Investigative Journalist

Initiative for Nature Conservation Cymru; United Kingdom; Hybrid; GBP 28,000; Full time

Job summary

An environmental conservation organization in the United Kingdom is seeking an investigative journalist for a full-time position aimed at addressing Welsh environmental issues. This role requires a degree in journalism or a related field, with proven experience in investigative work and strong knowledge of Welsh environmental policies. The ideal candidate will possess excellent data analysis and stakeholder management skills and must be proficient in the Welsh language. The position offers a starting salary of £28,000 and potential for permanency.

Qualifications

• Degree or equivalent experience in journalism or environmental policy.
• Legal awareness of UK media law.
• Valid UK driving licence and willingness to travel.

Responsibilities

• Conceive and deliver investigations on Welsh nature issues.
• Gather and verify evidence using interviews and data analysis.
• Produce clear, accessible outputs for public audiences.
• Manage source relationships ethically.

Skills

Investigative journalism

Environmental science knowledge

Data analysis skills

Stakeholder management

Welsh language proficiency

Education

Degree in journalism or related field

Tools

Data visualisation software

Data analysis software

Job description

Apply here

Duration: Two-year post with aspirations for permanent position.
Full-time: £28,000
Closing Date of application: Monday 5th January 2025, 5:00pm
Interview Date: Thursday 8th January 2025
Location of Work – Working from home and on location across Wales following story leads. Also, at INCC’s head office: Science Centre, c/o National Botanic Garden of Wales, Carmarthenshire.

About INCC

INCC is a charity founded in 2018 in response to the growing need for an independent nature conservation organisation in Wales. We do not accept government funding so that we can speak out and challenge environmental decision makers for wildlife without fear of financial reprisal. We balance campaigning and litigation with practical nature conservation delivery which involves community conservation, research and large-scale species and habitat restoration. INCC is also home to the all-Wales nature conservation journal, Natur Cymru, which is a nonpartisan publication designed to celebrate Welsh wildlife and to bring groups and individuals together to share nature conservation news, issues and solutions. INCC has been successful with fundraising to increase its capacity to challenge environmental decision makers in Wales by developing its own investigations team and increasing the organisation’s ability to deliver effective campaigns for nature.

Role Responsibilities

Investigations & Reporting

• Conceive and deliver impactful investigations on Welsh nature issues, developing stories from tips, data leads, field observations, scientific literature, and community sources.
  
• Gather and verify evidence using interviews, on-the-ground reporting, data analysis and other relevant sources.
• File and track Freedom of Information (FOI/EIR) requests to regulators, local authorities, government-sponsored bodies, and public utilities.
• Analyse regulatory decisions, enforcement records, impact assessments, permits, planning applications, and court filings relevant to habitats, protected sites, species, and pollution incidents.
  
• Collaborate with INCC conservationists and project leads (e.g., species and habitat projects) to test hypotheses and ensure scientific robustness in findings.
• Produce clear, accessible outputs: long-form features, briefings, data visualisations, photo essays, short videos, and social media packages; tailor formats for policy, media, and public audiences.
  
• Maintain meticulous records (source logs, disclosure logs, chain-of-custody for media assets).
  

Impact, Safety & Ethics

• Apply rigorous fact-checking and legal review (defamation, contempt, privacy, copyright) prior to publication.
• Manage source relationships ethically, including secure communications and risk assessments for vulnerable communities and whistleblowers.
• Plan fieldwork safety (lone working, dynamic risk assessment).
• Engage constructively with right-of-reply processes for subjects of investigation.
  

Stakeholder & External Relations

• Build a network of sources across communities, NGOs, academics, regulators (e.g. NRW), industry, landowners, and elected representatives in Wales.
• Work with INCC’s Communications Officer to time releases for maximum public interest value while protecting editorial independence.
• Brief journalists, prepare media lines, and represent INCC in interviews, panels, and public meetings when appropriate.
• Work with Cardiff University School of Journalism Media and Culture (JOMEC) to support students in environmental journalism investigations.

Skills, knowledge and experience

Qualifications (Essential)

• Degree or equivalent professional experience in journalism, environmental science/policy, data science, or related field.
  
• Legal awareness of UK media law and IPSO/NUJ codes (or equivalent).
• Valid UK driving licence and willingness to travel.

Experience

• Proven experience in investigative or environmental journalism.
• Strong understanding of Welsh environmental issues, policies, and communities.
• Track record (portfolio) of impactful investigative journalism or equivalent public-interest investigations (could include NGO, watchdog, newsroom, or data-journalism roles).
  
• Advanced research methods: FOI/EIR, PACER/Companies House and charity registers, planning portals, subsidy and contract databases, procurement frameworks.
  
• Data skills regarding cleaning, analysing, and visualising datasets (e.g., water quality, biodiversity records, emissions inventories); proficiency with spreadsheets and/or other data analysing software.
• OSINT proficiency: geolocation, satellite imagery interpretation, chronolocation, metadata handling, and verification.
• Strong writing and editing under legal scrutiny; ability to translate technical science into plain language without sacrificing precision.
• Field reporting experience across Wales (including remote sites and variable conditions).
  
• Excellent stakeholder management, with proven ability to obtain comment/right-of-reply from government bodies, regulators, and companies.
  
• Understanding of environmental science basics (ecology, habitats, species protection, pollution pathways) and Welsh policy context.
• Welsh language skills (spoken and written). Welsh language: courtesy level Welsh (essential).
  
• Experience reporting on Wales-specific environmental governance and the Senedd policy process.
  
• Multimedia production (audio, video, photography) and data-visualisation tools.
  
• Safety training (hostile environment/lone working), drone competency, or rope access where relevant.
• Background in environmental science, policy, or advocacy.
• Established contacts within Welsh environmental organisations or local communities.

For more information, and to apply click here

To view the advert in Welsh, pleaseclick here