Informed California Foundation seeks an investigative reporter, Open Vallejo

Open Vallejo seeks a tenacious and resourceful Investigative Reporter to join our team. We are a high-impact, award-winning nonprofit newsroom looking for a reporter ready to uncover hidden truths and hold those in power to account. As a member of our newsroom, you will be part of a team committed to producing engaging narrative stories that benefit the community.

As an Investigative Reporter at Open Vallejo:

• You will immerse yourself in the pursuit of original, thorough, accurate, and compelling news reporting that serves the public interest.
• You will propose story ideas; gather, analyze, and synthesize information from various sources, including court records and government data; and conduct interviews that add depth to your stories.
• Your work will encompass researching, writing, fact-checking, and editing news reporting and analysis; you will ensure that work is accurate, complete, and fair.
• As a representative of Vallejo’s only nonprofit investigative and explanatory newsroom, you will uphold the highest standards of the profession, demonstrating a steadfast commitment to ethics, professionalism, and integrity. We employ an Agile methodology, which is organized around principles of collaboration, flexibility, empowerment, and trust.
• The successful candidate will be comfortable balancing a mix of breaking, medium-term, and long-form accountability reporting, as well as editing, all in a highly collaborative environment.
• This position also involves speaking at public and private events, and to the news media, in furtherance of Open Vallejo’s mission.

This is a remote-first, hybrid position, with frequent in-person reporting in Vallejo and the surrounding area. Occasional travel within and beyond California may also be required.

Who we’re looking for:

If you are an investigative reporter looking for mission-driven, creative work with room to grow with our organization, this job is for you.

• Our ideal candidate is a problem solver who wants to be part of a fun, highly effective, and supportive team
• An enterprising individual with at least one year of experience as a journalist or in an equivalent role.
• We are looking for someone who wants to work in a creative environment committed to teamwork, growth, and public service.
• You possess an inquisitive, analytical, and collegial working style, as well as strong people skills and a flexible approach to job demands.
• Your ability to consistently deliver excellent writing on deadline and maintain clear verbal and written communication skills is essential.
• We value candidates who are willing to develop subject-matter expertise and who can demonstrate resilience and communicativeness around sometimes challenging topics and materials.

Open Vallejo covers sensitive topics that frequently bring us into contact with at-risk sources; an ability to maintain confidentiality is essential, as is a willingness to adopt a trauma-informed approach to your reporting. We take seriously our obligation to minimize harm.

A bachelor’s or advanced degree is preferred but not required.

Required competencies:

• A demonstrated ability to produce accurate, compelling, high-impact public interest reporting.
• A commitment to professional development, collegiality, and community empowerment.
• Personal integrity and an adherence to journalism ethics.

Preferred skills:

• Photography, audio, video, design, illustration, data, or multimedia storytelling skills are preferred but not required.
• A master’s degree in a related field is preferred but not required.

This full-time position offers a salary range of $70,000 – $85,000 annually, commensurate with experience.

Interested candidates should submit their resume, three references, and four examples of their best original work to jobs@openvallejo.org by November 15, 2023.

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