Editorial Fellow

Job Title: Editorial Fellow, Sierra Magazine Job Type: Temporary, Part-time Department: Communications Location: Oakland, CA or Remote  Reports To: Managing Editor Supervises: None Duration: Up to 6 months 

Context:  At the Sierra Club, we believe in the power of interdependence. Together, we remain committed to the fight for a healthy climate built on a foundation of environmental, racial, economic, and gender justice – a future where all people benefit from a healthy, thriving planet and a direct connection to nature. As the climate crisis and deeply entrenched systemic racism all fuel injustice, we will continue to fight for a bold, transformational agenda that recognizes the interconnectedness between our planet, our humanity, and our future. By recognizing that our destinies are tied, we continue to name that all things are fundamentally connected, and the overlap between ecology, race, gender, and representative government will move to either advance our collective humanity or to oppress it. Sierra Club has close to 800 staff across the country and a network of 64 local chapters that are led and fueled by thousands of volunteers. We are also proud to be a unionized employer, with three labor unions representing more than half of our employees. 

Scope: The Sierra Editorial Fellow is an early career journalist looking for real world experience in the day-to-day world of magazine publishing. Fellows get an overview in all aspects of acquiring content for and producing a national environmental and news magazine, including writing and reporting stories both for print and online, fact-checking and proofreading articles prior to publication, and developing their own new story ideas and leads.

Job activities include but are not limited to:

• Write weekly articles and dispatches for the magazine’s online edition.
• Write short articles and news dispatches for the magazine’s print edition.
• Fact-check articles for the magazine.
• Carry out short- and long-term research or writing projects as needed.
• Attend weekly editorial meetings.
• Participate in writing workshops to improve craft.
• Cultivate and expand social media reach and maintain strategies for building new audiences.
• Miscellaneous editorial office duties, as needed.

The successful candidate must have the following skills and experience:

• Bachelor’s degree or equivalent experience
• Strong writing, research, and editing skills.
• Awareness of and interest in environmental and social justice issues.
• Ability to multitask and work under deadlines.
• Familiarity with Sierra print / online content and tone.
• Self-starter who can take the lead on story ideas, assignments, and research.
• Published clips and/or experience working at publication (campus or general circulation) a plus.
• Committed to evolution. You are committed to continuously deepening and evolving your own understanding of systems of oppression through study, openness, and humility. And you easily recognize your own relationship to privilege and power, examining and shifting your behaviors as appropriate.
• Uplifting and additive. You see mistakes as opportunities for growth; problems as catalysts for solutions, and inspire others along the journey. You carry a constructive approach, can-do attitude, a sense of humor, and authentic kindness wherever you go.

The strongest candidates will also demonstrate the following experience, skills and competencies:

• A background in environmental, conservation, climate, social justice work.
• Published writing clips in environmental, conservation, climate, social justice, or related topics.