Journo Jobs

The Modesto Bee seeks an equity reporter

March 17, 2023

Posted by Mariam Ahmed

The Modesto Bee seeks an ambitious, enterprising reporter with a passion for equity and inclusion to reach an ever-growing and increasingly diverse audience in Modesto, Calif.

We’re looking for an ambitious journalist with a passion for uncovering how residents can overcome systemic roadblocks — like neighborhood infrastructure, food insecurity, restrictive housing policies and political strength — to help improve their lives. We want to uncover stories and highlight solutions about barriers to economic stability, access to mental health programs and impediments to holding office and other seats of power.

Our newsroom is nimble and collaborative, and the successful candidate will have the opportunity to learn from seasoned journalists as well as hone their skills on video and audio.

Having the skills to build audience loyalty, engagement and growth — by understanding the metrics that drive them — is a must.

And if you have a passion for this topic but don’t meet 100 percent of the requirements, please apply. Don’t be afraid to highlight other skills you bring to the table in a cover letter.

In this role, you will need to:

  • Understand issues at the local, state and national level surrounding race, equity and their effects on communities
  • Cultivate diverse sources who will help you break news and add perspective to coverage
  • Post breaking news stories on our website and social platforms, quickly followed by updates that add more detail and context
  • Manage your time to make room for urgent dailies, revelatory enterprise, watchdog journalism and narrative storytelling
  • Demonstrate speed, competitiveness and SEO savvy
  • Illustrate why issues of equity matter, what’s at stake and why readers should care
  • Identify topics that will engage readers, using social media, reader input and audience analytics
  • Embrace opportunities to collaborate with other reporters and pitch in when needed

The successful candidate should meet many, though not necessarily all, of the following requirements:

  • At least 1 year of full-time reporting experience
  • Fluency in Spanish, both spoken and written
  • Strong writing and reporting skills
  • Unwavering commitment to accurate, ethical journalism
  • Ability to use social media platforms to reach and engage with audiences
  • Fluency in the science of readership and engagement, including an understanding of how to use analytics such as page views, time on site and referral sources to help determine which stories resonate with which audiences
  • Strong interpersonal skills, including empathy and the ability to take and give constructive criticism
  • Demonstrated comfort in a job that will be fast-paced, data-driven, shaped constantly by feedback and experimentation

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

The anticipated base pay range for this position is between $23.08 and $30.08 per hour

For further information click here.

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