Agriculture & Water Reporter

It’s no accident that three of the five ‘C’s that were the foundation of Arizona’s old economy -- cotton, citrus and cattle -- were rooted in agriculture. Ag is a $23 billion industry, driven increasingly by corporate growers leveraging the state’s natural resources and providing important food sources in a global economy. The Arizona Republic is looking for a reporter who can help readers make sense of the changing landscape at a critical time in the nation’s efforts to deal with climate change, water scarcity, labor shortages and food safety.

The Reporter On This Beat Would Help Our Readers Understand The Issues Related To Ag, Water And Food Across a Range Of Topics

Water. The ag industry controls the vast majority of Arizona’s water supplies and holds the most senior water rights on the Colorado River, which means they will be critical in decisions as water sources tighten. They are also draining groundwater aquifers with almost no regulation by the state.
Food production. Arizona farmers produce a large portion of the nation’s winter vegetable supply, but have also been at the center of recent food contamination scares. We would help bring awareness to food-borne illnesses.
Worker safety. In July, a 25-year-old farmer collapsed in Yuma and died of heat-related illness. Arizona has no requirement for farm workers to receive water breaks and no laws enforcing overtime pay.
Climate. In an increasingly warmer world, ag will have to adapt to drier conditions and potentially less water if we are to avoid food shortages.

The reporter would produce a mix of quick hit, enterprise and investigative stories, taking the lead on breaking news, writing explainers about everything from organic vegetables to advances in genetic-driven crops to the latest in consumer food-growing trends.

Responsibilities

Follow breaking and trending news in agriculture, food production and water and write daily stories as needed.
Look for trends in the coverage areas and find compelling ways to tell readers what they need to know.
Be ready to cover breaking news across the metro region and, sometimes, in farther-flung reaches of the state.
Deliver needed information on social media, in written and video form.
Develop engaging enterprise stories that dig deeper into the coverage topics and explain complicated issues in easy-to-understand stories.
Collaborate with reporters across the newsroom, including our climate team, our environment team and our business and development reporters.
Collaborate with photographers and video editors to capture and create compelling visual components.
Connect with the community through storytelling, social media interactions and other ways to build your personal brand and the company's brand.

Requirements

Bachelor's or master’s in communications, journalism or an equivalent combination of education and experience.
At least two years of reporting experience in a daily newsroom. Previous weather reporting experience preferred.
Energetic self-starter and a fast thinker who can spot stories that matter.
Ability to multitask and excel in a fast-paced environment under intense deadline pressure.
Ability to work collaboratively and efficiently with a team of journalists.
Strong communication skills, news judgment and headline-writing ability.
Strong interpersonal skills, including empathy and compassion.
Proficiency on social media platforms; including but not limited to Facebook, Twitter, Threads, Instagram, TikTok and Reddit, and experience engaging readers in this public space.
Experience shooting and editing photos and video on an iPhone.
Strong writing, spelling and grammar skills and knowledge of AP style.
Understanding of media law and principles of ethical conduct.
This role requires a valid driver’s license, reliable transportation, and the minimum liability insurance required by state law.
Employment is contingent on passing a pre-employment, post-offer drug screen, motor vehicle record check and background check.

Application Instructions

We are eager to learn more about you and how you fit this role. When you apply, don’t limit your upload to a resume; show us what you’ve done. To do so, put together a single document file that includes the following, in this order:

Your resume – one to two pages.
A cover letter that outlines how you would approach the job.
Links to 3-6 online samples of your work. Show us what you’ve produced or had a hand in that best reflects what you can do in your desired role.

It is important that these items be assembled into a single document and uploaded in PDF format. Completing these steps will ensure that your application receives the highest consideration.