From red rock country to the Uinta Basin to the canyons of the Wasatch and the open stretches, land is Utah’s richest asset.

The Salt Lake Tribune is looking for an environment reporter who can tell the essential stories about our state and federal land being used, and offer accountability into how public officials, agencies and private interests use and manage public resources.

As part of a five-person Open Lands team, you will share stories about the environment and preservation as well as stories about farming, ranching and mining, and build relationships in rural communities.

You will report on how federal agencies like the Bureau of Land Management, the National Park Service, the U.S. Forest Service and the Environmental Protection Agency manage Utah’s land. You will also navigate state agencies, like the Department of Natural Resources, the Utah Division of Oil, Gas and Mining, Utah Department of Environmental Quality and track bills that impact how we use the land at the Legislature.

We are looking for a reporter who understands the opportunity to publish quick-turnaround pieces as well as longer-term efforts. The reporter’s work will be shared with the Utah News Collaborative and will appear in publications across the state, on occasion collaborating with partners across the state in both reporting and publication.

You will be skilled in obtaining public records and also comfortable analyzing data sets. As a self-starter, you will also story plan with your editor and be flexible to move where the reporting takes you.

You are comfortable in a collaborative setting, co-bylining stories with other reporters and working with visual journalists and digital team members. You must have a strong grounding in journalism ethics and a proven ability to build reader loyalty and engagement through public service journalism.

And, most critically, you must seek to understand every day what is important to people in Utah, one of the fastest-growing states in the country, as you look to shape your reporting efforts for our nonprofit, Pulitzer Prize-winning news organization.

Responsibilities and skills:

• Writing news stories on tight deadlines with clarity, accuracy and compelling storytelling. Knowledge and use of AP style.
• A strong dedication to diversity in storytelling and to development of a broad range of sources.
• Ability to match the journalism with the optimal format, including Q&As, features, enterprise, video, etc.
• Maintaining a schedule that allows for both quick-turn stories and the ability to work on longer-term projects.
• Understanding audience data – which of your stories are resonating with readers and which are not? Working with other newsroom leaders to determine best practices moving forward.
• Write and report on a continuous-news cycle, publishing to digital platforms as well as print.
• Engage the public: Present events, news coverage and enterprise/public service reporting in a manner in which readers understand the need for action/involvement.
• Mastery of social media – both as a news-gathering tool and as a way to push the news out quickly and build our audience, as well as your own brand.
• Participate in training sessions offered and seek learning opportunities.

Benefits

• Health, dental and vision insurance.
• 401(k) with company match.
• Family leave.
• Phone stipend.

About The Salt Lake Tribune

The Salt Lake Tribune is a community-owned nonprofit, having become the nation’s first legacy newspaper to make this transition. Based in Salt Lake City, The Tribune is a two-time Pulitzer winner that prides itself on aggressive watchdog reporting.

Utah offers unparalleled outdoor recreation opportunities in the Wasatch Mountains and national parks like Zion and Arches. Salt Lake City is home to a vibrant arts scene, a growing group of quality restaurants and the Utah Jazz.

We are proud of the work we do and we are proud of our newsroom culture. This is a collaborative, energetic organization constantly seeking ways to improve. The Tribune is an inclusive employer and is striving to continue diversifying our staff. We encourage people of all backgrounds to apply.

How to apply

Please send a cover letter and a resume to Grant Burningham at gburningham@sltrib.com. Include examples of past work.

• A strong dedication to diversity in storytelling and to development of a broad range of sources.
• Ability to match the journalism with the optimal format, including Q&As, features, enterprise, video, etc.
• Maintaining a schedule that allows for both quick-turn stories and the ability to work on longer-term projects.
• Understanding audience data – which of your stories are resonating with readers and which are not? Working with other newsroom leaders to determine best practices moving forward.
• Write and report on a continuous-news cycle, publishing to digital platforms as well as print.
• Engage the public: Present events, news coverage and enterprise/public service reporting in a manner in which readers understand the need for action/involvement.
• Mastery of social media – both as a news-gathering tool and as a way to push the news out quickly and build our audience, as well as your own brand.
• Participate in training sessions offered and seek learning opportunities.