Sacramento Farm-to-Fork Reporter

The Sacramento Bee is seeking an enthusiastic, roll-up-the-sleeves journalist to get outside our city limits and tell the intensely local story of “America’s Farm-to-Fork Capital,” including how what is happening in our region’s fields is affecting what’s appearing on our plates.

With more than 1.5 million acres of farms and ranches that grow more than 160 crops, the Sacramento/Central Valley region is America’s breadbasket. From tomatoes to almonds to pears to olives to wine grapes, everything grows here, with the decisions behind what gets planted, harvested and sold having huge implications on the region’s environment, job count, grocery and restaurant prices, and overall cost of living.

This reporter will work alongside our two-person food and dining team to cover all of the above for consumers first — but also for farmers, farmworkers and even restaurateurs. A recent Bee story on the decrease in demand for peaches in the region, caused by the closure of a Del Monte cannery in Modesto, makes clear the rapidly changing agricultural landscape. That article quotes a U.S. congressman who says “this is probably the worst environment for agriculture that we’ve ever lived through” while also pointing out how new, higher steel tariffs are affecting the canning industry.

We want a reporter who can follow these and other often-overlooked storylines, reporting them from the perspectives of the people affected most … while also informing consumers on the downstream implications … without using agribusiness jargon.

Building a loyal audience around this topic will require publishing consistently and often. So strong candidates will bring fresh ideas on producing a high volume of stories, including ideas for new tools/story formats we might be able to build to tell stories more quickly and clearly. Mc Clatchy 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 high-quality, deeply reported journalism.

The anticipated base pay range for this position is between $29.75 and $37.44 per hour on a 40 hour schedule. Individual base pay may vary within that range depending on job-related knowledge, skills, experience, department equity and relevant education.

What you’ll bring …

• An ability to take the conversations you have with farmers, government ag regulators, farmworkers and politicians, plus the data you collect, and turn them into stories that consumers can understand and relate to.
• Strong writing skills, excellent news judgment and a demonstrated ability to "see the story" that is going to matter to readers.
• Ability to shoot photos and videos — including short form vertical videos — that can be posted on our digital platforms and social media.
• Familiarity with public records requests, both at the state and federal levels.
• A track record for innovation, learning and using new skills and technologies, especially AI.
• A willingness to represent The Sacramento Bee in community events and other live journalism initiatives.

What you’ll do …

• Expend a lot of shoe leather. We want this reporter “down on the farm,” talking to lots of people and writing lots of stories.
• When applicable, produce different versions of stories for different audiences on the same subject, e.g. “How a glut of CA wine grapes is affecting vineyard owners” vs. “Is the oversupply of CA wine grapes affecting wine prices?”
• Mine stories from the litany of government reports on agricultural production and safety in a way that consumers understand their importance.
• Shoot and appear in short-form vertical videos for our apps, websites and social platforms, as well as take photographs (depending on the location of the assignment).
• Use social media to build audience loyalty, engagement and growth.
• Be a newsroom ambassador, including participation in live and virtual events.
• Build source networks in the farm, agribusiness, wine industry and food state and federal regulatory communities, thereby bringing a constant flow of story ideas.

Requirements

• A college degree in journalism or equivalent experience.
• 5 years of reporting and/or editing experience, preferably in consumer or agricultural reporting.
• 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 $29.75 and $37.44 per hour based on 40 hours per week. Individual base pay may vary within that range depending on job-related knowledge, skills, experience and relevant education.

To apply, include a persuasive cover letter, your resume and five to seven examples of your best work, including examples of creative storytelling.

What we’ll bring …

Ninety miles northeast of San Francisco and 100 miles southwest of Lake Tahoe, Sacramento is a vibrant capital city with a Mediterranean climate, a world-class food and music scene and numerous recreational opportunities, including the 31-mile American River Trail and 2,000 acres of parkland in the city alone. Our Bee office in East Sacramento lies within two miles of the Capitol, Midtown, Downtown and Golden 1 Center, home of the Sacramento Kings.

As a journalist at Mc Clatchy, you will join a supportive, flexible, collaborative team. Mc Clatchy 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, Mc Clatchy provides benefits to support you and your family in achieving your health and wellness goals. For more information on Mc Clatchy's benefit plan, please visit Mc Clatchy Livewell.com.

About the Mc Clatchy Media Company

The Mc Clatchy Media Company features a portfolio of vibrant and trusted news, lifestyle, entertainment brands and a robust retail distribution network. Our iconic local news brands such as the Miami Herald, The Kansas City Star and The Sacramento Bee, have collectively earned a total of 57 Pulitzer prizes and are complemented by popular lifestyle and entertainment brands such as Us Weekly and Woman’s World. Together, our brands reach more than 100 million unique visitors a month, The Mc Clatchy Retail Network, our distribution and logistics arm, offers delivery to more than 56,000 retail locations weekly.

Salary/Compensation: $29.75 - $37.44 per hour

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