News Reporter & Social Video Producer, Santa Barbara News-Press

Report the news that matters

You care about the facts. You’re an ambitious and creative journalist who knows how to make calls, knock on doors, interview face-to-face, read documents, and craft a clear, compelling story on deadline.

At the Santa Barbara News-Press, you’ll be part of a growing start-up newsroom rebuilding local journalism with urgency, credibility and relevance. You’ll cover a wide range of stories across Santa Barbara County contributing original reporting that helps readers understand what’s happening — and why it matters.

This is a general assignment role for a journalist who wants to report frequently, improve quickly and take on increasing responsibility over time. You’ll pursue enterprise reporting, narrative features and investigations.

We are especially interested in candidates who want to innovate in how stories reach audiences, particularly on social platforms. This may include contributing to short-form vertical video, appearing occasionally on camera to explain or contextualize stories, and collaborating with editors on how reporting can be adapted for social-first formats.
 

The pay scale for this position ranges from $24.51 - $28.84/hour.

Location: Santa Barbara, CA area

You will be a core member of a growing team working to transform the 157-year-old Santa Barbara News-Press into an innovative digital-first local news outlet. This role exists to provide strong foundational reporting on the most important news of Santa Barbara County and the Central Coast via timely, fact-based storytelling that resonates with our local community. You are here to build the news and information infrastructure for a people and a place.

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What you’ll do

As a general assignment reporter, your coverage will vary day to day and week to week. You’ll work closely with editors to identify strong story ideas, pursue original reporting and file stories efficiently across topics of:

• Local government and public agencies

• Courts, immigration and public safety

• Education, housing, environment and business

• Community profiles, breaking news and developing stories

Report and write

• Develop and report original stories through on-the-ground reporting

• Write clear, accurate, well-structured stories on deadline

• File breaking news quickly while maintaining accuracy and fairness

• Follow stories beyond the news cycle for in-depth ‘day two’ coverage

• Develop long-form, investigative and explanatory features

Contribute to social & visual storytelling

• Create short-form vertical video for social-first stories when appropriate

• Appear on camera to help explain or contextualize reporting

• Work with editors and colleagues to adapt reporting for different platforms

Maintain high journalistic standards

• Uphold strong standards of accuracy, sourcing, ethics and fairness

• Attribute information clearly and responsibly

• Exercise good news judgment and editorial discretion

Collaborate in a modern newsroom

• Work closely with editors, fellow reporters and visual journalists

• Participate in story meetings and contribute ideas

• Be open to feedback and committed to continuous improvement

Relevant qualifications  

• A minimum of three years of professional reporting experience (or equivalent)

• Strong writing and reporting skills

It’s a plus if you have

• Comfort with video or audio reporting

• Familiarity with digital publishing workflows

• Spanish language speaking and writing skills

• Preference for someone living in or near Santa Barbara

Benefits  

• Comprehensive benefits package, including medical, dental and vision insurance

• 401(k) plan with matching employer contribution

• 22 days of vacation time

• 11 holidays, including your birthday

• Parental leave

• Significant tuition reductions

• $30 bi-weekly cell phone reimbursement

How to Apply

Please include:

• A written resume

• Clips or links to recent written reporting (ideally three-five pieces that together showcase your editorial range across different types of articles, ex. daily news, longform, profile, analysis, etc.

• Clips or links to any video or audio news stories you have produced

• A note on your journalistic background, professional aspirations in this role, interest in covering the greater Santa Barbara community and why the News-Press would be a good fit (max. 1 written page)

Please assemble these materials into a single document and upload them in a PDF format.