on Georgians, countering disinformation with facts and producing concrete work on what can often feel like abstract concepts: How do power companies and large industrial manufacturers impact our air and water quality in west Georgia? How is climate change affecting pecan, peach and watermelon production?
The reporter will build sources across the state, balance enterprise and daily reporting and collaborate with journalists at both the Columbus Ledger-Enquirer and our sister paper, the Macon Telegraph. The reporter will also work with visual journalists, regional teams and a variety of digital tools and insights to ensure audiences engage with their work in a meaningful way.
Job Requirements:
- Solid news judgment and strong journalism ethics
- Two years experience working in a daily newsroom, with experience covering climate change/the environment preferred
- A commitment to diverse coverage through community engagement and source building
- The ability to work collaboratively across multiple newsrooms
- A college degree
- Reliable transportation, a valid driver’s license and vehicle insurance (at least the minimum insurance required in Georgia)
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 benefit 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.
To apply:
Applications must include a cover letter (no more than one page) and at least five clips/story links.
About McClatchy:
Our impact is growing every day. 30 growing markets. Over 65 million monthly readers. 56 Pulitzer Prizes. A strong portfolio of dynamic partnerships and smart investments. Our award-winning journalism, digital reach, and commitment to innovative growth have never been stronger.
As a member of the McClatchy family, you are part of a flexible, empowering, and exciting culture dedicated to creating a work/life balance and consistent opportunities for growth—a place where you have a voice and the ability to impact our future. It’s an exciting time to be here. Our company is experiencing the most transformative period in its history. We’re growing rapidly in the digital space and delivering award-winning journalism in innovative ways.