San Diego and Inland Empire Issues Reporter

If you’re a journalist who thrives on reporting about complex policy issues in ways that make them accessible to the people they affect most, you might be the next Sacramento reporter for CalMatters and Voice of San Diego.

Newsrooms all over California once had Sacramento bureaus, covering statewide policy issues through a local lens. They interviewed and followed legislators from their regions. They reported about how policies created in the State Capitol affected their readers back home. It was local journalism at a statewide level.

And now we’re bringing it back.

In this new role, you’ll cover Sacramento on behalf of people in San Diego, Imperial, Riverside and San Bernardino counties. You’ll create two weekly newsletters – one for San Diego and Imperial counties and one for the Inland Empire of San Bernardino and Riverside counties – and write occasional stand-alone stories for each region. You’ll work with editors at media organizations in those regions, starting with the , the nonprofit news organization that first brought us this idea and is helping to make it possible.

This position is for an experienced reporter with excellent writing skills who can navigate the politics of the State Capitol and its connections and negotiations with local governments. You’ll be based in Sacramento, with regular visits to the regions you’re representing, and you’ll collaborate with other CalMatters reporters on enterprise stories and our partner newsrooms in each region.

Responsibilities include:
Report and write newsletters, short timely stories and in-depth enterprise pieces.
Follow state and local policy discussions, related bills in the Legislature and advocacy group agendas.
Follow research from universities, think tanks and advocacy organizations about the issues you’re covering and identify appropriate sources and useful datasets.
Participate in public events and appearances on radio, television and social media.
Contribute to the story production process including working with partner newsrooms, creating data graphics and using SEO best practices.

Required:
At least three years of professional journalism experience
Experience covering, or significant familiarity with, the ways state government works

These would be a plus:
Familiarity with the San Diego County, Imperial County and/or the Inland Empire
The ability to report and write in both Spanish and English
Experience with data analysis and data journalism
Familiarity with California policy and politics