Utah Environment Reporter Salt Lake Tribune + Grist

Salt Lake Tribune

The Salt Lake Tribune made history five years ago as the first legacy newspaper in the U.S. to transform from a for-profit company to a 501(c)3 nonprofit. Based in Salt Lake City, The Tribune is a two-time Pulitzer winner that prides itself on aggressive watchdog reporting. Our mission is to tell interesting, important and inclusive stories by expanding our relationships with communities across Utah.

Grist

Gist is a nonprofit, independent media organization dedicated to reporting on climate change. Since 1999, we have used the power of journalism to engage the public about the perils of one of the most existential threats we face. We seek to document the often unequal impacts of climate change on communities in the United States and globally — as well as to show the promise of equitable climate solutions. Over the past four years, Grist has scaled from a Seattle-based team of 20-25 to a nationally distributed organization of ~60. 

The Salt Lake Tribune is partnering with Grist to co-fund this position. The reporter will be employed by The Tribune and be based in Salt Lake City. Grist will periodically adapt local stories for a national audience.

Position Overview

We are seeking a reporter to cover climate change and how it is affecting Utah. The ideal candidate will examine impacts of global warming on various communities and sectors throughout the state and explore how responses to the warming climate from federal, state and local governments are changing the everyday lives of Utahns. You’ll be based at The Salt Lake Tribune in Salt Lake City, Utah. 

Utah is a fascinating lens through which to examine the climate crisis. Rising temperatures and shifting precipitation patterns are threatening the state’s waterbodies and ecosystems. The Great Salt Lake is drying up and scattering toxic dust into the air, while the Colorado River and its tributaries are seeing their flows decrease. Landscapes that support a robust recreation and tourism industry, from the desert canyons of Zion National Park to the ski mountains around Park City, are increasingly dealing with extreme weather and changing federal policies. Meanwhile, Utah is one of the fastest-growing states in the nation, with a booming population and an influx of companies like Meta and Amazon. The state has a legislature with deep roots in real estate that stands to gain from this boom, and the privatization of Utah lands. 

The right person for this job will be interested in also approaching this beat from a solutions lens: How are people working to address the problems caused by climate change? Can those solutions be scaled up to statewide or national levels? What are the drawbacks? We're also looking for someone who is always mindful of the equity issues that are often at the root of human-based climate stories. Solar, wind, and geothermal energy in Utah, for example, has grown significantly since 2020, with corresponding growth in clean technology jobs.

Through the Salt Lake Tribune’s partnership with Grist, this reporter will file daily news stories and enterprise and accountability reporting, and your stories will be republished by a statewide syndication network called the Utah News Collaborative. Your stories will also be periodically adapted for a national audience and republished on Grist. 

The annual base pay for this position is between $65,000-$75,000 depending on experience. This role is a two year-long position piloting a co-funded partnership between The Salt Lake Tribune and Grist. 

RESPONSIBILITIES:

• Writing quickly and accurately on deadline about complex environmental and climate issues
• Propose, conceive, and execute stories
• Pitch, report, and write at least one multi-month investigation or enterprise story per year
• Work with partner organizations on creating or adapting content to run in local newspapers and on Grist.org
• Other duties as assigned

Additional Information

BENEFITS

• Health, dental and vision insurance
• Cellphone stipend
• 401(k) with matching
• Flexible work hours
• Paid family leave
• Paid time off and sick leave
• Mileage reimbursement

LOCATION: This is a site-based position in Salt Lake City, Utah at The Salt Lake Tribune.

APPLICATION PROCESS

Applicants must submit a resume and cover letter explaining why you’re a great fit for this position. Applications without both a resume and cover letter will not be considered. 

No phone calls, please.

PREFERRED QUALIFICATIONS:

• Bachelor's degree in Journalism or a related field 
• Five (5) or more years of reporting experience
• Demonstrated news judgment, ethics, and creative approaches to storytelling.
• Strong organizational skills and ability to juggle multiple tasks and deadlines
• Enthusiasm about using journalism engagement practices to serve audiences. 
• Demonstrated record of collaboration with colleagues from various perspectives and experiences on team projects and a desire to be part of a team that values hard work and humor
• Strong verbal and written communication skills. 
• An ability to thrive in a deadline-driven environment where attention to detail and accuracy is key. 
• Comfort using a variety of technology, including content management systems, social media and project management platforms.
• Ability to respond constructively to feedback and positively engage with collaborative and team-based projects.
• Digital reporting/writing experience preferred; portfolio submission and/or writing assignment is highly likely as part of the interview process