Climate, Environment & Water Reporter

You will join the Santa Barbara News-Press as a dedicated beat reporter, covering topics of environment, climate and water across Santa Barbara County and the Central Coast. Your reporting will focus on explanatory and accountability journalism, presenting complex topics in a straightforward, accessible style for multimedia audiences.At the Santa Barbara News-Press, you’ll be part of a growing start-up newsroom rebuilding local journalism with urgency, credibility and relevance. You’ll cover a wide range of stories across Santa Barbara County contributing original reporting that helps readers understand what’s happening — and why it matters.This is a role for an experienced journalist with expertise in topics of environment, climate, water policy and related subject areas. You should be comfortable covering issues as diverse as land use, coastal conservation, ecosystem health, agriculture, energy infrastructure, natural disaster, public health, environmental justice and community resiliency. To do this, you must have strong source development across relevant local organizations, industries and government entities, and be able to report on issues in a fact-based manner. You should have familiarity with government information request processes.In this role you will pursue breaking news, enterprise reporting, narrative features, data journalism, investigations and shoot short-form vertical video for social-first stories. You’ll spend a significant portion of your time out in the community, on the street and in the field, talking to people.The pay scale for this position ranges from $28.00  - $34.00/hour.What you’ll ownYou will anchor a dedicated Climate, Environment & Water (CEW) reporting beat for the News-Press, contributing strong original reporting across media formats, including:Daily and weekly beat storiesCommunity profiles, breaking news and developing storiesFeatures, data journalism, and investigationsWhat you’ll doReport and writeDevelop and report original stories through on-the-ground reportingWrite clear, accurate, well-structured stories on deadlineFile breaking news quickly while maintaining accuracy and fairnessFollow stories beyond the news cycle for in-depth “day two” coverageDevelop long-form, investigative and explanatory featuresWork across formatsContribute through written text and photosShoot short-form video for publishing across multiple platformsWork with editors and colleagues to adapt reporting for different platformsPresent at periodic in-person News-Press events focusing on environmental topicsCollaborate in a modern newsroomWork closely with editors, fellow reporters and visual journalistsParticipate in story meetings and contribute ideasBe open to feedback and committed to continuous improvementOccasionally cover general assignment stories or breaking news as neededRelevant qualifications A degree in journalism or college-level journalism courseworkA minimum of three years of professional reporting experience in an environmental or related beat.Excellent reporting and writing skillsProficiency in understanding, analyzing, and presenting data in an understandable way.Experience and comfort publishing stories in short-form vertical video formatPreferred skills and abilities A minimum of five years professional reporting experience and/or academic background in environmental topics.Familiarity with digital publishing workflowsSpanish language speaking and writing skillsPreference for someone living in the Santa Barbara areaWhy this role mattersYou will be a core member of a growing team working to transform the 158-year-old Santa Barbara News-Press into an innovative digital-first local news outlet. This role exists to provide strong foundational reporting on the most important news of Santa Barbara County and the Central Coast via timely, fact-based storytelling that resonates with our local community. You are here to build the news and information infrastructure for a people and a place.BenefitsComprehensive benefits package, including medical, dental, and vision insurance401(k) plan with matching employer contribution22 days of vacation time11 holidays, including your birthdayParental leaveSignificant tuition reductionsProfessional development is highly valued at ASU Enterprise Partners, where employees are encouraged to look across the organization and nurture new areas of interest$30 bi-weekly cell phone reimbursementHow to ApplyPlease include:A written resumeClips or links to recent written reporting (ideally five to eight pieces that together showcase your editorial range across different types of articles, ex. daily news, longform, profile, analysis, etc.Clips or links to any video or audio news stories you have produced or been a part of producingA note on your journalistic background, professional aspirations in this role, interest in covering the greater Santa Barbara community and why the News-Press would be a good fit (max. 1 written page)Please assemble these materials into a single document and upload them in PDF format.This position is fully in-person, excepting that your reporting responsibilities will require you to travel throughout the county and may mean you are not in the office every day. Reporters must have a valid driver’s license and access to a vehicle in good working condition, with suitable auto insurance coverage. Occasional night and weekend work is required.