Embarcadero Media seeks a versatile, digital-first journalist based in the Bay Area to work as an education and general assignment reporter at the Mountain View Voice. The ideal candidate will understand the dynamics and demographics of Mountain View and the San Francisco Peninsula and have solid reporting, newsgathering and writing skills as well as good instincts about what makes a story compelling. They will be able to work under tight deadlines to produce fast-paced daily stories, while also setting aside time to report longer enterprise pieces that require more digging.

The Mountain View Voice is a reader-supported, all-digital publication that has been providing the community with award-winning independent local news for over 30 years. It is part of Embarcadero Media Foundation, a Palo Alto-based nonprofit news organization that operates three other news outlets on the Peninsula (Palo Alto Online, The Almanac and Redwood City Pulse) and three more in the East Bay.

We actively listen and engage with our readers online, as well as through events and forums. Our goal is to spotlight the issues facing diverse segments of our community and to be a catalyst for greater civic engagement.

The primary beat is education in the Mountain View area, as well as coverage of general assignment stories in our community. The reporter will comprehensively report on local schools, producing stories that combine hard news and data reporting with human interest storytelling. As much as possible, this beat focuses on people, impacts and implications rather than simply on the actions of institutions.

This reporter will also work closely with the Voice's city beat reporter to split coverage of general assignment stories on topics including transportation, health, environment, crime, technology and business.

At times, reporting will require investigative effort, including the filing of Public Records Act requests. It will be important for the reporter to develop a broad range of sources and pitch story ideas that will resonate with our community members. 

The reporter will work with staff across Embarcadero Media's award-winning Peninsula editorial team, as well as with our audience engagement and marketing teams. The work may be featured across Embarcadero's publications. 

This is a full-time, hourly position that comes with health insurance, paid vacation, a retirement savings plan and other benefits. The pay range is $21-27/hour, depending on experience. 

Our newsroom is unionized and is represented by Embarcadero Community News Guild, which is a unit of the Pacific Media Workers Guild.

Reporter responsibilities:

• Report and write daily news, while also balancing longer-form enterprise stories
• Pitch stories that will inform and engage local residents
• Cover school board meetings, other public meetings and community events
• File stories on deadline for our daily Express newsletter
• Develop and maintain productive source relationships 
• Occasionally contribute to podcasts, live events, and video or multimedia storytelling 
• Collaborate with other reporters, editors and visual journalists
• Engage readers through social media and respond to community feedback
• Occasionally assist with events, community forums and other outreach activities
• Be available for some weekend and night work, including occasional weekend shifts monitoring breaking news in our coverage area
• Take photos and videos as necessary

Requirements:

• Previous professional reporting experience
• Strong writing, reporting and interviewing skills
• A working knowledge of AP Style
• Comfort filing PRA requests and pursuing public records
• Strong organizational skills and a proactive attitude
• Demonstrated interest in local journalism

Preferred qualifications:

• Bachelor's degree or higher in journalism or related field
• Spanish fluency
• Experience with WordPress
• Knowledge of Mountain View and the surrounding area
• Experience with education reporting
• Knowledge and proficiency with data reporting

To apply: 

Send a resume, cover letter and three news clips to Mountain View Editor Zoe Morgan at zmorgan@mv-voice.com and apply below.