Fresno City/County Government Reporter at McClatchy in Fresno, California

Job Description:

The Fresno Bee is seeking a driven and insightful journalist reporter to cover local government and its impact on the community at a pivotal time for Fresno. This is a remarkable opportunity for a nimble journalist who excels in accountability reporting to link policy decisions to their real-world effects on Fresno residents.

This reporter will have the chance to do vital watchdog reporting in one of California's most dynamic cities. You’ll work in a collaborative newsroom committed to innovation and public service journalism, and you’ll write for a large and engaged audience passionate about local news.

Our award-winning newsroom has a reputation for breaking news and producing exclusive accountability journalism that focuses on the city of Fresno and Fresno County in California’s Central Valley. Our coverage reflects daily life, spotlighting issues people care about, finding solutions and making a difference, all the reasons you chose to be a journalist.

We are looking for a government reporter who can:

• Cover a two-term mayor and city council addressing the city’s significant budget shortfall and urgent challenges such as homelessness.
• Produce investigative journalism that holds local officials accountable and clarifies complex issues for readers.
• Build a robust network of sources both inside and outside of government.
• Consistently break news on this competitive beat.
• Report on the challenges and opportunities city officials face as Fresno continues to grow and evolve.
• Look beyond institutions to tell stories about diverse communities and the ways local government impacts daily life.

Journalism is a team sport in our newsroom. The ability to collaborate and communicate well with colleagues on a daily basis is essential. 

Fresno County, our core coverage area, is a great place to live and work. You get the benefits of small-town living in California’s fifth-largest city with easy access to Yosemite and the ability to get to the San Francisco Bay Area as well as Los Angeles.

We expect the successful candidate to meet most of these qualifications, job requirements and responsibilities: 

• A minimum of three years of reporting experience
• Strong reporting and writing skills, excellent news judgment and a demonstrated ability to “see the story” that is going to matter to readers  
• Commitment to accuracy, ethics and diversity
• The ability to produce a healthy mix of daily and longer-term enterprise
• The ability to prioritize in a fast-paced, data-driven work environment
• A commitment to regularly include readers in your reporting, from identifying story ideas to developing a diverse network of sources
• Knowledge and demonstrated use of digital tools to help tell stories
• The ability to use social media as a tool for engagement, story idea prospecting and pushing stories out to readers
• A proven track record of developing sources and breaking exclusive stories
• Experience covering local government and politics
• The ability to analyze data, budgets and public records
• A talent for explaining complex topics in clear, engaging ways
• Fluency in digital storytelling and social media
• A collaborative spirit and strong interpersonal skills
• Willingness to work occasional weekends and nights, jump in on breaking news and perform other duties as needed in our newsroom
• College degree in a related field or equivalent experience
• Must have reliable transportation and a valid driver’s license

The anticipated base pay range for this position is between $31.25 to $36.06 at 40 hours a week. 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 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 includes 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. For more information on McClatchy's benefit plan, please visit McClatchyLivewell.com.

To apply, include a cover letter, your resume and four to six examples of your best work.

About the McClatchy Media Company

The McClatchy Media Company features a portfolio of vibrant and trusted news, lifestyle, entertainment brands and a robust retail distribution network. Our iconic local news brands such as the Miami Herald, The Kansas City Star and The Sacramento Bee, have collectively earned a total of 57 Pulitzer prizes and are complemented by popular lifestyle and entertainment brands such as Us Weekly and Woman’s World. Together, our brands reach more than 100 million unique visitors a month,The McClatchy Retail Network, our distribution and logistics arm, offers delivery to more than 56,000 retail locations weekly.

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Salary/Compensation: $31.25 - $38.06 per hour

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