California State Worker Reporter

Date Posted	April 10, 2024
Industry	Newspapers
Specialty	Other
Job Status	Full-time

Description:

The Sacramento Bee seeks a competitive, audience-focused reporter for a marquee beat in California’s capital. We’re looking for someone to dig into state government through the lens of state workers. This beat provides a virtuous cycle of news, with smart stories on unions and labor contracts leading to scoops and investigations on California state government. We’ll give you tools on Day One to make your mark on this beat, including engaging social media accounts, databases and contacts who know we’re the trusted source of news for this audience.

Sacramento is a government town. Tens of thousands of people in our community earn their livelihoods as public employees. This assignment speaks to their day-to-day concerns while opening doors for hard-hitting investigations. In recent years, our state worker reporters have broken stories that prompted the Legislature to gut a tax-collecting agency, explored the takeover of a major public employee union by a rogue leader and exposed a toxic culture of hazing at a state prison that preceded a correctional officer’s suicide.

At The Bee, we put a premium on breaking stories first as well as investing in hard-nosed, accountability journalism that our audience can’t get anywhere else. Our journalism focuses on our local communities, where we strive to spotlight problems, highlight solutions and truly make a difference – all the reasons you got into journalism. We are part of McClatchy, a digitally driven company focused on innovation, with newsrooms in 30 communities in the United States. 

Our community is changing, with an influx of new residents, unique restaurants and many opportunities for outdoor recreation. We’re a two-hour drive to the beach when you head west and a two-hour drive to Sierra Nevada summits around Lake Tahoe when you travel east.

In our state worker reporter, we’re seeking an assertive journalist with excellent news judgment and a sense of urgency. We’re looking for someone who’s comfortable juggling daily stories while developing enterprise. We know our state worker audience has a big appetite for news about California state government, and our state worker reporter plays an essential role on our Capitol Bureau team.

What you'll bring:

• Develop and maintain sources in California state government, public employee unions and lobbyists to break news.
• Become familiar with topics that are essential to the livelihoods of California public employees, such as labor contracts, return-to-office mandates and the state’s public pension funds.
• Use public records and databases to produce investigative pieces.
  Think about the audience first and always, with a commitment to tactics that grow readership.
• Demonstrate speed, competitiveness and SEO savvy through aggregating and storytelling tools.
• Work well in a team environment.
• Proficiency in utilizing AI tools and technologies is highly desired

The successful candidate should meet many, though not necessarily all, of the following requirements:

• At least 2 years of local news experience.
• Strong collaborative instincts and a love of teamwork.
• Must have reliable transportation. Must have valid driver’s license and vehicle insurance (at least minimum insurance required for the state in which the employee works).
• Unwavering commitment to accurate, ethical journalism.
• Comfort with a job that will be demanding, fast-paced and constantly evolving.

What we’ll bring: As a journalist at McClatchy, you will join a supportive, flexible, collaborative team. McClatchy strives to be an employer of choice, and our benefits package is made with this goal in mind. With a focus on health, well-being, wealth 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 benefit package also includes a 401(k) with employer match, competitive paid time off and corporate holidays, and a variety of mental health benefits. With an excellent support team and with focus on your well-being as a top corporate strategy, McClatchy provides benefits to support you and your family in achieving your health and wellness goals.

The anticipated base pay range for this position is between $30.77 and $40.00 per hour, up to 37.5 hours per week. Individual base pay may vary within that range depending on job-related knowledge, skills, experience and relevant education. 

To apply, include a persuasive cover letter and your resume.

About McClatchy

Our impact is growing every day. 30 growing markets. Over 65 million monthly readers. 56 Pulitzer Prizes. A strong portfolio of dynamic partnerships and smart investments. Our award-winning journalism, digital reach, and commitment to innovative growth have never been stronger. As a member of the McClatchy family, you are part of a flexible, empowering, and exciting culture dedicated to creating a work/life balance and consistent opportunities for growth — a place where you have a voice and the ability to impact our future. It’s an exciting time to be here. Our company is experiencing the most transformative period in its history. We’re growing rapidly in the digital space and delivering award-winning journalism in innovative ways.