Montana Free Press/Mountain Journal/High Country News Reporter

Date Posted	January 21, 2026
Industry	Newspapers
Specialty	Not Specified
Job Status	Not Specified
Salary	Not Specified

Description:

Founded in 2016 by award-winning journalist John Adams, MTFP is a nonprofit, nonpartisan, public-powered news organization dedicated to serving the information needs of all Montanans. In November 2024, Mountain Journal (est. 2017) became part of MTFP, uniting around a mission of deeply reported journalism on water, wildlife, energy, climate and land use in the Greater Yellowstone Ecosystem. This reporter will also be contributing to the award-winning national magazine High Country News, as part of a new partnership with HCN and Mountain Journal.

OPEN POSITION 

Location: Montana/Greater Yellowstone Ecosystem preferred, but will consider candidates located in Idaho, or Wyoming parts of GYE.  Will require occasional travel to Montana Free Press headquarters in Helena.  

Beat: The reporter will cover wildlife, public lands, water and wildfire, and their impacts on communities and landscapes in the Greater Yellowstone Ecosystem in collaboration with High Country News

Position:

The environmental reporter covers the complex intersections of land, water, wildlife, public lands, law, energy development, business practices, and rural life across the Greater Yellowstone Ecosystem, which encompasses parts of Montana, Wyoming and Idaho. They may also report on environmental matters in other parts of Montana.

Through the High Country News Western Environmental Reporting Collaborative, the reporter produces in-depth, contextual stories on how public lands are managed, governed and contested, with a particular focus on state and national parks, national forests, BLM lands, and other publicly owned landscapes. They will be prepared to investigate and explain how public-lands management decisions, environmental law, energy development, greenwashing, and business practices affect communities, wildlife and landscapes. As part of an innovative environmental reporting team at Montana Free Press, Mountain Journal, and High Country News, the reporter examines how power, policy and money shape conservation outcomes, recreation, access, resource extraction and stewardship. They split time between Mountain Journal and High Country News, pursuing local reporting while collaborating on regional projects that deepen understanding of public-lands management, environmental law, energy policy and accountability across the West.

Experience with visual journalism, document-based reporting, newsletter writing and social media reporting is valued, though not essential. Along with writing articles, the reporter will contribute to a new environmental newsletter produced by Montana Free Press and Mountain Journal and participate in social media and visual reporting. The successful candidate will be able to develop a wide range of sources — including state and national park staff, land management agencies, attorneys, regulators, industry representatives, and conservation groups.

Salary and Benefits: Entry level: Reporter 1 Payscale: $46,000 - $52,000
6+ years: Reporter 3 Payscale: $58,000 - $65,000

MTFP has employer-sponsored medical, dental, vision, and life insurance plans. We pay 80% of employee premiums and 50% of dependent premiums. You are eligible the first of the month following your official start date, and your portion of medical premiums will not be withheld until then. We also offer unlimited PTO after 60 days, 12 holidays plus week off over the 4th of July and Christmas. Other benefits include up to $50 monthly phone reimbursement and provided equipment (laptop, etc.).

Moving Stipend: We offer moving stipends of up to $ 1,000.

Skills: Writing, Social Media Reporting, Multimedia Reporting 

This position is sponsored in part by Report for America, a national service program that places early career and experienced journalists in local newsrooms to report on under-covered issues and communities. Report for America is an initiative of Report Local, a nonprofit journalism organization dedicated to strengthening local journalism across the U.S. and around the world.

Apply

https://www.reportforamerica.org/newsrooms/montana-free-mountain-journal/