Energy & Environment Reporter

Energy & Environment Reporter (Report for America)

Summary: This reporter is focused on contextualizing the impacts of flooding, water quality and agricultural impacts on land through a variety of multimedia storytelling efforts. This multimedia reporter collaborates in the Mississippi River Basin Ag & Water Desk, an initiative for Report for America in partnership with the Missouri School of Journalism and Society of Environmental Journalists. This reporter also focuses at the intersection of energy and environmental opportunities looking at environmental impacts of land use, energy sources, economic opportunities and policy.

Responsibilities:

• Identifies and reports stories that impact and help readers on flooding, agriculture, energy and environmentally themed topics.
• Develops stories that are relevant to audience, with emphasis on original enterprise stories that set an agenda for the region and state, examine trends or attempt to explain complex issues in in-depth ways.
• Provides necessary depth and context to major issues that help audience understand why events matter using variety of storytelling techniques.
• Develops a beat that looks at water and agricultural issues through a local, regional and national lens, and works collaboratively as part of the Ag & Water desk through Report for America covering issues and trends
• Develops a beat that goes beyond institutional sources and develops and cultivates sources (i.e., people, records, databases, etc.) associated with water quality, flooding and agriculture and other focus area topics.
• Uses social media tools and crowdsourcing to identify potential sources, spot trends and continue engagement with audience.
• Can shoot video and still pictures as necessary while gathering proper facts and details. Can perform basic video editing and web publishing. Effectively communicates with visual team when added level of photos/videos is required.
• Strong understanding of and regular use of open records requests. Uses data and analysis to help develop stories.
• Sets annual goals to add or improve skills. Keeps up on current events. Attends training sessions. Assists with finding ways to implement new technology.
• Adheres to all professional and company policies and ethical standards.
• Works collaboratively with and outside the news operation to improve storytelling and work across topical areas.
• Work with newsroom leaders to achieve news operation and companywide goals for digital content and audience growth.
• Provides timely and exceptional customer service to the audience, other departments. Promotes a positive public and work relationship; is responsive to audience questions and complaints.
• Actively participates in departmental planning and employee meetings; attends marketing events and maintains visibility in the community.

Job Skills & Attributes: Excellent writing, interviewing and multi-media skills. Attentive to detail, well-organized and able to develop and execute content plans. Must be able to distill complex topics into easy-to-understand works. Good communication and relationship-building skills while also understanding elements important to local communities. Able to make decisions and demonstrate sound news judgment. Ability to thrive in fast-paced deadline-oriented environment. Confident decision-maker. Strong digital mindset. Works well with others and is attentive, with follow-up and collaboration with staff, sources and customers.

Minimum Requirements: Preferred – undergraduate degree in journalism, English, communications or related course of study. Must have valid driver’s license and history of safe driving habits. Approximately 1-3 years’ work experience in reporting at a media organization.