Opinion Writer

The Sacramento Bee seeks a thoughtful, driven journalist to write opinion columns and editorials for our Editorial Board. Who is our next columnist? A thinker and writer with a body of work that shows clarity of thought, a distinctive and engaging voice, and the ability to articulate a position with fact and logic. Excellent reporting skills are imperative. We are looking for provocative, sharply written opinions and editorials that identify issues of importance to our audience. We are looking for a columnist unafraid to hold the powerful accountable but who also can create a sense of place in columns and editorials that explain Sacramento, California, and our nation to readers.

Our top coverage priority at The Bee is the Sacramento region, the state Capitol and California. But this writer should also have an eye on how national policy impacts our city, region, and state.

This position is based in Sacramento. The writer is expected to be a collaborative and positive force on The Bee editorial board. The Bee Editorial Board believes deeply in the power of opinion journalism to hold people accountable, and to speak up for the taxpayer, the business owner, and the vulnerable. We also know that opinion journalism is vital to powering The Bee’s ability to sustain itself in its practice of compelling Pulitzer Prize-winning journalism.

The columnist will report to California Opinion Editor, Marcos Breton.

The anticipated base pay range for this position is between $75,000 and $100,000 annually. Individual base pay may vary within that range depending on job-related knowledge, skills, experience, relevant education, department equity, training, geography, and local wage and hours laws.

What you'll bring:
Our next columnist will...

Write three opinion pieces a week, which will include editorials. These can include short, sharp, rapid-response editorials turned around quickly as news breaks.
Have at least five years of journalism experience
Embrace our digital-first approach.
Have strong editing skills and news judgment
Help develop innovative ways to capture new and underserved audiences, working with the Editorial Board’s growth editor on audience engagement through audio, video and community outreach.
A background in opinion writing is a plus.

Aside from Washington D.C., Sacramento is the most compelling political city in America. It’s a city that dates back to the Gold Rush of California. The Bee is almost as old as the city of Sacramento and remains a seminal institution in the capital of California.

Sacramento is one of the most diverse communities in America. In January of 2023, Sacramento was named by Forbes Magazine as the Best Place to Live in California. It’s a city of trees and locally sourced food grown within a short drive of the central city. It’s a place of gracious neighborhoods, parks, bike trails in close proximity to the Sierra Nevada mountains and the Pacific Ocean. Sacramento is still evolving and growing as Californians flee The Bay Area and Los Angeles for affordable homes and communities.

What we’ll bring:
McClatchy strives to be an employer of choice, and our benefits package is made with this goal in mind. With a focus on well-being and daily life, our package options include healthcare coverage for employees and their families, financial protection from expected and unexpected expenses, multiple no-cost wellness resources and even coverage for four-legged friends.

Our overall benefits package also includes a 401(k) with employer match, competitive paid time off and corporate holidays, and a variety of mental health benefits. For more information on McClatchy's benefit plan, please visit McClatchyLivewell.com.

To apply:

Please submit a cover, resume and five to 10 samples of your best editorial writing to the application link below.