The Bureau of Investigative Journalism is expanding and seeking a talented journalist to join our global environmental reporting team. We are undertaking a significant expansion of our award-winning coverage of the impacts of the global food supply chain on our climate, nature and communities. This is the most important story in the world. We want to ensure we tell it well and tell it urgently.

We seek a reporter to cover industrialised food’s escalating use of antibiotics and the consequences for human health and the environment. We are looking for a creative and proactive reporter to specialise on the topic and make this beat their own, delivering major investigations, initially on a 12-month contract.

You do not need to have covered antimicrobial resistance stories before, but enthusiasm for tackling the area – alongside either a scientific background or environmental journalism experience, would be very helpful.

About the Bureau

The Bureau is the UK’s largest independent investigative journalism organisation. It exists to inform the public about the realities of power in today’s world. Our investigations seek to expose systemic wrongs, challenge misinformation and spark change. With no corporate or political agenda, we bring to light serious issues affecting individuals and communities in the UK and around the world.

We work collaboratively to maximise the impact of our fact-based reporting and share our findings openly with local, national and international media outlets to reach as many people as possible.

About our environment coverage

We have been reporting on the environmental impacts of the global industrialised food system for several years.

We now have funding to expand the scope of this work and ensure we tell stories better, and in more innovative and engaging ways. We pride ourselves on our reporting having real-world impact, helping to drive lasting and systemic change.

The Bureau’s core, UK-based environment team consists of an editor, multiple reporters and an impact producer. We also work regularly with freelancers, environmental groups and researchers worldwide.

Antimicrobial resistance is one of the world’s greatest public health threats. A number of infections, including pneumonia, salmonella and tuberculosis are already becoming resistant to antibiotics, making them much more difficult to treat. Few new antibiotics are being developed.

Antimicrobial use in agriculture is one of the major driving forces of resistance. The drugs used to prevent or treat diseases in livestock can breed superbugs that spread and infect humans.

While some countries have made significant progress in reducing antimicrobial use in livestock and aquaculture, in many parts of the world drugs that are medically important for humans are still overused, commonly as a substitute for good husbandry and biosecurity practices.

The Role

This job will involve reporting on the companies and policies that continue to allow overuse of these vital drugs, and why antimicrobials may be necessary in some intensive farming or aquaculture systems. This might involve looking at loopholes in legislation; companies failing to achieve their antibiotic reduction pledges or policies; development bank financing of food companies or the lack of coordinated global policies on antimicrobial use.

It is an exciting time to join our innovative, mission-driven journalism outfit and be part of an ambitious new project to produce cross-border investigations on industrialised food. Working with the environment editor and wider environment team, the dedicated AMR reporter will be expected to be the anchor reporter pitching and delivering hard-hitting stories on this beat, supported by the rest of the team. You will have experience of reporting on health or the environment, or an academic or professional background in the natural sciences with a demonstrable interest in investigative journalism.

Please note: if you possess some but not all the attributes we list below, please still consider putting in an application. This list is a guide, not a definitive set of requirements, and we are happy to consider talented and enthusiastic candidates who don’t meet the full list.

Experience & Skills

• Proven track record of environmental, health or science journalism
• A demonstrable interest in AMR and the natural sciences
• At least two years’ journalism or other relevant professional experience
• Some experience of investigative or long-form journalism or writing
• A creative and innovative approach to storytelling
• Good contacts in the fields of environment, health and/or agriculture
• An understanding of media law and journalism ethics
• Diligence and attention to detail
• A collaborative team player
• A passion for accountability journalism
• Desirable experience and skills
• Investigative reporting
• Data journalism skills
• Good story ideas

This is a full-time role, with a hybrid working arrangement between home and our London office. However, the Bureau is committed to supporting people who require a more flexible approach to working, and working arrangements are open to discussion.

The Bureau is committed to being an inclusive and diverse employer providing opportunities for all, where people can come to do their best work. We actively encourage applications from people from BAME communities, disadvantaged backgrounds or other groups currently underrepresented in the media industry.

How To Apply

Send a CV and covering letter to environmentjob@tbij.com by 19 September 2022.

Interviews will be in early October.

Please also fill out our equality monitoring form here, which is anonymous, so we can better track who we are reaching. Please mention Journo Resources when you apply, it really helps us out.