Grist is a nonprofit, independent media organization dedicated to highlighting climate solutions and uncovering environmental injustices. Since 1999, we have engaged and informed the public about the perils of the most existential threat we face. Now that three-quarters of Americans recognize that climate change is happening, we’ve shifted our focus in part to demonstrate the ways that a just and sustainable future is within reach. 

Over the past four years, Grist has scaled from a Seattle-based team of 20-25 to a nationally distributed organization of ~60 with a growing budget. Grist’s strategy centers on climate, justice, and solutions, and we implement our mission through two areas of work: Our award-winning editorial program and our work to transform talent and representation within environmental storytelling.

Position Overview

Grist is looking for an Upper Great Lakes reporter to cover climate impacts, environmental health, and solutions to the climate crisis, primarily for a local and regional audience.

You’ll be based at Interlochen Public Radio, near Lake Michigan’s Grand Traverse Bay. We’re looking for someone who can understand and explain the importance of the Upper Great Lakes to regional, national, and global ecosystems. This is a place where vast forests and sweeping sand dunes converge with one of the world’s largest sources of freshwater. You’ll pay attention to pressing issues like the future of the controversial Line 5 pipeline, how agriculture intersects with environmental concerns, and the impact of climate change on the surrounding region and its people.

We want the focus here to be on solutions: How are people working to address problems? Can those solutions be scaled up to statewide or national levels? What are the drawbacks? This reporter should be comfortable covering local impacts of climate change, but also expanding those stories to have regional, statewide, or even national significance.

Through Grist’s partnership with Interlochen Public Radio, you’ll file everything from daily news stories to features and other enterprise reporting. You’ll also get to work with the award-winning Points North podcast team. We want your work to be heard and read widely, so you’ll also be encouraged to pitch features to NPR for national broadcast, and share with listeners statewide through the Michigan Public Radio Network.

Radio experience is a plus, but not a requirement.

The annual base pay for this position is between $50,000 and $58,000 depending on experience. This role is a year-long position piloting a partnership between Grist and Interlochen, and is made possible by grants from The Stolte Family Foundation. This position is represented by Pacific Northwest Newspaper Guild Local 37082 (“Grist NewsGuild”).

RESPONSIBILITIES:

• Writing quickly and accurately on deadline for radio, digital, and social about complex environmental issues for daily newscasts (when appropriate) and other platforms
• Propose, conceive, and execute digital and radio feature stories
• Pitch, report, and write at least one multi-month investigation or enterprise story
• Work with partner organizations on creating or adapting content to run in local newspapers and on Grist.org
• Work with Interlochen team for on-air pledge drives as directed
• Other duties as assigned by either the Interlochen or Grist newsrooms

QUALIFICATIONS:

• Journalism or Communications Bachelor’s degree preferred or equivalent work experience
• At least two years of experience working in digital or broadcast journalism
• Impeccable news judgment and ethics
• Excellent writing and editing skills
• Strong organizational skills and ability to juggle multiple tasks and deadlines
• Ability to work collaboratively with a creative team to solve problems and achieve common goals
• Experience with video and audio production tools, photography, social media is a plus
• Digital reporting/writing experience preferred; portfolio submission and/or writing assignment is highly likely as part of the interview process

BENEFITS

• Medical, dental and vision coverage paid 100% for Employee premiums and 85% for Dependent premiums
• Employer paid Basic Life, ADD, Travel Assistance, STD/LTD, EAPs
• Voluntary Insurance include Health, Dependent and Transit FSA, Life/ADD, Critical Illness and Accident Insurance
• Traditional and Roth 401k with matching (vested immediately)
• Monthly WiFi Stipend
• Alternative Transportation Reimbursement
• Fifteen paid holidays per year (which includes office closure between Dec 25 and Jan 1) plus five floating holidays, one holiday to use within 30 days of your birthday, and 3 summer days
• Generous paid and unpaid leave programs 
• Annual in-person all-staff retreat (subject to pandemic conditions)

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. 

Total compensation package includes a competitive benefits package, including medical, dental and vision insurance. No phone calls, please.

Cultivating an inclusive staff is central to Grist’s focus on advancing equity. We’re interested in hearing from people who can work with diverse colleagues of varied experience. Candidates of all backgrounds are strongly encouraged to apply. Grist is an equal-opportunity employer. Applicants will not be discriminated against because of race, color, creed, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, age, religion, national origin, citizenship status, disability, ancestry, marital status, veteran status, medical condition or any protected category prohibited by local, state or federal laws.