Weather Reporter

The Arizona Republic/azcentral is looking for a weather reporter to make us the region’s authority for the one thing no one can stop talking about. We want someone who will live and breathe weather, for whom no temperature is too high and no rain puddle too deep, someone who can write with urgency when the storms approach, who can explain complicated topics when we get a heat dome or a haboob and who can find compelling ways to engage with our audience on the few days when it’s just sunny and mild.

Phoenix and Arizona offer up a weather reporter's full buffet of meteorological events. This year alone, Phoenix posted the hottest month on record for any big city in the country, just months after runoff from winter snow filled some of our usually dry river beds. We get thunderstorms, hail, dust storms, snow -- sometimes all in the same week.

Our weather reporter will deliver across all our platforms, writing breaking news for azcentral, filming videos for Instagram and TikTok, answering readers’ questions about whatever weather is happening, and will help tell our audiences what to expect later today, tomorrow and into the next week. Weather is not only a water-cooler and social media staple, it helps fuel discussions about climate, development, and how you prepare your kids for school. Our weather reporter will become the hyperlocal expert for readers.

Responsibilities:

Write daily dispatches for the morning report and throughout the day if needed.
Look at temperature trends, rainfall amounts, long- and short-range forecasts and find compelling ways to tell readers what they need to know.
Be ready to cover breaking weather events across the metro region and, sometimes, in farther-flung reaches of the state.
Deliver needed information on social media, in written and video form.
Help compile maps, charts and other graphic elements that will help our readers plan their day, their week or their special event.
Develop engaging enterprise stories that dig deeper into weather trends and records, going beyond numbers to make the weather matter.
Collaborate with reporters across the newsroom, including our climate team, our travel team (is it safe to take that day trip to the Grand Canyon?), our entertainment team (will the storm wash out the big outdoor music festival?) and our school reporters (will you need a coat or a handheld cooler for the football game this week?)
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.