California Diversions Reporter

McClatchy Media is seeking an engaging and creative journalist to help our readers in Sacramento, the rest of the Central Valley and San Luis Obispo County get the most out of living in California, whether that’s telling them about things to do in their backyards or places to travel within the Golden State.

There will be occasional, brief trips to certain destinations, but this is not an aspirational travel guide position. We’re looking for a journalist whose sole focus is on high utility — providing readers with credible, organized, personalized information on “where to go” and “how to go,” plus “why to go” and, of course, the “cost of going.”

Just about everything great in the world is included in California, including National Parks, the Pacific coastline, Wine Country, Lake Tahoe and Disneyland. There also are first-class theater, music, art and cultural happenings, and a litany of world-class museums.

Sacramento is within a two-hour drive (or flight) of just about all of it, so this position will be based at The Sacramento Bee. Digital storytelling, including personality-driven video, on happenings in the Sacramento region and Northern California will be an essential part of the job. You’ll also partner with journalists in our other newsrooms to bring a statewide perspective to destinations that have been big draws in their regions — but which we haven’t approached from a statewide mindset.

Building a loyal audience around “where to go and what to do” requires publishing consistently and often. So strong candidates will bring fresh ideas on producing a high volume of stories, including ideas for new tools/story formats we might be able to build to help readers better navigate the variety of things to do in their backyards … and statewide.

McClatchy Media’s journalists also are expected to take advantage of opportunities to ethically harness and leverage artificial intelligence and other automation to enhance and elevate their work — and to find efficiencies that free them to focus on high-quality, deeply reported journalism.

What you’ll do …

• Assess which destinations/events apply to which audiences — and write stories to reach those audiences, e.g. “Sacramento theater goers,” “museum and cultural aficionados,” “families seeking weekend getaways,” “couples planning Tahoe ski weekends,” “hikers, runners and cyclists seeking new adventures,” etc.
• Produce different versions of stories for different audiences on the same subject, e.g. “Wine Country romance weekend” vs. “How to Wine Country with your kids” vs. “Wine Country on a budget.”
• Focus not only on the “where to go” and “how to go,” but also on “the why to go” and, of course, the “cost of going” — and experiment with different ways of presenting that information.
• Produce journalism that answers the questions our loyal readers submit through McClatchy Media’s “How to California” digital form that runs at the end of many of our stories.
• Shoot and appear in short-form vertical videos for our apps, websites and social platforms, as well as take photographs (depending on the location of the assignment).
• Use social media to build audience loyalty, engagement and growth.
• Be a newsroom ambassador, including participation in live and virtual events.
• Occasionally tap into other places we know Californians love to travel, e.g. Hawaii, writing about them from a utility standpoint.
• Build source networks in the arts and culture, travel and tourism communities, thereby bringing a constant flow of story ideas.
• Have fun.

What you’ll bring …

• A verve for a variety of subjects — recreation, theater, music, festivals — and the diverse sets of places Californians love to travel.
• Strong writing skills, excellent news judgment and a demonstrated ability to "see the story" that is going to matter to readers.
• Ability to shoot photos and videos — including short form vertical videos — that can be posted on our digital platforms and social media.
• Personality and voice in both your writing and on-camera appearances.
• A track record for innovation, learning and using new skills and technologies, especially AI.
• A willingness to represent The Sacramento Bee in community events and other live journalism initiatives.

Requirements

• A college degree in journalism or equivalent experience.
• 5 years of reporting and/or editing experience, preferably in the arts, culture, recreation and/or travel-writing space. Experience at a daily news organization is preferred, though we also welcome applications from freelance writers with proven track records.
• The ability to work flexible hours is essential. This position may require some evening shifts to cover local events.
• The ability to travel both locally and, in limited cases, regionally and statewide.
• Must have reliable transportation. Must have valid driver’s license and vehicle insurance required.

The anticipated base pay range for this position is between $29.75 and $37.44 per hour based on 40 hours per week. Individual base pay may vary within that range depending on job-related knowledge, skills, experience and relevant education.

To apply, include a persuasive cover letter, your resume and five to seven examples of your best work, including examples of creative storytelling and, if possible, video.

What we’ll bring …

Ninety miles northeast of San Francisco and 100 miles southwest of Lake Tahoe, Sacramento is a vibrant capital city with a Mediterranean climate, a world-class food and music scene and numerous recreational opportunities, including the 31-mile American River Trail and 2,000 acres of parkland in the city alone. Our Bee office in East Sacramento lies within two miles of the Capitol, Midtown, Downtown and Golden 1 Center, home of the Sacramento Kings.

As a journalist at McClatchy, you will join a supportive, flexible, collaborative team. McClatchy strives to be an employer of choice, and our benefits package is made with this goal in mind. With a focus on health, well-being, wealth and daily life, our package options include healthcare coverage for employees and their families, financial protection from expected and unexpected expenses, multiple no-cost wellness resources and even coverage for four-legged friends.

Our overall benefits package also includes a 401(k) with employer match, competitive paid time off and corporate holidays, and a variety of mental health benefits. With an excellent support team and with focus on your well-being as a top corporate strategy, McClatchy provides benefits to support you and your family in achieving your health and wellness goals. For more information on McClatchy's benefit plan, please visit McClatchyLivewell.com.

About the McClatchy Media Company

The McClatchy Media Company features a portfolio of vibrant and trusted news, lifestyle, entertainment brands and a robust retail distribution network. Our iconic local news brands such as the Miami Herald, The Kansas City Star and The Sacramento Bee, have collectively earned a total of 57 Pulitzer prizes and are complemented by popular lifestyle and entertainment brands such as Us Weekly and Woman’s World. Together, our brands reach more than 100 million unique visitors a month, The McClatchy Retail Network, our distribution and logistics arm, offers delivery to more than 56,000 retail locations weekly.

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