Watchdog Reporter

Summary:
The San Diego Union-Tribune is seeking an ambitious, accomplished and tenacious reporter to join its Watchdog team and hold power to account in California's second-largest city and beyond.
This is an important, high-profile role in the nimble, award-winning newsroom of the region's premiere news organization. It's an excellent opportunity to produce impactful enterprise and investigative journalism - whether you're a seasoned investigator, a data or public-records whiz, or a beat reporter eager to move to focusing on public accountability full-time.
What you will do:

• Report a mix of short-term enterprise stories and longer-term investigative work, with a digital-first approach and a focus on holding to account the institutions and powers to forces that shape San Diego and its residents' lives
• Collaborate regularly - sometimes with Watchdog colleagues, sometimes with beat reporters whose expertise your work can supplement and deepen
• Establish and nurture a network of sources, as well as an expertise in (and habit of) obtaining and analyzing public records and data
• Serve as an evangelist in the newsroom for accountability and transparency
• Regularly pitch, discuss and develop story ideas with a supervising editor
• Contribute to an inclusive, positive culture of teamwork and collaboration
• Pitch in on occasional weekend and holiday reporting shifts

What you will bring:

• At least five years of journalism experience, or the equivalent
• Skill in tackling complex subjects in a clear, engaging way
• Mastery of various journalistic writing forms, including narrative and explanatory styles, with solid news judgment and fluency in writing style
• Inclusive approach and ability to work collaboratively and adaptively in a team setting, and ability to manage multiple tasks simultaneously and meet deadlines
• Commitment to fundamentals of journalism: skepticism, fairness, accuracy, accessibility
• Strong interpersonal, critical-thinking and problem-solving skills
• Expertise in particular types of public records (preferred but not required)
• Knowledge and skill in analyzing data using various tools and using it to bolster reporting (preferred but not required)
• Valid driver's license and reliable transportation required

The hourly wage is $33.65 - $36.06. Pay is based on several factors including but not limited to education, work experience, time in role, certifications, etc. In addition to your salary, MediaNews Group offers a comprehensive benefits package, and 401K plan (all benefits are based on eligibility).
Who we are:
The San Diego Union-Tribune, a subsidiary of MediaNews Group, is San Diego's largest media company and its oldest business, dating back to the founding of the Union in 1868.
Today, Union-Tribune publications reach more than 96 percent of San Diego County households each week. The company portfolio includes its Pulitzer Prize-winning newspaper, The San Diego Union-Tribune; the region's leading website, SanDiegoUnionTribune.com; weekly entertainment guide Night + Day; lifestyle magazine Pacific San Diego; The San Diego Union-Tribune en Español; and nine community newspapers: the La Jolla Light; Del Mar Times; Encinitas Advocate; Solana Beach Sun; Carmel Valley Times; Poway News Chieftain; Rancho Santa Fe Review; Ramona Sentinel and Rancho Bernardo News Journal.
Part of the mission of The San Diego Union-Tribune is to build a stronger, more inclusive San Diego, through our coverage and our community events. A diverse, inclusive, transparent workplace is instrumental in that effort. To better reflect and serve the community, the Union-Tribune is sharing the demographic data of its staff and management team and will track it over time to measure improvement.
We are an equal opportunity employer. All applicants will be considered for employment without attention to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, veteran or disability status.
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