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 state policy and politics reporter for CalMatters and Voice of San Diego.

Newsrooms all over California once covered 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 state policy and politics on behalf of people in San Diego, Imperial, Riverside and San Bernardino counties. You don’t have to live in Sacramento, as long as you can travel to the state Capitol at key times. 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 Voice of San Diego, 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 state politics and its connections and negotiations with local governments. 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
Based in San Diego, Inland Empire or Sacramento

These would be a plus:

Knowledge of key issues in 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

Compensation and Benefits

The salary range for this position is $70,000 to $90,000 per year; higher compensation may be available for someone with advanced skills and/or experience.

As the Sacramento reporter, you will be a member of the CalMatters staff for HR purposes and a team member of both CalMatters and Voice of San Diego for reporting purposes. CalMatters and Voice of San Diego are jointly funding and managing this position.

CalMatters offers a complete benefits package with medical, dental and vision insurance – we cover 90% of the cost for employees and 70% for dependents – from a range of HMO and PPO providers. We’ll match contributions of up to 4% of your salary to our 401(k) program, provide life insurance at no cost, and give you an allowance for personal use of your cell phone and a budget for professional development opportunities like classes and conferences.

CalMatters and Voice of San Diego share a commitment to a new model for sustainable, intelligent, nonprofit journalism. We’re committed to reflecting the people of the state we serve and especially encourage members of underrepresented communities to apply. If you’re interested, please provide a resume, work samples and a cover letter that outlines how you would approach the job.