Environmental Reporter & UVM Community News Service Mentor

VTDigger•Montpelier, VT

10d•Hybrid

About The Position

The Environmental Reporter & Mentor leads a partnership between VTDigger and the University of Vermont’s Community News Service to bolster environmental journalism in the state and to train and inspire the next generation of environmental reporters. This environmental journalism professional brings together two institutions dedicated to illuminating the challenges Vermont faces in a changing climate — and the opportunities it has to address the crisis and adapt to its impacts. They leverage VTDigger’s reporting resources and statewide reach, as well as the University of Vermont’s research and expertise, to bring a new level of understanding to readers and students alike. They use their professional expertise to produce enterprising journalism that becomes essential reading for environmental and energy professionals, advocates, policymakers, community leaders, voters, and residents impacted by environmental policy and practices. The Environmental Reporter & Mentor spends time reporting and writing for VTDigger, and mentoring Community News Service students on environmental journalism. At VTDigger, they will produce rigorous, science-based journalism. Coverage includes a wide range of topics, including climate change, environmental policy, energy generation and transmission, land use and development, water quality, agriculture, forestry and wildlife management. The reporter responds to news developments, as needed, but strives to produce deeper enterprise reports answering the toughest questions on the beat. During the legislative session, this reporter will cover the most significant environmental bills being considered, writing breaking news stories but also deeper analysis pieces and science-based enterprise and investigative stories. The Environmental Reporter & Mentor brings to bear scientific training and experience in their journalism. They serve as an interpreter of academic literature for a curious general audience. At the Community News Service, they serve as a point person within the University of Vermont for environmental reporting. They mentor and advise student journalists and may facilitate the publication of those students’ work in VTDigger and other publications around the state. This can include creating story assignments, providing guidance on source materials and experts, and generating new ideas for UVM’s environmental coverage. There will also be opportunities for multimedia collaboration with CCN’s public media reporting team, data visualization engineer, and social media efforts. The environment reporter may also involve the students in assisting with reporting for their stories for VTDigger. This position is a perfect fit for those passionate about environmental journalism and also interested in mentoring the next generation of environmental journalists.

Requirements

Commitment and dedication to VTDigger’s and the University of Vermont’s missions, goals and values
Exceptional attention to detail
Commitment to accuracy and fairness
Adherence to the highest ethical standards
A digital-first mentality
Commitment to cultivating and developing an inclusive culture and working relationships across the organizations and enhancing a sense of belonging
Communicative and collaborative across the organizations, with employees and with VTDigger’s audiences
Maintaining high standards of expectations for themself, their team, the leadership and the organizations
Commitment to continual improvement and learning
At least three years of professional reporting preferred
A substantial body of work in environmental reporting
Ability to meet deadlines
Demonstrated ability to cover a beat
Demonstrated expertise in enterprise and investigative reporting
Clear understanding of journalism principles, standards and style
Curiosity, flexibility and a willingness to tackle stories over a range of subjects

Responsibilities

Writes 6-8 stories for publication in VTDigger each month, including at least one original in-depth enterprise or investigative piece
Mentors three to four environmental reporting student journalists at the Center for Community News/Community News Service at UVM each semester as well as the summer to produce environmental journalism for republication in Vermont news outlets or assist with the environment reporter’s own stories
Guest lecture in other classes as needed
Generates compelling pitches and cultivates sources on the beat
Fulfills story assignments made by editors
Meets deadlines and wordcount set in collaboration with editors and works collaboratively through the editing process
Works with multimedia team to ensure stories include strong visual, data and audio/video elements when possible
Provides timely internal updates about the impact of their work to VTD
Contributes substantially to VTDigger’s legislative coverage when Legislature is in session
Reports in-person when possible to establish relationships with sources in the environmental community
Closely monitors local, state and national media coverage — as well as the scientific literature — in search of fresh angles on established stories
Places public records requests and seeks out investigative pieces
Communicates professionally with sources, readers and colleagues
Attends and participates in newsroom, all-staff and, as needed, cross-functional team meetings
Attends VTDigger and UVM events, as needed