The Sacramento Bee is hiring a local business reporter to join our team of journalists who are passionate about breaking news and providing context to readers in our four-county region.
We are seeking a flexible and enthusiastic team player who thrives in the daily news cycle with a mix of stories that offer readers exclusive information about what’s happening in local business. We don’t want a traditional approach to business coverage. We want revelatory, audience-focused stories that tell readers how the business world is changing and provide high-utility insights into the businesses that intersect with their lives.
In addition to delivering the latest business news, this reporter should be able to put that news into context. We want a reporter who is the first to break news about the businesses that are opening and closing — and who can also explain how that news will affect readers. A successful candidate will be adept at balancing watchdog, enterprise and utility stories.
While this role is oriented toward reporting daily news stories, a successful candidate also will work with editors to develop deeper stories that explain what’s shaping business trends in the growing Sacramento region, which is home to nearly 2.5 million people. This journalist will report on what jobs are driving the local economy and how the Sacramento region’s dynamic business profile is evolving.
The successful candidate will be able to dissect the complexities of all these topics and regularly write high-interest stories that hold the powerful accountable and illuminate voices that are too often marginalized.
The position will demand a keen eye for sharp news angles, strong source-building skills and a proven track record for finding scoops and producing high-impact journalism.
What You’ll Bring
- Strong writing skills and excellent news judgment.
- An unwavering commitment to accurate, ethical journalism.
- Ability to acquire and analyze data.
- A commitment to collaboration and working as part of a team.
- A self-starter who will develop a strong network of sources to find and pursue stories that will reach a broad audience.
- An interest in telling stories using a variety of media, and enthusiasm for learning new skills and technologies.
- Ability to use public records and databases to produce enterprise pieces.
- Fluency in the science of readership and engagement, including an understanding of metrics/analytics and an understanding of SEO and other audience optimization tactics.
- An audience-first approach, as well as a commitment to tactics that grow readership.
- Strong interpersonal skills, including empathy and the ability to take and give constructive criticism.
- Ability to work comfortably in a job that will be fast-paced, data-driven, shaped constantly by feedback and experimentation and always evolving.
- Enthusiasm for learning new skills and technologies, such as AI
The Successful Candidate Should Meet The Following Requirements
- At least 3 years of local news experience is preferred.
- A college degree or equivalent work experience in a related field.
- 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).
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 $43.59 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, your resume and four to six examples of your best work.
To apply, go here.
