The Merced Sun-Star seeks an ambitious, enterprising reporter who finds that extra voice, speaks truth to power, and yearns to help the disenfranchised and serve our growing audience in Merced, Calif.

Accountability reporting is central to this beat, and we are looking for someone who can craft stories that not only shine a light on problems but also help formulate solutions. This beat requires a keen understanding of what’s important to people in our communities, developed through shoe-leather journalism and the use of audience analytics.

This reporter will provide primary coverage of the city of Merced while also looking at issues in surrounding municipalities and Merced County.

This reporter also will be responsible for Reality Checks, our stories that hold power brokers accountable, fact-check their claims and follow public spending. This quick-turn watchdog reporting is designed to give readers eye-opening information on a topic in the moment, while it’s most relevant.

Known as the Gateway to Yosemite, Merced is less than two hours from the national park to the east and the San Francisco Bay Area to the west. It is home to University of California, Merced, the newest campus in the state’s public university system. And Merced County is one of the fastest growing in California.

This reporter will regularly break news and develop exclusive and in-depth watchdog reporting. The successful candidate will collaborate with other local and regional staff writers on coverage of Merced County, engaging readers on the issues they are most interested in.

We’re looking for a reporter with a keen understanding of how local governments and institutions work, who can find stories that connect the decisions of those in power to residents’ everyday quality of life. The ideal candidate will have a hunger to analyze data and public records to answer the most pressing questions in our county.

Our newsroom is nimble and collaborative, and the successful candidate will have the opportunity to learn from seasoned journalists as well as hone their video skills.

And if you have a passion for this topic but don’t meet 100% of the requirements, please apply. Don’t be afraid to highlight other skills you bring to the table in a cover letter.

The local accountability reporter will:

• Seek to hold local institutions and public agencies and officials accountable while also looking to highlight possible solutions.
• Regularly break exclusive stories.
• Develop compelling daily and enterprise story ideas focused on community questions and concerns.
• Develop a broad and diverse range of sources.
• Regularly use data-driven and public records approaches to find the pertinent information to further the reporting
• Understand audience metrics in deciding what stories or topics resonate with readers.
• Shoot basic video and photos in the field. 
• On deadline, write stories that are complete, clear, fair and provide context for readers.

The successful candidate should meet many, though not necessarily all, of the following requirements:

• At least two years of full-time reporting experience.
• Strong writing and reporting skills.
• Unwavering commitment to accurate, ethical journalism.
• Ability to use social media platforms to reach and engage with audiences.
• Fluency in the science of readership and engagement, including an understanding of how to use analytics such as pageviews, conversions and referral sources to help determine which stories resonate with which audiences.
• Strong interpersonal skills, including empathy and the ability to take and give constructive criticism.
• Demonstrated comfort in a job that will be fast-paced, data-driven, and shaped constantly by feedback and experimentation.

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. 

The anticipated annual salary for this position is between $25.64 and $30.77 an hour, based on a 40-hour workweek. Individual base pay may vary within that range depending on job-related knowledge, department equity, skills, experience, and relevant education.

To apply, include a persuasive cover letter, your resume and four to six examples of your best work.

About McClatchy: 

Our impact is growing every day. 30 growing markets. Over 65 million monthly readers. 57 Pulitzer Prizes. A strong portfolio of dynamic partnerships and smart investments. Our award-winning journalism, digital reach, and commitment to innovative growth have never been stronger. 

As a member of the McClatchy family, you are part of a flexible, empowering, and exciting culture dedicated to creating a work/life balance and consistent opportunities for growth — a place where you have a voice and the ability to impact our future. It’s an exciting time to be here. Our company is experiencing the most transformative period in its history. We’re growing rapidly in the digital space and delivering award-winning journalism in innovative ways.