High Country News, an award-winning magazine covering the communities and environment of the Western United States, seeks applicants for a climate justice fellowship. The fellowship is designed for early-career journalists interested in reporting on climate change and environmental justice, and will provide on-the-ground reporting opportunities and a chance to dive deep into important stories, as well as professional mentorship and career development.

Candidates will bring curiosity, fair-mindedness and a desire to share stories from and for communities disproportionately impacted by climate change, and which highlight the ways those communities and their members are working toward a just future. Candidates should possess a deep and nuanced understanding of climate justice, as well as the competencies needed to carefully and thoughtfully report on communities and cultures that may not be their own.

The fellowship will run for 12 months, with a view toward starting in April 2022, and includes coaching and instruction from across HCN's editorial and art departments. Fellows will work with the leaders of our North, South and Indigenous Affairs desks to produce reported stories, analysis pieces and/or essays.

High Country News is part of a growing number of newsrooms addressing a historic lack of representation, inclusion and equity in journalism with effective solutions. We welcome applicants from all life experiences and encourage members of traditionally underrepresented backgrounds to apply, including Indigenous people, people of color, people with disabilities, LGBTQ+ people and those from marginalized and low-income backgrounds.

Duties/outcomes will include:

The fellowship is an opportunity for a journalist to deepen their knowledge of and expertise on covering climate justice and how people and communities in the Western United States are enacting it.

The fellow will publish at least 24 bylined stories over the course of the 12-month fellowship; these will include both quick-turnaround pieces such as Q&As and reported explainers, as well as longer, deeper pieces such as essays, analysis pieces and more. The fellowship will also include a major capstone project, such as a reported feature, multimedia story or other in-depth piece.

Fellows will contribute to the editorial vision and success of the magazine by collaborating with other journalists, joining regular departmental meetings and sharing subject matter expertise.

Background:

High Country News is the nation's leading independent source of thoughtful, in-depth reporting on the Western United States. Established in 1970, HCN produces an award-winning monthly magazine and a popular website, along with email newsletters, special reports, books and events. From Alaska and the Northern Rockies to the Desert Southwest, from the Great Plains to the West Coast, HCN is a beloved and essential resource for those who care about this region.

HCN has been a leader in reporting on environmental justice issues, and spotlighting varied communities' struggles to adapt to a changing climate. At the same time, we have provided unparalleled learning opportunities and support for emerging and early-career journalists through our internship and fellowship programs. Over 225 alumni have gone on to work for The New York Times, The New Yorker, The Washington Post, National Geographic, the Los Angeles Times, and many other large and small publications, and to hold leadership and decision-making posts in government and the private sector.

High Country News is a registered 501(c)3 nonprofit whose mission is to inform and inspire people to act on behalf of the West's diverse natural and human communities. Its journalism is supported largely by its devoted readership through subscriptions and contributions, with additional revenue from grants and advertising. It has received countless honors and accolades, including two coveted George Polk Awards.

In a time of media fragmentation and polarizing sound bites, readers come to High Country News for fact-based, independent journalism and civil conversation across diverse perspectives. With the decline in local newspapers leaving news deserts across the nation, HCN's relevance is sharper than ever.