Location: Santa Cruz, CA (in-person)

Schedule: 24 hours/week, part time. Reporting assignments are in person. Staff meetings can be in person or remote. The schedule is fairly flexible, but is generally 9 a.m. to 5:30/6 p.m. on set days each week, decided by the Managing Editor.

Experience required: minimum of three years of professional reporting experience. 

Deadline to apply: Tuesday, June 23 at 5 p.m. PT

Preferred start date: End of July. (negotiable for the right candidate)

Classification, Pay and Benefits: 24 hours per week at a rate of $36 to $38.99 per hour. Benefits include health care reimbursement, paid federal and company holidays and retirement benefits.  

Reports to: Santa Cruz Local’s Managing Editor.

How to apply: Submit a form.

Questions about the application or role? Email: [email protected] (Managing Editor)

*If you’re worried you might not qualify for this position but it’s something you’re interested in, please apply! 

A bit about us

Santa Cruz Local is a nonprofit local news organization that serves residents of Santa Cruz County and the Pajaro Valley. Local journalists founded Santa Cruz Local in 2019 to give residents an unbiased, fair and accurate source of local news and information. In 2023, we launched Noticias Watsonville, Spanish-language audio news on WhatsApp. In 2025, we launched News for Students on Instagram and through civic events at Cabrillo College. Read our strategic plan.

We strive to grow civic engagement through deep, fair and accurate reporting about local government, housing, health, transportation, the environment and other big issues in Santa Cruz County. We lift up voices not normally heard by local government or local media. 

We want to:

• Inform residents with responsive, useful civic news. 
• Connect residents with basic needs through our relevant, timely and accurate information guides.
• Show residents how to participate in local government and that they can impact decisions.
• Push leaders on residents’ priorities and hold them accountable.
• Inspire residents to join community groups and volunteer.

About the role

We are seeking an experienced Government Accountability Reporter with a background in daily enterprise reporting to join our newsroom on a part-time basis. This position is focused on pushing elected leaders on the priorities of residents, and holding them accountable to plans and promises. The content will primarily be produced for our English-language website, with the opportunity to collaborate with our Spanish-language and social media teams. 

The ideal candidate is a mid-career reporter who pursues stories beyond meeting agendas and press releases. They are skilled at following story threads over time and explaining the significance to readers, uncovering information through public records and producing reporting that holds public officials and institutions accountable. We want to help readers understand potential solutions and pathways for civic engagement. 

Because this position requires in-person reporting throughout Santa Cruz County, applicants must live in or near the area and be available to work on-site three days per week.

Responsibilities

• Develop and report accountability stories focused on local government, public agencies, public spending, policy implementation and issues affecting Santa Cruz County residents.
• Our typical beats include: government agencies (Santa Cruz City Council, Watsonville City Council, Santa Cruz County Board of Supervisors, city and county planning commissions), education (emphasis on Pajaro Valley Unified School District), how federal decisions impact local programs, housing and homelessness, economic inequality , development and climate-related issues. 
• Identify and pursue story ideas independently, with an emphasis on enterprise reporting that gets ahead of the news cycle.
• Submit and manage public records requests and use records, data and source development to strengthen reporting.
• Follow stories as they unfold, documenting not only official actions but also their real-world impacts on residents and communities.
• Seek opportunities to incorporate solutions-oriented reporting that helps readers understand potential paths forward and encourages civic engagement.
• Pitch original story ideas and collaborate with editors on coverage priorities.
• Be prepared to take on assigned reporting projects and deadlines each week.
• Build and maintain relationships with community members, subject-matter experts, public officials and other sources throughout Santa Cruz County.
• Collaborate with our visual journalist to produce video elements for select stories and help create content for publication across digital, social and other platforms.
• Attend meetings, public events and community gatherings as needed to support reporting.

Qualifications

• Minimum three years of professional reporting experience in a newsroom or journalism-adjacent field, preferably covering local government through an accountability lens.
• Demonstrated ability to generate original story ideas and write budget lines. 
• Experience obtaining and analyzing public records and government documents.
• Strong interviewing, writing and fact-checking skills.
• Ability to manage multiple storylines and follow developing stories over time.
• Understanding of the role local journalism plays in civic engagement and community accountability.
• Comfortable working independently while collaborating closely with editors, photographers, and other newsroom staff.
• Knowledge of Santa Cruz County and its communities is strongly preferred.
• Must live in or near Santa Cruz County and be available for regular in-person reporting.

What success in this role looks like 

The successful candidate will consistently deliver reporting that uncovers important information, explains how public decisions affect residents, pushes elected leaders on residents’ priorities, and helps readers better understand and engage with their community. They will bring curiosity, persistence, fairness and a commitment to journalism that serves the public interest.

APPLY NOW

Timeline: We plan to invite top candidates for a Zoom interview the week of June 29. If you’re invited for an interview, we’ll pay you $50 for your time and participation. We plan to make hiring decisions by mid-July. If you’re not selected for the position, we’ll let you know.

Santa Cruz Local is an equal opportunity employer that is committed to diversity and inclusion in the workplace. We prohibit discrimination and harassment of any kind based on race, color, sex, religion, sexual orientation, national origin, disability, genetic information, pregnancy, or any other protected characteristic as outlined by federal, state or local laws.

Santa Cruz Local makes hiring decisions based solely on qualifications, merit and business needs at the time.