Climate Reporter

The Seattle Times, a family-owned news organization and one of the nation’s premier regional news sources, is hiring a Climate Reporter. As a member of our Pulitzer Prize-winning newsroom, you will lead coverage that explores and exposes the connections between climate change and the region’s biggest and most influential businesses, from the behemoths of Microsoft, Amazon, Costco, Starbucks and Boeing to the lesser-known startups that could help power the world.  

This beat reporter will join The Times’ Climate Lab, a community funded team dedicated to coverage of the changing climate in the Pacific Northwest, and bolster its sweeping environment coverage. Ideally, you are a skilled reporter who wants to reach consumers, making everyday decisions with your wallet, and people in the business world, tracking regulatory changes and shifts across industries.  

You will join a team working on the cutting edge of climate change’s impacts, including wildfire, drought and extreme heat, public policy, research and solutions. You will give climate-minded consumers needed insight on electric vehicles, heat pumps and solar. You’ll highlight innovations among businesses and explore the intersection of business and government regulations with an eye toward accountability -- while covering the emerging challenges and opportunities of our time.  

We’re looking for someone who can pivot from breaking news, enterprise and news features to long-form storytelling and watchdog journalism. This reporter will be adept at uncovering the real-life implications of our changing climate and deftly weaving narratives that explain them to our audience.  

The Climate Reporter will:  

• Understand key issues of climate change and its differing effects on communities of people with varying social, economic, racial and ethnic backgrounds.  
• Write clear stories with a variety of approaches. We seek locally focused stories that also have national and international appeal. We also seek stories that challenge people’s preconceived notions and spark a reader’s curiosity.  
• Be immersed in the Pacific Northwest’s business world and understand its unique position in affecting government policy.  
• Develop diverse and knowledgeable sources who will help break news, track emerging research and add perspective to our coverage.  
• Post breaking news stories for our website and social media, quickly followed by updates that add more detail and context.  
• Identify stories that will drive readership, using social media, callouts and audience analytics.  
• Work with a team led by the Climate Lab editor and collaborate with beat reporters on other teams, including the Times’ Pulitzer winning Business department.  
• Work with colleagues in Photo, Graphics/Interactives and the Digital Audience Team to coordinate visuals and digital assets for stories.  
• The successful candidate will be an enthusiastic colleague and a champion of our core values of accuracy, journalistic ethics and inclusiveness.  

Qualifications  

We are committed to diversity and creating an inclusive newsroom and encourage members of traditionally underrepresented communities to apply. If your profile doesn’t match this job description exactly, you may still be a candidate for this position. Please let us know how your skills and experience relate to the role and its objectives in your cover letter.  

• Experience: At least three years’ work as a reporter for a newsgathering organization.  
• Education: Bachelor’s degree or relevant equivalent experience.  
• Experience covering business topics will set you apart from other candidates.  
• Experience covering breaking news and filing from the field, including writing quick, accurate posts that are followed by more complete stories that provide necessary context and perspective.  
• Experience in watchdog and accountability journalism.  
• Collaborative spirit; diplomacy when communicating up, down and across teams.  
• Ability to mine databases and public records for stories.  
• Strong command of standards, ethics and the mission of journalism at The Seattle Times.  
• Ability to analyze facts and make judgments about relevance, newsworthiness, fairness, etc., under pressure and on deadline.  
• Cultural competence and awareness of best practices related to inclusive journalism.  
• Ability to write clearly, accurately and creatively on multiple platforms and social networks.  
• Experience in traditional, shoe-leather reporting, as well as using social media to find and source stories. Familiarity with digital news production and analytics are also a necessity.  

Compensation: The full salary range for this position is $62,425 to $104,700. We typically pay between $75,000 to $90,000, depending on experience and qualifications.

Benefits:

• Medical, dental, vision, and long-term disability insurance
• Employee assistance program
• Optional life and AD&D insurance and long-term care insurance
• 401(k) plan with employer match
• 10 days of annual vacation accrual, increasing with tenure up to 20 days
• 10 days of annual sick accrual; unused sick pay accrues to an extended illness bank
• 9 paid holidays
• Monthly internet stipend for predominately remote employees
• Subsidized transit cards and parking costs
• Complimentary Seattle Times subscription
• Wellness program
• Fertility coverage (with lifetime limits) for eligible employees
• Parental leave options

Please note: this position requires the successful completion of pre-employment assessments including a criminal background check, a drug screen (excluding cannabis), and a motor vehicle report once an offer has been made. This position requires that you have access to reliable transportation to respond to work assignments. If you opt to use a personal vehicle for transportation, you must be able to provide proof of a valid driver’s license and auto insurance meeting the company's liability limits prior to hire. Finally, please note that this is a union-represented position.

Founded in 1896, The Seattle Times continues its tradition as a family-owned, Pulitzer Prize-winning newspaper that cuts through the clutter and provides readers with timely, relevant news. We serve the Pacific Northwest with thoughtful, independent journalism that makes a real difference in our community. And as a media solutions company, we combine cutting-edge digital capabilities and service with the values and integrity of respected traditional media… with an established audience of 1.9 million. At The Seattle Times, you'll find work that matters.

If you need assistance to accommodate a disability, please contact Human Resources at careers@seattletimes.com and provide a description of the reasonable accommodation(s) needed.