North County Reporter

The Tribune in San Luis Obispo, California, is looking for an energetic, versatile journalist to cover the northern section of San Luis Obispo County, home to roughly 80,000 people and growing fast.

Located on the picturesque and temperate Central Coast, The Tribune is one of 20-plus news organizations in McClatchy Media, including five in California. We punch above our weight, and we have consistently been named the best California news organization of our size. We turn stories fast, we hold people accountable and we’re always ready for the next great headline.

The heart of North County is Paso Robles, known for its hundreds of vineyards and tasting rooms, a vibrant downtown, and an airport the city hopes to turn into a launch facility for space flights. Nearby are the towns of Templeton, where a large fire in 2025 has left the community poised for a rebirth, and the city of Atascadero, home to a state hospital and a downtown that seems to be in perpetual state of discovering itself. Politics, development, agriculture and tourism mix in a sometimes volatile concoction of competing priorities, as newcomers stream into an area long dominated by families with generations of history. 

We’re looking for an independent, self-motivated journalist who can spot and report stories without waiting for the assignment. The qualified candidate also will quickly and accurately report stories using Tik-Tok-like vertical video and other digital tools. This person will be eager to be an expert on all things North County and be ready to build a personal brand that people can trust.

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 source-building and high-quality, deeply reported journalism. 

What you’ll bring:

• An unyielding intellectual curiosity, where the "why" and "what it means" are equivalent to the "what happened."
• Strong writing skills, excellent news judgment and a demonstrated ability to "see the story" that is going to matter to readers.
• Ability to build source networks and bring a constant flow of story ideas.
• Strong interpersonal skills, including empathy and the ability to take and give constructive criticism. 
• Understanding of open records laws and the ability to file, manage and oversee requests pertinent to beat work.
• The ability to shoot basic photos and vertical videos.
• A track record for innovation, learning and using new skills and technologies, especially AI.
• The desire and skills to build audience loyalty, engagement and growth around compelling public service journalism. 
• A willingness to represent The Tribune at community events or in live journalism initiatives.

What you’ll do:

• Juggle multiple stories, whether it’s a  quick-turn car crash or in-depth, accountability journalism that connects with communities, builds trust and provides the kind of value that compels readers to become subscribers.
• Be part of a collaborative newsroom ecosystem: Each of our reporters rotates on a one-day-a-week breaking news schedule that keeps them sharp and up-to-date on all the processes of creating, posting and promoting stories so that they reach the widest audience in a timely manner.
• Leverage AI tools and platforms to strengthen your reporting while finding efficiencies and expanding the sophistication of your work.
• Embrace alternative story formats, experimenting with multimedia storytelling and collaborating with colleagues on our visual and data teams.
• Be accurate, fair and unbiased in your reporting and the stories you write.

Requirements:

• A college degree in journalism or equivalent experience.
• 1-3 years of reporting experience, including new college graduates with internship experience in daily and college newsrooms.
• The ability to work flexible hours is essential. This position may require some evening shifts to cover local events.
• Must have reliable transportation. Must have valid driver’s license and vehicle insurance required.

The anticipated base pay range for this position is between $24.52 and $28.37 an hour at 40 hours a week. Individual base pay may vary within that range depending on job-related knowledge, skills, experience, department equity and relevant education.

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

What we’ll bring …

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.

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Salary/Compensation: $24.52 - $28.37 per hour