Field Notes - December Regional Roundup

Midwest

Events:
- The SEJ Conference for 2026 will take place in Chicago, IL April 15-18, 2026. The deadline for session pitches is December 14th:
  - https://www.sej.org/initiatives/sej2026-call-sessions
- The Chicago Headline Club is hosting a fundraiser screening of All The President’s Men on December 18th at 5:15pm with a one-hour reception afterwards. Proceeds from the tickets ($50) will go to supporting journalists in Chicago.
  - https://headlineclub.org/2025/11/07/all-the-presidents-men-movie-night/
Jobs:
- Detroit PBS is hiring a Great Lakes Now Intern to support GLN’s digital video operation, assisting in the production of vertical videos created from original reporting and existing television segments.
  - https://www.detroitpbs.org/about/get-involved/careers/great-lakes-now-intern/
- WBEZ is hiring for two reporting roles: a local immigration reporting role and a Springfield Bureau reporter.
  - https://job-boards.greenhouse.io/cpm/jobs/4617309006
  - https://job-boards.greenhouse.io/cpm/jobs/4598371006
Articles:
- Illinois Wants Climate Education in Schools. Now Teachers Need to Figure Out How to Make It Happen. By Uprooter Amber X. Chen
  - https://insideclimatenews.org/news/20102025/illinois-climate-education/
- Uprooter Nina Elkadi published this phenomenal investigation last month into Iowa food companies’ water pollution and lack of enforcement of the Clean Water Act.
  - https://sentientmedia.org/iowa-food-companies-violate-water-pollution-permits/
- Uprooter Jena Brooker, co-wrote a piece about wild rice or manoomin and efforts to revive it by Indigenous tribes across Michigan.
  - https://www.bridgedetroit.com/voices-for-manoomin-protecting-michigans-sacred-rice-and-living-tradition/

DMV

Events:
- Environmental Justice in Crisis: Addressing Disparities in Communities
  - https://www.eventbrite.com/e/environmental-justice-in-crisis-addressing-disparities-in-communities-tickets-1963456459124?aff=ebdssbdestsearch
- DC Media Diversity Happy Hour & Mixer 2025
  - https://www.eventbrite.com/e/dc-media-diversity-happy-hour-mixer-2025-tickets-1975366963764?aff=AMEJA
Jobs:
- Patch.com is hiring a Local Editor (Washington, D.C. metro/Northern Virginia)
  - https://www.journalismjobs.com/1692159-local-editor-washington-dc-metronorthern-virginia-patchcom
- DC-based reporter for Semifor’s Africa/Gulf coverage
  - https://job-boards.greenhouse.io/semafor/jobs/4614140005?gh_src=60e6688a5us
- Playbook editor for Politico
  - https://recruiting.ultipro.com/PER1013PCLL/JobBoard/b972ff6a-41b7-4e97-9c71-273c2595c77d/OpportunityDetail?opportunityId=edceb4a1-f3f6-4202-8eb8-9f50331c7a99&source=LinkedIn&utm_source=LINKEDIN
Articles:
- What Global Climate Action Looks Like at COP30 Without the U.S.
  - https://time.com/7332220/global-climate-action-cop30/
- Pregnancy Behind Bars Proves Deadly for Women and Their Babies
  - https://news.bloomberglaw.com/us-law-week/pregnancy-behind-bars-proves-deadly-for-women-and-their-babies

NorCal

Events:
- Climate Town Town Hall, Great Star Theater, Jan 21 from 7:30pm to 9pm PST
  - https://www.eventbrite.com/e/climate-town-town-hall-tickets-1872277756169?aff=ebdssbdestsearch
Jobs:
- The Sacramento Bee is hiring a Local Accountability Team Editor
  - https://www.journalismjobs.com/1692069-local-accountability-team-editor-the-sacramento-bee
Articles:
- A Queer Climate Movement Takes Root Along the Russian River
  - https://www.kqed.org/arts/13984173/shelterwood-collective-soloar-punk-farms-lgbtq-history-russian-river

SoCal

Events:
- Climate Café, Sustainabowl
  - https://www.eventbrite.com/e/climate-cafe-ticket-includes-food-tickets-1017117244057?aff=ebdssbdestsearch
Jobs:
- KPBS is hiring a Public Matters Editor
  - https://www.journalismjobs.com/1692080-kpbs-public-matters-editor-kpbs
Articles:
- After the L.A. Fires, Locals Turn to Native Plants to Help Shield Homes From Flames and Clean Contaminated Soil
  - https://www.smithsonianmag.com/science-nature/in-altadena-residents-look-to-native-plants-to-help-buffer-homes-from-fire-and-clean-up-toxic-contaminants-180987512/

NY/NJ

Events:
- Climate Cafe South Brooklyn: Sunday, December 14 from 11:00 AM – 1:00 PM Marine Park Coffee, 3411 Ave. S, Brooklyn, NY 11234
  - https://luma.com/fugzc36n (Free)
Jobs:
- Senior Editor, Local Reporting Network
- https://www.ire.org/job-center/senior-editor-local-reporting-network-2/
Articles:
- Murdoch Media Wrongly Pinned NJ High Electricity Costs on Clean Energy, Says Watchdog
  - https://insideclimatenews.org/news/29112025/murdoch-media-new-jersey-high-electricity-costs-misinformation/

PNW

Events:
- Dr. Thomas Doherty presents ‘Surviving Climate Anxiety’ Third Place Books Seward Park, Jan 15 from 7pm to 8:30pm PST
  - https://www.eventbrite.com/e/dr-thomas-doherty-presents-surviving-climate-anxiety-tickets-1975892601962?aff=ebdssbdestsearch
Jobs:
- The Astorian is hiring a reporter in Astoria, Oregon.
  - https://www.journalismjobs.com/1692163-reporter-the-astorian
Articles:
- “How I found hope while reporting on a metal fest” by B. Toastie Oaster for High Country News
  - https://www.hcn.org/articles/how-i-found-hope-while-reporting-on-a-metal-fest/

Southeast

Events:
- Southface Institute is hosting its annual Winter Solstice event in Atlanta on Dec. 13th.
Jobs:
- WABE is hiring an Environmental Reporter in Atlanta
Articles:
- ‘Deeply demoralizing’: how Trump derailed coal country’s clean-energy revival
- Georgia hashes out plan to let data centers build their own clean energy