Climate Data Visuals Editor

CNN’s Climate & Weather team is seeking a Visual Developer to create data-driven visualizations and interactive stories that illuminate and personalize the most urgent crisis of our time – and keep audiences coming back for more. This is a unique role in which you will work within a specialized team on high-impact journalism, as well as pitch and develop your own story ideas. Applicants for this position should have significant experience reporting, analyzing data and developing visualizations in the climate, weather or environment space. The ideal candidate is something of a full-stack visual journalist. They have strong data analysis skills alongside front-end web development experience. This candidate has honed the ability to contextualize complex topics for a general audience. They have their finger on the pulse of emerging trends in visual news. They are also able move between supporting news and working on smart features. Finally, the successful candidate is a team-oriented collaborator who works well with and elevates their colleagues on the team and across the company.

Your Role Accountabilities…

Work with teammates to pitch and develop data-driven stories and interactives focused on climate change, weather and climate solutions

Create and edit graphics and visuals, including maps, charts, interactives and other visual storytelling formats

Collaborate with other visual editors and reporters in the CNN newsroom

Work with the subject-matter experts on the team to cultivate strong sourcing for data related to the beat, and seek out new sources

Ensure our analyses, stories and visualizations uphold rigorous journalistic standards

Develop an understanding of the broader CNN digital infrastructure; network and collaborate with other visuals and product teams in the newsroom to share data and skills.

Qualifications & Experience…

At least 10 years of newsroom or comparable web visualization experience and experience working with climate, weather, environment data

High proficiency in modern web development technologies and workflows (HTML, CSS, JavaScript, git)

High proficiency in data analysis (R, Python, Node, etc.) is a must – much of our work in climate and weather is data heavy.

Mapping and graphics skills (Illustrator, AI2html, QGIS, Mapbox)

The ability to translate and shape complex story ideas and news developments

A desire to push storytelling forward and the ability to think creatively about how we use data in the service of journalism

Ability to meet deadlines in a fast-paced newsroom environment are crucial

Impeccable news and story-framing judgment

A collaborative, team-oriented attitude

Strong pitching and headline instincts that help our audience connect with our stories

Strong attention to detail

Experience with filing and pursuing FOIA requests

Ability to be flexible with working hours based on the needs of the newsroom