Politico seeks a California AI and automation reporter

Politico is looking for an enterprising, collaborative and competitive reporter to write about artificial intelligence and automation policies within California, while keeping an eye on the evolving national and international debates around AI. The reporter will cover major debates related to deepfakes, AI safety, content moderation, data use, labor concerns and more.

The policies and politics around AI have become a major topic in a state that’s home to both the world’s most successful startups and its most ambitious elected officials, creating battles between high-profile figures like Elon Musk and Gavin Newsom. It can also be a cutthroat beat. The ideal candidate knows how to stay ahead of the competition by building a network of knowledgeable sources in state government and in the private sector to deliver scoops, offer fresh ideas and produce original enterprise stories.

This is a rare opportunity to get in on the ground floor of the new tech reporting team Politico is launching as part of its ambitious expansion in California. Anchored by a daily newsletter, the team of three reporters and an editor will deliver agenda-setting tech coverage geared toward lawmakers, government officials, industry leaders and advocates. The team will also break news, provide policy updates and write homepage enterprise stories for state, national and global audiences.

The California-based journalists will work with other Politico tech reporters in Washington, London and Brussels, connecting the dots across global power centers to tell readers what’s coming next in tech and why it matters.

What You’ll Need:

• A strong interest in and ideally experience covering artificial intelligence as well as political journalism
• A familiarity with California politics and government
• Understanding of tech policy issues or extensive experience developing a policy, political or government beat
• A track record of clean, clear, accurate and authoritative writing
• Smart, innovative ideas and a drive to be first on every story – big and small
• Ability to juggle tight deadlines and a demanding pace
• A collaborative spirit and willingness to work as part of a team
• A rigorous commitment to fair-minded, nonpartisan journalism
• A background working on daily newsletters is a major plus

Please submit a resume, cover letter and 3-5 clips with your application.

The anticipated salary range for candidates who will work in Sacramento, CA is $85,000.00-$115,000.00 per year.