Job Description

Job Description

Job Description

Are you passionate about telling stories that matter and ensuring all voices are heard? Do you thrive on connecting with diverse communities to understand their unique perspectives? The Modesto FOCUS, a new nonprofit, nonpartisan newsroom, is looking for a Bilingual Communities Reporter to help us build a vibrant new platform for journalism in Modesto and Stanislaus County.

As part of the Central Valley Journalism Collaborative, The Modesto FOCUS will launch in mid-2025 with a mission to deliver high-quality journalism that reflects the reality of our diverse region. Modesto is a vibrant community with a rich cultural tapestry: approximately 46% of the population identifies as Latino, 39% as White, 8% as Asian, 4% as Black, and 3% as multiracial. This role is at the heart of that mission: covering issues and stories that impact all of Modesto’s communities, with a special focus on bilingual and multicultural perspectives.

This is an exciting opportunity to help shape a startup newsroom. You’ll have the freedom to innovate, the chance to build deep community connections, and the responsibility to help ensure that our journalism serves everyone in Modesto and Stanislaus County. Content produced by this reporter will also appear in Spanish on our companion site, El Enfoque Modesto, ensuring we connect with and serve Spanish-speaking audiences directly.

Responsibilities

• Report and write stories covering issues that impact diverse communities in Modesto and Stanislaus County.
• Develop trusted relationships within multicultural communities to understand their challenges, achievements, and perspectives.
• Cover a wide range of topics, including education, health care, immigration, housing, and local government, with a focus on how these issues affect diverse and bilingual residents.
• Produce stories that inform, empower, and inspire – from quick-turn news to deeper investigative and feature reporting.
• Work collaboratively with the newsroom team to identify and pursue impactful stories.
• Contribute to innovative approaches for reaching diverse and bilingual audiences, including social media, newsletters, and events.

Qualifications

• Experience: At least two years of professional experience with a strong background in reporting, preferably with experience at a local news organization. 
• Passion: A love of community-based journalism and a strong interest in exploring the fabric of Modesto and Stanislaus County.
• Skills: Excellent writing, research, and analytical skills. Fluency in spoken Spanish; job will require Spanish skills and appearances on Spanish-language radio partners.
• Education: Bachelor’s degree in journalism, communications, or a related field, or equivalent experience.
• Collaboration: Ability to work collaboratively with students, editors, sources and community members. Strong mentoring skills and a commitment to development.
• Cultural competence: Strong understanding of the cultural, social, and economic factors affecting Stanislaus County communities.
• Technical skills: Proficiency in multimedia journalism tools and platforms, including video production, photography, and social media.
• Research skills: Ability to conduct thorough research and present complex information in an accessible and engaging manner.
• Interpersonal skills: Excellent interviewing skills and the ability to build rapport with diverse sources.
• Travel: This position is based in Modesto, CA. Driving to other Stanislaus County/San Joaquin Valley locations will be required.

Bonus Points for:

• Language proficiency: Fluency in Spanish and English, with excellent written and verbal communication skills in both languages, 
• Multi-platform experience: Podcasting, photography, video production or data visualization.
• Social media competency: Experience using social platforms such as Whatsapp to develop sources and reach coverage communities.

Compensation and Benefits 

• Full-time exempt position with starting salary of $75k-90k annually based on experience with excellent benefits (100% medical coverage for employees, 50% coverage for dependents) provided to qualified candidates who meet the minimum requirements. 
• Professional development, training, and conferences offered for staff
• Starting at three weeks of vacation with generous sick, holidays and additional personal days to use as needed 
• Retirement with employer contribution
• Relocation assistance available for the right candidate
• Professional development, training, and conferences offered for staff in related professional field 
• Mileage reimbursement will be provided

CVJC is an equal opportunity employer and fosters a workplace without discrimination or harassment on the basis of race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, age, disability, marital status, citizenship, national origin, genetic information, or any other characteristic. CVJC also follows and adheres to the latest COVID safety measure per federal, state, and local county guidelines.

In the application process you will be asked to provide:

• Resume/CV: Detailed professional resume or curriculum vitae.
• Cover letter: Explain your interest in the job and relevant experience.
• Writing samples: Provide at least three samples of your reporting.
• References: Contact information for three professional references.

About the Central Valley Journalism Collaborative
Launched by the James B. McClatchy Foundation (JBMF) in 2021, the Central Valley Journalism Collaborative (CVJC) is a nonprofit superstructure dedicated to ensuring public service journalism thrives in California’s Central Valley. CVJC publishes The Merced FOCUS and recently launched The Intersection, a reporting lab focused on health equity in the northern San Joaquin Valley. In 2025, it will launch its second community-based newsroom, The Modesto FOCUS. It also supports Valley newsrooms through grants and training programs. 

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