Spectrum News 13

In 2017, Cornell University estimated nearly two million Floridians will be forced to relocate because of rising sea levels. Since then, predictions of extreme heat, more severe hurricanes, harsher flooding, and other climate change-induced hazards have only gotten worse. The climate crisis has local implications for the City of Orlando, intersecting with everything from housing to jobs to water access. At the same time, Orlando is a national leader in energy efficiency, is working toward becoming a zero-waste city, and is trying to create a local food and transportation system that supports climate goals. This urban, climate-focused beat will investigate the ripple effects of climate change on the local level, telling character-driven, compelling stories that illustrate the real-world impacts of forces seemingly beyond our control. This beat will also look at how the levers of power are responding to climate change, bringing a local, human, solutions-oriented lens to the problem. Reporters interested in this beat don’t want to tell generic climate stories—they want to dig deeper to create meaningful reporting that will make a difference.

Salary & Benefits:
$50,000