California Tech Politics & Policy Editor

Politico • Sacramento, CA

3d • Onsite

About The Position

POLITICO is seeking an ambitious and experienced editor to lead coverage of California’s technology industry, politics, and policy. This role will be instrumental in shaping the content of California Decoded, a daily newsletter focused on the state's technology sector, and will oversee a team of reporters covering Silicon Valley influence, California technology policy, and emerging technologies like automation and self-driving cars. The editor will set the editorial vision, coordinate coverage, and connect California's tech stories to national and global discussions. This is a high-impact position at the intersection of California politics, technology, and global power, requiring a journalist who understands the intricate relationship between the state's government and the tech industry. The ideal candidate will be adept at editing breaking news, developing enterprise stories, mentoring reporters, and writing authoritatively for a sophisticated audience.

Requirements

• Significant experience as an editor, reporter, or journalist covering technology, politics, policy, or government, with a strong understanding of California.
• A sophisticated understanding of the technology industry and its relationship with Sacramento and Washington.
• A demonstrated ability to edit ambitious journalism and help reporters turn strong reporting into distinctive, high-impact stories.
• A track record of breaking news, developing enterprise, and producing journalism that explains not just what happened, but why it matters.
• Excellent news judgment and the ability to move quickly in a demanding daily news environment.
• Exceptional writing and editing skills, with a clean, clear, and authoritative voice.
• An ability to see connections across beats and develop stories with state, national, and international significance.
• A collaborative management style and a commitment to developing reporters and working across teams.
• A rigorous commitment to fair-minded, accurate, and nonpartisan journalism.

Nice To Haves

• Experience editing or producing a daily newsletter is strongly preferred.
• Experience in California technology policy, campaign finance, lobbying, artificial intelligence, automation, autonomous vehicles, or other emerging technologies is a major plus.

Responsibilities

• Lead the editorial vision and daily production of California Decoded, including setting the newsletter agenda, editing copy, and developing distinctive enterprise and analysis.
• Edit reporters covering Silicon Valley politics and influence, California technology policy, lobbying and political fundraising, and emerging technology including automation and autonomous vehicles.
• Help build a cohesive California tech reporting operation, setting priorities and coordinating coverage across beats.
• Shape breaking-news coverage and enterprise stories that go beyond basic industry reporting to explain who has power, who is lobbying for what, and what comes next.
• Identify stories with implications beyond California and work with POLITICO’s global tech team to connect developments in Sacramento and Silicon Valley to Washington, London, Brussels, and other power centers.
• Work closely with reporters to develop sources, sharpen story ideas, strengthen reporting, and produce clean, authoritative journalism.
• Edit high-impact stories for POLITICO’s homepage, newsletters, and subscriber audience.
• Help recruit, develop, and mentor journalists as the California tech team grows.
• Collaborate with editors and reporters across California, Washington, and POLITICO’s global newsrooms.
• Maintain POLITICO’s rigorous standards for accuracy, fairness, independence, and nonpartisan journalism.

Benefits

• Compensation: $120,000-$140,000 Annual Base. The final salary offered will be based on factors including relevant experience, skills, and qualifications.
• POLITICO offers benefits and details on what it's like to work for them.

What This Job Offers

• Job Type: Full-time
• Career Level: Manager
• Education Level: No Education Listed