Reporter

MediaNews Group•Santa Rosa, CA

23h•$28 - $33

About The Position

The Press Democrat is seeking a reporter to cover public education in Sonoma and Napa counties. This role will focus on primary and secondary schools, including K-12 districts, community colleges, and a university. The job involves a mix of daily assignments, features, long-form narrative stories, and watchdog investigations. Coverage will balance student academic outcomes and school performance with a focus on youth wellness and the impact of wildfires. A key aspect of this role is reporting on the fiscal health of districts and college systems, addressing deficits, soaring costs, and drying up funding. The watchdog element includes tracking public spending, explaining ballot tax proposals, and analyzing budget discussions about teacher pay. The position also emphasizes solutions-oriented journalism and engaging readers in new ways.

Requirements

Proven ability to translate intricate institutional topics into clear, compelling, and easily digestible stories for everyday readers.
Comfort analyzing public budgets and the confidence to pose challenging questions to elected officials and bureaucrats.
Capacity to manage a steady volume of daily news while staying motivated to uncover and pursue long-form, investigative watchdog opportunities.
Precise and exacting journalism standards, alongside comfort using social media, capturing video, and handling occasional photo assignments.
At least 2 - 3 years of daily newspaper reporting experience, with a strong preference for previous education beat coverage.
A Bachelor’s degree is required.
Must be willing to submit and pass the necessary required checks.
Must possess and maintain a valid driver’s license and have reliable transportation.
Must be available for shift work. May be required to work various hours for coverage outside of normal business hours.

Nice To Haves

Fluency in a second language - especially Spanish - is highly valued and of great use on this beat.
A university or post-graduate degree in journalism is welcomed.

Responsibilities

Lead comprehensive coverage of public education in the region, focusing primarily on the largest K-12 districts in Sonoma and Napa counties.
Deliver a strong mix of daily spot news, enterprise assignments, and deep-dive projects that showcase investigative and narrative depth.
Drive feature and watchdog reporting for the area's three higher-education institutions: Santa Rosa Junior College, Napa Valley College, and Sonoma State University.
Serve as the chief envoy in forging the vital relationships needed to secure the school and classroom access our journalists depend on.
Navigate the complex landscape of California education policy, politics, and funding, translating these intricate topics into clear, easily digestible stories for everyday readers.
Scrutinize public budgets and confidently pose challenging questions to elected officials and bureaucrats.