Corporations and Climate Correspondent

This is a Full Time Job

OVERVIEW

Across our organization, we’re building a workplace where collaboration is essential, diverse voices are heard, and inclusion is the key to our success. We are committed to doing the right thing in our journalism and in every role at NPR. This means that integrity, adherence to our ethical standards, and compliance with legal obligations are fundamental responsibilities for every employee at NPR.

Of all the forces and actors responding to climate change, corporations seem to be the group whose plans often give people the most hope and whose true activities seem the most opaque. NPR is looking for an experienced, driven journalist who can help our audience understand the role corporations are playing in our changing climate. How are some of them helping us avoid the worst case climate scenarios? And how are others speeding us toward harm?

A reporter working at the intersection of climate and business would have lots to cover, from what the SEC, the Fed and Treasury are doing on climate policy, to the efforts of companies to reduce emissions, protect supply chains, innovate and profit as the climate changes. Companies are spending big on renewable energy and carbon offsets, while also benefiting from billions in international climate finance.

At the same time, there would be many opportunities for accountability work: to see if corporate climate pledges are just greenwashing, to follow lobbying to block climate action, to trace the development and funding of climate disinformation. We’d like you to make the case to us about what the most important stories and lines of reporting are, and how you and your NPR and public media colleagues would cover them.

NPR’s goal is to define the national conversation on climate. To break stories that could have an impact on people’s lives, especially stories most other media don’t have, or that highlight how climate change worsens existing injustices. The deadline for applications is 11:59pm PT Monday May 9, 2022. Come join us.

RESPONSIBILITIES
• Embody our team’s values of collaboration, transparency, consideration, inclusivity and equity
• Communicate regularly with your supervisor, editors and colleagues about your ideas and reporting plans
• Report on what’s happening now and figure out where the climate and corporations story is going next.
• Show ease with and willingness to do breaking news stories, features and ambitious projects
• Explain complex ideas with clarity and accuracy
• Develop wide and deep sourcing
• Bring rigor and a fastidious attention to detail in every story
• Exhibit a strong command of climate science. You don't need to know everything. But you can't parse what works and what doesn't with climate change if you lack an understanding of how global warming works.
• Take criticism and suggestions graciously. We’re all here to get better.

Who should apply? YOU, if:
• You seek to hold the powerful to account
• You’re always questioning the climate status quo
• You enjoy deep dives into ideas or topics, always guided by the question, “Why should people care?”
• You have a strong record of accountability work
• You’re as comfortable reporting on businesses as you are talking with workers or with communities most severely affected by climate change.
• You’re dogged about going through documents
• You are deeply sourced
• Your response when you hear of corporate good news is, how real is this? And how do we find out?
• You understand that there are accessible solutions to climate change, and you can report on them without cynicism or naivete
• You have a strong sense of workflow. You are able to handle multiple projects simultaneously under stringent timeframes, with changing priorities and conditions.
• You have proven ability to consistently work well with others, demonstrating at all times respect for the diverse constituencies at NPR and within the public radio system.
• You’re willing to work a flexible schedule, if need be.

QUALIFICATIONS

EDUCATION: College degree or equivalent work experience in some field of climate journalism, business journalism, business or science communications.

Required
• Cover letter describing some of the key lines of reporting you would pursue on this beat, no longer than one and a half pages.
• Demonstrated knowledge of and well developed curiosity about corporate activity and climate.
• Ability to talk about complicated or technical things in a clear, balanced and authoritative manner.
• Willingness to adhere to demanding editorial and fact-checking standards
• 7 years journalism experience, with at least three (3) years in a deadline driven environment
• A robust body of climate journalism work that includes stories about corporate activity and accountability
• Demonstrated experience in producing accountability journalism
• Command of climate science
• Proven ability to consistently work well with others, demonstrating at all times respect for the diverse constituencies at NPR and within the public radio system;
• Willingness to learn skills necessary to work on various platforms, including radio, digital and podcast; ability to adapt to changes in equipment, software and workflow.
• Links to no more than 8 of your strongest clips.

Preferred
• Expertise in business journalism, including ease with reading annual reports, 10Ks, and with speaking to analysts, bankers, politicians, agency staff and insurers
• Narrative journalism experience
• Audio journalism experience a plus

This position is covered under the terms of a collective bargaining agreement with SAG-AFTRA. The minimum annualized salary for this position is $120,000.00.

All applications must include a resume and cover letter to be considered.

NPR mandates that employees are vaccinated against COVID-19 as a condition of employment, subject to reasonable accommodation as required by law and any other applicable law.


NPR is an Equal Opportunity Employer. NPR is committed to being an inclusive workplace that welcomes diverse and unique perspectives, all working toward the same goal – to create a more informed public. Qualified applicants receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, ethnicity, national origin, ancestry, age, religion, religious belief, sex (including pregnancy, childbirth and related medical conditions, lactation, and reproductive health decisions), sexual orientation, gender, gender identity or expression, transgender status, gender non-conforming status, intersex status, sexual stereotypes, nationality, citizenship status, personal appearance, marital status, family status, family responsibilities, military status, veteran status, mental and physical disability, medical condition, genetic information, genetic characteristics of yourself or a family member, political views and affiliation, unemployment status, protective order status, status as a victim of domestic violence, sexual assault, or stalking, or any other basis prohibited under applicable law.