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 f