Reporter

Want to join one of the most decorated small newsrooms in California? The Sonoma Index-Tribune is seeking a full-time digital journalist to help cover the fascinating people, stories and issues of the Sonoma Valley. In addition to reporting and writing general news assignments, this role will help lead our digital initiatives, including a dynamic web presence, social media management and audience development campaigns. Ideal candidates will live or work in the Valley already, or have a sense of this beautifully unique region of Wine Country.

Sonoma Media Investments, an independent, privately owned multimedia company based in Sonoma County, owns the Sonoma Index-Tribune, an award-winning, twice-weekly newspaper committed to excellence in community journalism. Index-Tribune readers online and in print enjoy extensive coverage of the people, government, trends and breaking news in Sonoma Valley.

The latest addition to this creative and aggressive news-gathering team will produce content (stories, photos and videos) for our active website while also crafting in-depth stories on general trends/topics for our print editions.

Formed by local investors who recognize the value of local journalism, SMI has multiple publications that reach seven out of 10 North Bay adults – more than 376,000 in total. The Index-Tribune and its website, sonomanews.com, serve a growing and engaged audience eager to stay strongly connected to their community.

Essential job functions include, but are not limited to the following:

Research and write 3-4 full length news stories weekly, plus breaking news stories as needed, on a wide range of topics from features to public meetings.
Manage the 10-page weekly Valley Life section, which includes event coverage, real estate news and more, and requires coordinating with several freelancer writers.
Track local news trends, suggest news stories, photos and videos that appeal to a wide variety of print readers and website users.
Post stories to sonomanews.com and social media daily. Help keep site updated throughout each work day with fresh content, including breaking news, links to photo galleries, and content from affiliated publications. Work with the Sonoma Media Investments digital team to stay on the cutting edge of industry trends.
Manage social media channels, including Facebook, Instagram and Twitter.
Attend meetings and community events as necessary, obtain reports and gather data, conduct interviews and collect information.
Create digital-only content like Facebook Live and Instagram Stories while in the field.

Qualifications

Bachelor’s degree in journalism or related field.
Strong knowledge and familiarity with Sonoma Valley area and community a plus.
Spanish language skills a plus.
Valid California driver’s license, proof of insurance and reliable transportation.

Any job offer is conditional upon satisfactorily completing a pre-employment background investigation.

To be considered, please apply on our career page and include a resume, cover letter and 2-3 writing samples.

The pay scale is $22.53 - 28.10 per hour, depending on years of experience, as outlined in the Pacific Media Workers Guild Contract.