PT Data Journalist

Investigative Reporters and Editors Inc.; Columbia Township, Northern (MO, KY); Hybrid; USD 40,000 - 55,000; Part time

Job summary

Investigative Reporters and Editors Inc. is seeking a part-time Data Journalist to support environmental reporting through data analysis, visualization, and interactive storytelling. This fully remote role offers 0–10 hours per week with flexible scheduling and project-based work.

Compensation ranges from $29 to $40 per hour, with no benefits. Applicants should expect collaboration with MU-based editors and potential involvement in data-driven investigations for multiple partner newsrooms.

Qualifications

• Experience working with datasets and cleaning/analyzing data using a range of tools.
• Ability to identify, evaluate, acquire, clean and analyze data to find stories in collaboration with journalists.
• Bachelor's degree or equivalent combination of education and experience, with at least 2 years of relevant work experience.

Responsibilities

• Support reporters on stories as assigned by the Editorial Directors.
• Pitch and develop your own collaborative, data-driven story ideas.
• Assist in building interactive graphics and maps for storytelling, including web infrastructure as needed.

Skills

Data analysis

Spreadsheets

Database managers

Programming languages

Education

Bachelor's degree or equivalent + 2 years experience

Tools

Python

R

QGIS

Job description

The Mississippi River Basin Ag & Water Desk , an environmental news collaborative, seeks a part-time data journalist to support its reporting. The Desk, run by the University of Missouri School of Journalism, was launched in 2021 to fill a need for connected, strategic, in-depth reporting and communication about water, agriculture, climate and environmental issues within the Mississippi River basin. Through a partnership with Report for America , the Desk works with 15 partner newsrooms from the headwaters to the delta. These journalists and their editors collaborate with the Desk to create multimedia stories that are distributed to newsrooms nationwide, free of charge.

The PT Data Journalist will work closely with the Editorial Director and Assistant Editorial Director to support these reporters on stories as assigned. This is a project-based position and hours are flexible, ranging from 0-10 in a week. Projects could include mining EPA databases , building the web infrastructure for interactive storytelling , or helping to create interactive maps and graphics . The Data Journalist will also be encouraged to pitch their own collaborative, data-driven story ideas.

This is not a daily news reporting position. Projects may entail data analysis, data visualization, or both, often with several weeks of lead time. This position is fully remote and no travel is required.

Desired qualifications:

• Demonstrated experience working with datasets and using tools such as spreadsheets, database managers or programming languages
• Ability to identify, evaluate, acquire, clean and analyze data using a range of tools to find stories, trends and patterns in collaboration with other journalists
• Ability to work collegially and flexibly with others with limited supervision
• A Bachelor's degree or an equivalent combination of education and experience, and at least 2 years of experience from which comparable knowledge and skills can be acquired, is necessary

Preferred, but not required:

• Ability to present data in meaningful and engaging ways to colleagues and readers, including experience with creating graphics, maps, etc., for use in stories
• Experience with advanced tools like Python and R programming languages
• Spatial analysis with programming languages or QGIS
• Willingness to share skills or help train others in data journalism

Compensation: Pay will be $29-40/hour, depending on qualifications. Hours will vary from 0-10/week, with an average of 5 hours/week. This is a part-time position with no benefits, administered by the University of Missouri.

We will begin reviewing applications June 15, with virtual interviews to follow. We anticipate the Data Journalist will start work in July. Thanks for your interest!

The University of Missouri is an Equal Opportunity Employer . To request ADA accommodations, please call the Director of Accessibility and ADA at 573-884-7278.