Sacramento Biz Journal seeks reporters to cover law and cannabis

The Sacramento Business Journal newsroom is looking for a reporter to cover law firms, litigation and the cannabis industry.

We’re looking for someone who can dig out news happening inside Sacramento law firms, and be first to cover lawsuits that are filed by and against Sacramento-based companies. Coverage of cannabis regulation and entrepreneurs will round out this reporter’s job.

Our reporters are expected to provide forward-looking business intelligence to savvy readers who will use it to grow and protect their businesses. Our content gives them a leg up on their competitors, connects them with decision-makers and delineates growth strategies that work from those that don’t.

The ideal candidate will blend traditional journalism skills — source building, sharp news judgment, interviewing prowess and scoop-driven reporting – with online and social media know-how. Reporters in our newsroom don’t just turn in copy. They include videos, slideshows and other multimedia components that advance the story and further engage our audience. They break hard news that sometimes sources don’t want brought to light, but they don’t burn bridges.

Duties
• Report and write short-form and long-form stories for our website and weekly print edition.
• Own the beats, dictating day-to-day coverage and thriving on digging out source-driven exclusives.
• Relentlessly develop sources and manage relationships with high-level executives and other community leaders.
• Scoop competitors on every story of any significance, not only telling them what happened, but why and how.

Skills
• Desire and ability to break news and to identify newsworthy events and sources
• Strong analytical and investigative-interviewing skills
• Ability to work both independently and collaboratively
• Ability to relate comfortably to a wide range of people, in person, on the phone and online
• A clear drive to develop sources and build audience
• Solid understanding of news writing, journalistic ethics and story structure.
• Ability to leverage relationships with sources to deliver content that differentiates the organization from competitors.
• Multimedia skills, including video, photos, broadcast, on-camera, helpful.

Experience
• 1-3 years reporting in a newsroom
• Track record in the news business of building, maintaining and engaging an audience in print and online.
• Social media mavens held in high regard.

Education
Bachelor’s degree or equivalent work experience.

To apply, email a cover letter, resume and clips that best show enterprising and scoops reporting to Editor Adam Steinhauer, asteinhauer@bizjournals.com