Political Correspondent, California

Political Correspondent, Sacramento Ca

Remote (Sacramento, CA-based) | Full-Time | $65k - $80k

COURIER Newsroom is committed to building an inclusive workplace that values diverse perspectives and lived experiences. We strongly encourage women, people of color, individuals with disabilities, LGBTQ+ candidates, and those from all backgrounds to apply. As an equal opportunity employer, we strive to break down barriers and ensure every team member feels seen, heard, and supported.

Courier Newsroom empowers individuals and communities through local reporting that helps people understandand act onthe issues shaping their lives. Through original reporting, human-focused storytelling, and values-aligned audience engagement, we reach people where they already are and build trust at the local level.

We are expanding our footprint in California and seeking an entrepreneurial political correspondent who is also an audience-savvy storytellersomeone who can break news, contextualize politics for everyday readers, and reach people through the formats they prefer (email, social, video, or a hybrid).

This role requires someone who is highly self-directed, resourceful, and comfortable building an audience strategy from scratch. You will collaborate with Courier's central editorial and social teams, but you will be the primary driver of coverage, reporting, storytelling, and audience engagement in California.

Additionally, a reliable form of transportation is required to ensure you're able to cover stories where they happen. Either a personal vehicle or reliable public transportation are ok!

Summary of the Role

This Political Correspondent will be the lead political correspondent and on-platform messenger for Courier Newsroom in California. You will produce sharp, accessible political journalism that's delivered in multiple formats such as on-camera videos and stories optimized for email. You'll launch, own, and grow an audience-focused newsletter product that builds trust and engagement over time.

You will:

• Break and explain local and state political news
• Develop and distribute ongoing media content tailored to a specific audience
• Build a personal, trusted presence across social platforms and in inboxes
• Use audience insights, data, and experimentation to refine your content and reporting approach

This is a highly entrepreneurial role for someone excited to reach new audiences underserved by legacy media and help strengthen civic engagement in California.

Key Responsibilities

Political Reporting & Coverage

• Report, write, and produce clear, compelling political journalism rooted in local communities.
• Break news and deliver fast-turnaround coverage on political developments, legislation, elections, and policy impacts.
• Build and maintain a strong network of on-the-ground sources: lawmakers, organizers, community leaders, campaign staff, and advocates.
• Provide additional state-level political coverage for the newsroom as needed.

Audience Content Ownership (Light Newsletter / Multi-Format)

• Manage a weekly newsletter, including experimenting with new ways to increase engagement and your subscribers list.
• Curate and package political reporting in an accessible, values-aligned format tailored to your target audience.
• Experiment with new storytelling formats (videos, explainers, carousels, text posts, etc.) to expand reach.
• Use analytics, platform insights, audience feedback, and A/B-style testing to refine your storytelling and product strategy.

Multimedia & Social Content

• Create short-form video content, including on-camera explainers, TikTok/Instagram videos, or voice-overs (comfort producing presenter-led videos required)
• Collaborate with social media marketer to translate reporting into social-ready content (carousels, graphics, and videos) that captures attention in under five seconds.
• Build and grow a personal social presence that positions you as a trusted, relatable political communicator in California.

Cross-Team Collaboration

• Work closely with social, political editorial, newsletter, and marketing teams to ensure consistent messaging and high-quality content.
• Share learnings and collaborate with other correspondents and editors across the Courier network.
• Contribute to growth and monetization strategies for state-level media products.

The Ideal Candidate

Experience & Skills

• 5+ years of political reporting or political content creation.
• Deep understanding of California's political landscape and community dynamics.
• Demonstrated track record of building an audience through content or product.
• Strong writing/reporting skills with an ability to translate complex politics into accessible, values-rooted storytelling with minimal editing oversight.
• Experience creating content for social platforms (Instagram, TikTok, Facebook, YouTube).
• Comfort on camera and willingness to appear in videos or host short-form segments.
• Familiarity with tools such as Canva, Emplifi, Descript; willingness to learn new tools.
• Comfort experimenting with tone, formats, and approaches to meet audience needs.
• Ability to work independently in a startup-like, fast-paced environment.

Mindset

• Excited to build something from the ground up and own content end-to-end.
• Passionate about reaching audiences in more accessible ways and engaging them to act.
• Values-driven, mission-centered, and committed to factual, helpful political journalism.
• Collaborative, flexible, and comfortable adapting to changing priorities.
• Interested in growing a personal brand as a trusted local messenger.

Courier Newsroom offers the following benefits:

• Unlimited Paid Time Off (PTO), 11 paid holidays a year
• An Employee Assistance Program (EAP)
• Full suite of health benefits
• $500 home office reimbursement
• 401k
• Flexible working arrangements