Senior Reporter, Climate Justice

The Guardian is a global, reader-funded news organization that delivers fearless, independent journalism. From breaking news and award-winning investigations, to in-depth coverage of technology, sports, film, culture and lifestyle, the Guardian offers a global view that deepens our audiences’ understanding of America and the world.

The Guardian’s US edition – headquartered in New York City, with growing bureaus in Washington DC and Los Angeles – is an entirely digital operation that combines the best of the Guardian’s international reporting with US voices and expertise. Core coverage areas include the climate emergency, economic and racial inequality, wellness, culture, digital privacy and sports – all highlighting the Guardian’s distinctive role within the US media landscape: journalism that’s global, independent, and free. 

It’s the talent, energy and commitment our people bring to the Guardian that make us who we are. Across our business we have some of the most creative thinkers in media and beyond: award winning journalists, cutting edge commercial teams, digital talent and more

We are now looking for a Senior Reporter, Climate Justice. 

The purpose of this role will be to report on climate justice in the US for a national and global audience. 

Department: Editorial

Reports to: Environment editor 

Location: New York, NY or Washington, DC

Hybrid/Remote/In-Person: Hybrid

Terms and conditions: Full-time, Permanent, News & Media Guild Role

Annual salary range: $123k-$135k

About the role

As human-caused global warming worsens and disinformation and populism spreads, this reporter will focus on the impacts of the people hit hardest, including historically marginalized or underserved communities. 

The reporter will hold to account the special interests driving the damage, weigh the human, political, social and economic costs, and recognize the resilience, ingenuity and determination of those pushing for something better: cleaner, affordable energy, less polluted air and water, and less exposure to toxic chemicals. 

The journalism will be in a variety of styles including daily breaking news on the biggest issues on the beat and enterprise and investigative reporting that breaks stories. It will also include reported analysis, reporting from around the country and interviews and news features that center people and communities.

The focus of on-the-ground reporting will include the impacts of polluting facilities—such as fossil fuel-fired power plants, data centers, or industrial food production—on surrounding communities and nature. It will also cover how communities are rebuilding their lives in the wake of disasters like fires, floods, or hurricanes, which the climate crisis is making more deadly.

The ideal candidate will have an understanding of climate in the context of justice and human rights with a talent for empathetic storytelling. They will regularly generate and deliver on strong story ideas, bring and cultivate contacts and sources, work well in a team, take assignments from editors and sometimes work outside the climate justice beat on other urgent environment stories.  

Key responsibilities 

• Regularly generate and deliver quality stories in a variety of styles including news stories related to the climate justice beat, enterprise stories, news features and well informed analysis on the climate crisis and how it intersects with issues of justice, equality, race and gender
• Bring, build and maintain an extensive network of relevant contacts locally, nationally and globally
• Use documents, data, and other journalistic tools to develop, report, and write stories about climate justice
• Collaborate with editors and audience engagement and membership teams to develop outreach strategies for stories, including creating multimedia and social media content and reporting and distribution partnerships with diverse local and regional news media 

Key relationships

• Environment editor 
• Deputy editor (news)

About you

• At least five years experience of reporting 
• Excellent knowledge and understanding of climate issues, human rights, migration, and environmental justice. 
• Strong track record of writing on the communities most impacted by issues relating to climate and environmental justice
• Success at breaking news as well as crafting longer form stories and narratives 
• Able to work well individually and as part of a team
• Expertise in using documents, data, and other journalistic tools to develop and report on climate justice. 
• Experience, or an interest in, multimedia reporting is desirable.

How to apply

We know there are great candidates who might not check all these boxes or who possess important skills we haven’t thought of. If that’s you, we encourage you to apply and tell us about yourself.

All candidates interested in applying should upload a resume and cover letter.  

We value honesty in your application. AI generated content must not be presented as your own work.  Please review our guidance on the use of AI in your application here.

All roles at the Guardian are open for everybody to apply. It is important to us that you feel supported and comfortable throughout your recruitment process, in order to perform your best. Please let us know if there are any changes we could make to the application process to make it easier and more comfortable for you. Please email the recruiter listed on the job posting or at [email protected] to discuss further so we can work with you to support you through your application.

Compensation and benefits

• 25 days of vacation leave in addition to 12 company holidays 
• Unlimited sick time
• Free Headspace subscription for you and your family members(Headspace is a company that offers evidence-based meditation and mindfulness tools, mental health coaching, therapy, psychiatry, and EAP services)
• 401(k) Match
• Subsidized healthcare coverage including medical, vision, and dental
• Medical and Dependent Flexible Spending Accounts
• Generous parental leave with 100% pay
• Long Term and Short Term Disability insurance 
• Life insurance 
• Commuter benefits 
• Work/Life balance: Flexible hybrid schedule 

Culture & wellbeing

We want everyone to feel like they belong at the Guardian and we champion diversity of thought. You will also have the opportunity to hear unique insight from our journalists in our morning conference, a live discussion on the news story of the day. 

We offer great tools to help you prioritize your wellbeing including a free Headspace subscription and access to an Employee Assistance Program. 

Learning & development

We encourage personal and professional growth. Employees have access to a broad range of tools and solutions, and we are happy to support the pursuit of professional qualifications through vocational courses and apprenticeships.

Sustainability

Our goal is to become an environmentally regenerative company and we have signed up to a sustainability vision and strategy to reach it. Find more information about sustainability at GNM here.

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The Guardian is an Equal Opportunity Employer and does not discriminate on the basis of age, color, national origin, ethnic origin, citizenship status, disability, race, religion, creed, gender, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity and/or expression, marital status, veteran status, or any other characteristic protected by federal, state, or local law in its employment policies. In addition, the Guardian will provide reasonable accommodation for qualified individuals with disabilities.

We value and respect all differences (seen and unseen) in all people at the Guardian. We aspire to have inclusive working experiences and an environment that reflects the audience we serve, where our people have equal access to career development opportunities, their voices are heard and can contribute to our future.