Location: Dallas,TX, USA
The Dallas Morning News seeks an ambitious and versatile reporter to cover urgent issues focused on energy, water and natural resources in one of America's fastest-growing regions.
For curious, versatile and collaborative journalists, there's no better place in the nation to be stationed. North Texas is thriving and growing; it's home to 8 million people and demographers expect it to get to 12 million people by 2050. It is also home to two dozen Fortune 500 companies, nearly 80 publicly traded companies with more than $1 billion in revenue, two major airports and two of the industry's biggest airlines, five major league sports teams and thousands of firms representing every segment of the economy. Financial titans Blackrock and Citadel Securities have invested $120 million in creating a national stock exchange headquartered in downtown Dallas. On top of cementing Dallas' reputation as the financial capital of the south, some believe it could drive more company relocations and jobs to the city and state.
Texas is ground zero for coverage of energy, water and natural resources. Historically hot summers and colder than normal winters have made life in Texas difficult for businesses and residents in recent years. On top of that, Texas has its own electric grid that can barely keep up. Water issues are threatening businesses. Constant ozone alerts are difficult on workers. And two years ago, thousands across the state were without power during unusually cold temperatures.
The issue is becoming more severe. The Federal Reserve Bank of Dallas recently said nearly a quarter of businesses had seen a decrease in productivity or sales because of last summer's persistent extreme heat and more of the same is expected this year.
There is a need for a hard-charging reporter to cover these industries in a way that interacts with consumers and businesses, along with Texas' political climate.
The state's concerted effort to attract investments in data centers and crypto mining places increasing demands on the state's electric grid. The deregulation of the electric industry means the state isn't likely to force companies to build more natural gas or nuclear plants, instead putting the onus this November on Texas voters to decide whether to create a multibillion-dollar energy fund that would back low-interest loans in hopes of incentivizing energy producers to make those costly investments.
Millions of Texans lack clean air and water. Our state ranks ninth among peer states on exposure to particulate matter air pollution, according to Texas 2036. Texans, especially children and the elderly, are at increased risk of chronic lung and breathing quality problems. Nearly 400 public water systems, most in rural areas, are designated as continuing or serious violators of federal water quality standards. These communities have water contaminated with chemicals, heavy metals and microbes that are public health risks.
Texas' unmet water needs are projected to exceed 4.7 million acre-feet by 2030, which is about 27% of Texas' total water usage in 2020. That will cost the state $91 billion - each year - in lost economic activity, according to Texas 2036. In addition, growing water shortages will limit the viability of Texas agriculture, as major groundwater resources are being depleted faster than they can be replenished.
The business of climate and weather also is about innovation. We saw considerable online traffic to a story about a homebuilder from India who is putting up a residential development in Frisco where the homes have grass-covered roofs. And the city of Farmers Branch is moving toward becoming the first self-sustaining municipality in the region by turning a capped landfill into a solar farm that now nearly produces enough renewable energy to power the city.
The successful candidate will get to work closely with the newsroom's data journalists, and the reporter should be comfortable working with data and records, have a strong understanding of social media and digital metrics, and have a passion for growing our online audience.
This community-funded position is part of the Future of North Texas initiative, which expands The News' public service journalism with the support of foundations and philanthropy
Responsibilities and duties:
* Plan for both short-term coverage and long-term projects with an eye toward features/enterprise, distinctive journalism that differentiates The Dallas Morning News from a list of competitors.
* Generate content ideas that include an emphasis on the diversity of voices, stories, subjects and perspectives.
* Follow closely and develop insights into analytics.
* Report fairly, accurately and thoroughly, with sharp, compelling writing.
* Take a hands-on approach to breaking news across digital platforms and display a willingness to create content as needed.
* Show strong organizational skills and the ability to multitask on deadline.
* Display exceptional news judgment with the ability to recognize the digital potential of stories that will resonate with our audience.
Job Requirements
Here's our list of preferred skills and experience: (Please note this is not a checklist of requirements, but should be considered as a pool of preferred qualifications. If you can already do some of these things, great. If you're excited about figuring out how to do all of them, great! We would love to hear from you either way
* A Bachelor's Degree in journalism or related field or equivalent combination of education and experience
* Applicants should have at least five years of related reporting experience.
* Use social media for newsgathering and audience development
* Basic photo editing
* Comfort with fast-paced incremental storytelling (e.g., producing social media updates, updating online stories)
* Basic data literacy and analysis and ability to build charts, graphs, and maps with in-house tools
* Demonstrated ability to interpret audience analytics to inform newsgathering decisions
* Basic knowledge of SEO and social headline-writing techniques
* Use newsroom tools for planning, authoring, communicating, etc.
* Collaborate effectively with team members and across newsroom teams
* Work under deadline pressure, communicate clearly, follow instructions, adapt quickly to changes in technology and workflow.
A diverse newsroom best serves our community that fosters an inclusive work environment for people from all backgrounds, regardless of race, gender, age, or sexual orientation.
Benefit Offerings:
Internal Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion Committee
Internal Culture Committee
Leadership Development Programs
Annual Unconscious Bias Training
Flexible Work Schedules
12 weeks of Parental Leave
Monthly Webinars addressing Health & Wealth for all employees
Medical/Dental and Vision insurance
MDLive Telemedicine 24/7/365 access to board-certified doctors via computer or phone
Onsite Fitness Center
Retirement benefits, including employer contributions
Employee Assistance Program
18 Paid Time Off Days
9 Paid Holidays
8 Hours Community Service Time Off
Pet Insurance