Reporter, California Politics & Government Desk

Position Summary:

As the country grapples with structural and systemic change, KQED is reexamining how it covers political and policy news. This reporter will help lead the organization as it reinvents how it covers the functioning of democracy and political systems.

This reporter will be part of the internal cultural change at KQED, to rethink how we report for multiple platforms and audiences. This position will write and report stories for KQED.org, but also capture audio to be used on the air and on the web. If there's news, breaking or otherwise, this reporter will often prioritize online and digital coverage. In a pinch, this person will assist with editing. 

In terms of beat, this reporter will consistently highlight under-served communities and infuse their reporting with an understanding of power systems. They would pitch early and often, and focus on delivering their reporting via platforms such as email newsletters, podcasts, digital networks and live in-person events.

The successful candidate will be required to join The Screen Actors Guild - American Federation of Television and Radio Artists (SAG-AFTRA). 

Salary range information will be provided to applicants who are contacted for an interview

One of our core values at KQED is that we are better together, and that we commit to learning, growth, and holding ourselves accountable. We value the contributions of marginalized people in society — including Black, Indigenous, and all people of color,  people with disabilities, and LGBTQIA+ people — and we believe that these communities must be centered in the work we do, and we strongly encourage members of these communities to apply.

This role will work hybrid between working in KQED's newly renovated headquarters and working remotely. KQED requires employees to be fully vaccinated against COVID-19.

Essential Functions: 

1. Researches, writes and reports stories for the web, mobile, radio, podcast and social media platforms.
2. Produces and delivers a variety of editorial content – audio, scripts, text stories, blog posts, photographs, video, databases and other content -- for radio broadcast, web, mobile and social media platforms.
3. Conducts live on-air and live-to-tape news source interviews and reporter debriefings
4. Conducts outreach to prospective local commentators and two-way interview subjects for KQED News productions. 
5. Writes text stories and takes photographs and publishes directly to the digital content management system.

Credentials/Education Required  B.A. degree in journalism, broadcast, mass communications or comparable media curriculum preferred.

Knowledge/Experience Required:

1. Six years minimum experience as broadcast and/or online journalist, including news reporting, editing and production. Eight years of journalism experience a plus.
2. Excellent reporting skills.
3. Demonstrated ability to cover complex governance and political issues in fair, accessible presentations.
4. Excellent news writing and editing skills.
5. Excellent news judgment. 
6. Thorough knowledge of journalistic principles, ethics and standards.
7. Strong knowledge of sound editing and radio production techniques.
8. High proficiency of on-air voicing skills.
9. Strong knowledge of web, mobile, social media editing and publishing.
10. Knowledge of California diverse political and cultural communities, institutions and issues.
11. Ability to research and analyze news using a variety of technologies, methods and sources.
12. Demonstrated ability to cover range of significant public affairs issues and subjects such government and politics, the economy, education, health, immigration, legal affairs and the environment.  
13. Ability to interview and communicate with a variety of individuals.
14. Ability to research and communicate through variety of mobile and digital tools.
15. Excellent organizational skills to coordinate bureau logistics and develop and deliver a regional coverage strategy and editorial agenda.
16. Ability to work under deadline pressures.

Knowledge/Experience Desired

1. Working knowledge of a range of significant California public affairs issues and subjects such as government and politics, the economy, education, health, immigration, legal affairs and the environment preferred.  
2. Experience working in a demographically diverse news environment strongly desired. 
3. Experience in blogging or other multimedia online news writing and content presentation management is a plus.
4. Working fluency in Spanish is a plus.
5. Experience in video production, multimedia production or database production are pluses.