Help people understand one of the country's most consequential environmental regions. In Southern Oregon and Northern California, environmental stories are rarely just about forests, rivers or wildlife. They are about drinking water, livelihoods, public safety, public policy and the future of communities that depend on the landscape around them.
Jefferson Public Radio is looking for an experienced reporter to cover those stories with curiosity, rigor and fairness.
This is a beat for someone who enjoys untangling complicated issues. One day you might explain why a scientific report matters. The next, you could be examining a government decision, following the money behind a public lands proposal or helping listeners understand what a wildfire means long after the flames are out.
We believe environmental journalism should do more than report events. It should help people understand how the world around them is changing and why those changes matter.
What you'll do: You'll lead JPR's coverage of environmental issues across Southern Oregon and Northern California. Your reporting will focus primarily on wildfire, water, public lands, climate change, wildlife and renewable energy while following other issues—including fisheries, agriculture, mining, environmental justice, Tribal natural resource issues and energy infrastructure—as they shape the region and the people who call it home.
This role combines breaking news, explanatory reporting and ambitious enterprise journalism. You'll break news when necessary, but you'll also step back to explain the forces shaping events, examine the decisions behind them and help audiences understand what they mean.
You'll: - Own JPR's environment beat across Southern Oregon and Northern California.
- Produce breaking news, enterprise stories and explanatory journalism for broadcast and digital audiences.
- Help audiences make sense of complicated science, environmental policy and technical documents.
- Develop accountability stories by filing public records requests, analyzing public documents and following the decisions of governments, agencies and businesses.
- Build relationships with scientists, Tribal leaders, researchers, public officials, industry representatives and community members.
- Produce radio spots, web stories, feature reports and other multimedia journalism.
- Regularly appear on Jefferson Exchange to explain environmental stories and breaking developments.
- Serve as JPR's environment expert during major events, particularly wildfire season.
- Collaborate with colleagues on special projects and regional coverage.
Who thrives in this role You're curious about how things work and persistent enough to follow the answer wherever it leads. You enjoy spending time in communities, listening to people with different perspectives and building the relationships that lead to better reporting. You're comfortable asking difficult questions and equally comfortable listening to the answers.
Scientific studies and technical reports don't intimidate you. You know how to learn quickly, ask good questions and explain complicated issues in ways that help people understand their significance.
Above all, you believe environmental reporting is public service journalism. It should be fair, independent and grounded in evidence. It should help people understand the forces shaping their communities and the decisions affecting their lives.
Minimum Qualifications - Bachelor's degree in journalism or a related field; or four years of experience writing, producing and reporting; or any equivalent combination of education, training and experience.
- Three years of professional journalism experience.
- Experience producing journalism for broadcast and digital platforms.
- Valid driver's license and willingness to travel throughout Southern Oregon and Northern California.
Preferred Qualifications - Background covering environmental, science or natural resource issues.
- Portfolio demonstrating strong public media-style radio features and newscast spots.
- Experience producing accountability or investigative reporting.
- Scientific literacy, including the ability to interpret research, environmental policy and technical documents.
- Proficiency with photography, video or other multimedia storytelling.
- Spanish-language fluency.
- On-air experience hosting or contributing to live public radio news programs.
Knowledge, Skills and Abilities - Ability to translate complex scientific, technical and policy issues into clear, engaging journalism.
- Excellent reporting, interviewing, writing and audio storytelling skills.
- Sound news judgment and editorial decision-making under deadline.
- Demonstrated commitment to fairness, accuracy and the highest ethical standards in journalism.
- Experience building productive relationships with diverse sources, colleagues and communities.
- Proficiency with digital audio recording and editing equipment, content management systems and other digital storytelling tools.
- Independence balanced with effective collaboration in a fast-paced newsroom.
- Excellent communication, organizational and time-management skills, with close attention to detail.
- Adaptability in response to changing news priorities, emerging technologies and evolving newsroom needs.
Why JPR?
Jefferson Public Radio serves Southern Oregon and Northern California with independent, award-winning public service journalism. We believe our role is not only to tell people what happened, but to help them understand why it matters.
As JPR's Environment Reporter, you'll cover one of the most consequential beats in the West, helping audiences understand the forces shaping the region's landscapes, communities and future. You'll work with a collaborative newsroom committed to accountability, explanatory journalism and meaningful community engagement.
If you're motivated by curiosity, value careful reporting and want to build deep expertise on a beat that matters, we'd like to hear from you.
Benefits: - Family medical plan
- Employee dental and vision
- 10% Retirement 401(k) contribution
- Paid Time Off (PTO): Vacation days, sick leave, and paid company holidays
Location: Ashland, Oregon
Reports to: News Director
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