Climate change/environment reporter

USA TODAY Co., Inc.; Savannah (GA); On-site; USD 45,000 - 65,000; Full time

Job summary

USA TODAY Co., Inc. is searching for a climate change/environment reporter in Savannah, Georgia. The ideal candidate will cover critical environmental issues such as sea-level rise and development impacts, demonstrating strong storytelling and data analysis skills. Applicants should hold a degree in journalism or communications and have at least two years of experience in environmental reporting. The position requires collaboration, social media proficiency, and a commitment to quality journalism, including willingness to work nights and weekends. This role offers the chance to engage with the community and tackle pressing climate concerns.

Qualifications

• Minimum of two years of environmental reporting/newsroom experience.
• Strong command of AP grammar and style.
• Ability to excel in a fast-paced news environment with a digital-first mission.

Responsibilities

• Create storytelling that informs and engages audiences.
• Collaborate with the content team for story elements.
• Promote personal brand and connect with the community.

Skills

Environmental reporting

Strong writing skills

Data analysis

Social media proficiency

Collaboration

Education

Bachelor’s or master’s degree in communications, journalism

Job description

About the Role

The Savannah Morning News (savannahnow.com), part of the USA TODAY NETWORK, is hiring an experienced climate change/environment reporter to cover environmental and climate issues that are significant at the local, regional, and statewide levels. The reporter will cover issues such as sea‑level rise and its impacts on beaches, barrier islands, and protected marshlands; loss of freshwater wetlands to industrial and residential development; and the growing correlation between climate and severe weather in Savannah and Coastal Georgia. Other focus areas include the influence of unchecked growth and development, regional economic pressures, and the impact on local food supply, agricultural lands, tree canopy, and drinking water quality. The position requires building relationships with environmental watchdogs, hunters, fishers, shrimpers, farmers, ranchers, builders, designers, industries, and engineers, and communicating how climate change affects the lives of Georgia residents and communities.

Responsibilities

• Creates storytelling that accurately informs, entertains, and engages specific audiences and platforms through the use of metrics.
• Connects with the community through storytelling and outreach (social media, on‑camera, forums, community leadership, etc.) and provides thoughtful analysis of complex issues.
• Collaborates with the content team to provide all appropriate elements for stories (photos, videos, graphics). Captures basic photos and video as needed.
• Promotes personal brand and the brands of colleagues and the institutional brand.
• Explores and reports on the widest range of news and trends, connecting with the audience’s passion.
• Develops content strategies for print, branded digital platforms, traditional and emerging social media, events, apps, and curation of contributed and expert content.
• Places a high priority on data analysis to identify trends that would otherwise go unreported.
• Demonstrates clear, concise writing skills with strong nut‑graphs and “why this is important to me” content.
• Leverages outstanding research skills and extensive contacts to break news.
• Builds trust within the niche community, prioritizing digital products while ensuring printed publications also receive the content.
• Identifies, cultivates, and curates contributed, authoritative content and reporting to expand the beat’s footprint.

Requirements

• Bachelor’s or master’s degree in communications, journalism or an equivalent combination of education and experience.
• Minimum of two or more years of environmental reporting/newsroom experience.
• Strong command of AP grammar and style.
• Strong copy‑editing skills and the ability to produce publication‑ready content.
• Comfortable using social media platforms such as X, Facebook, Instagram, and YouTube to enhance reporting and promote stories.
• Understanding of reporting ethics and sourcing.
• Ability to excel in a fast‑paced news environment with a digital‑first mission.
• Collaborative with others and able to work with a team on major stories.
• Willingness to travel on short notice for breaking news events.
• Availability to work weekends and nights when major breaking news occurs.
• Valid driver’s license, reliable transportation, and minimum liability insurance required by state law.
• Employment contingent on passing a pre‑employment background check and a motor vehicle record check (and a drug screen for driving roles).

Application Instructions

We are eager to learn more about you and how you fit this role. When you apply, please assemble the following into a single PDF document:

• Resume (one to two pages).
• Cover letter outlining how you would approach the job.
• Links to 3–6 online samples of your work or portfolio that best reflect what you can do in this role.

Equal Opportunity Statement

USA TODAY Co., Inc. is a proud equal‑opportunity employer committed to building and maintaining a diverse workforce. We consider all qualified applicants for employment and do not discriminate based on race, color, national origin, ethnicity, citizenship status, sex, gender, gender identity, gender expression, religion, age, marital status, appearance, sexual orientation, family responsibilities, physical or mental disability, medical condition, pregnancy status, genetic characteristics, political affiliation, military or veteran status, or any other classification protected by applicable law. We provide reasonable accommodations for applicants with disabilities or who require religious accommodations. Applicants requiring accommodations should contact the Recruitment Department at [e-mail]. Applicants must be authorized to work in the applicable location; applicants from outside these regions will be removed from our system after submission.