Reporter

MediaNews Group • Walnut Creek, CA

5d • Hybrid

About The Position

The East Bay Times is seeking an energetic and enterprising reporter to cover Oakland, a city facing significant challenges and transformations. The role involves investigating critical issues such as financial stability, homelessness, public safety, downtown revitalization, and the development of the Coliseum site. The reporter will focus on the human stories behind these debates, exploring how Oakland functions and uncovering unique stories for residents. This position is ideal for an early-career reporter looking to take on a prominent city beat with the support of experienced editors and a collaborative newsroom. The role requires breaking news coverage, in-depth reporting on major public decisions, developing sources, and producing original enterprise and accountability journalism.

Requirements

• Proficiency in using online tools to communicate with colleagues in real time across our three newsroom offices and the field
• Strong news judgment and a competitive drive
• A track record of producing reporting that goes beyond surface-level coverage
• Experience working sources, records, and data to uncover original stories
• The ability to manage multiple stories under deadline pressure
• Comfort reporting and publishing across digital platforms and social media
• At least five years of professional journalism experience, ideally including breaking news and government, housing, business, or accountability coverage
• 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

• Additional language skills (a plus)

Responsibilities

• Break news and own major developments across Oakland
• Go beyond daily updates to deliver reporting that explains the impact and stakes
• Build deep sourcing across government, neighborhoods, businesses, advocacy groups, and community organizations
• Pursue accountability reporting using documents, data, and public records
• Collaborate across the newsroom on high-impact coverage
• Report and publish across platforms in real time
• Write clean, engaging stories with clarity and authority
• Spend approximately 60% of your time in the field reporting from communities across Oakland and Alameda County
• Focus the remaining 40% of your time writing, researching, planning, and collaborating with colleagues in the Oakland office
• Primarily work with a laptop in the field and office, though you may sometimes work from a cell phone when reporting breaking news from the field
• Potentially be assigned stories outside of your primary coverage area
• Travel to Concord and San Jose for staff meetings on occasion

Benefits

• medical
• dental
• life and disability insurance
• 401k
• paid time off
• select paid holidays
• cell phone stipend

What This Job Offers

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