[Hiring] Food & Agriculture Reporter @Grist

Role Description

Grist is seeking a reporter to cover the intersection of climate change and food & agriculture for a temporary, 6-month position. We're looking for someone who can move quickly and thoughtfully on the biggest food & ag stories of the day, delivering sharp analysis, fresh angles, and clear context for readers trying to understand what just happened — and why it matters.

• Work directly with Grist’s team of editors, reporters, and visual artists to produce weekly coverage.
• Focus on how the U.S.’s food and agriculture industries are impacted by climate change and contribute to global warming.
• Produce 4-5 stories per month, ranging from 600-1,500 words.
• Track the agriculture industry’s emissions and hold companies accountable.
• Explain how climate change affects what and how we eat.
• Examine major developments in food and agricultural policy by the USDA and state agencies.
• Report on relevant scientific breakthroughs and solutions to emissions in the global food system.
• Be mindful of equity issues in human-based climate stories.

Qualifications

• At least two years of relevant experience, preferably focused on climate, food, and agriculture.
• Bachelor’s degree or equivalent work experience.
• Professional reporting experience, knowledge, and interest in climate.
• A track record of covering stories of national importance and impact.
• Experience finding sharp, provocative angles on the news of the day.
• Comfort with magazine-style journalism.
• Ability to work in a fast-paced environment, juggling multiple priorities and deadlines.
• Comfort with technology, social media, and digital tools for journalism.
• Proficiency with desktop writing tools and web technologies for news gathering and publishing.
• Superior organizational skills and obsessive attention to details.
• Ability to work independently, demonstrate good personal judgment, and exercise a commitment to ethical conduct.
• Excellent communication, interpersonal, and writing skills.
• Demonstrated poise, tact, diplomacy, and the ability to interact with individuals at all levels of the organization.

Requirements

• Excitement about exploring innovative and creative ways to tell stories in a fast-moving news environment.
• A passion for helping Grist reach new audiences with climate news and information.
• The ability to identify stories that will resonate with readers and demonstrate the intersectionality of climate change.
• A keen sense of what people are talking about, and ability to monitor a wide variety of sources to stay on top of the zeitgeist.
• Interest in, and ideas for, delivering news on non-Grist platforms like newsletters and social media.

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).
• New Employee Remote Office Set-up reimbursement.
• Monthly WiFi Stipend.
• Alternative Transportation Reimbursement.
• Paid holidays and floating holidays for temporary employees.
• Generous paid leave including medical and family leave, parental leave, abortion leave, sabbatical leave, and many other paid and unpaid leave programs.
• Annual in-person all-staff retreat (subject to pandemic conditions).