California Regional Investigative Reporter

NEWSWELL at Arizona State University; Sacramento (CA); On-site; USD 70,000 - 80,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Medical, dental, vision insurance

401(k) with employer match

22 vacation days

11 holidays

Parental leave

Tuition reductions

Professional development

Cell phone reimbursement

Job summary

NEWSWELL seeks a Regional Investigative Reporter to serve a statewide California audience and support local newsrooms with high‑impact accountability reporting. This role is part of NEWSWELL’s new investigative team serving the Western newsrooms within its nonprofit collective.

You will use FOIA, data analysis and deep sourcing to produce exclusive findings, mentor colleagues, and collaborate with ASU’s Walter Cronkite School to engage students and strengthen democracy.

Qualifications

• FOIA/OMA strategy, document analysis, source development, meticulous verification.
• Solutions journalism: evidence standards, transparent limitations; no advocacy.
• Storytelling: distill complex information; organize multi‑month investigations.
• Digital fluency: SEO-aware writing, packaging, social/audience collaboration.
• Mentorship: collaborate with reporters and staff; transfer knowledge.
• AP style: fairness, accuracy, inclusion, and community journalism.

Responsibilities

• Conceptualize and produce original investigative stories with exclusive findings.
• Mentor local newsrooms and collaborate on local reporting.
• Integrate solutions journalism and audience interaction into workflow.
• Execute complex public records reporting and advance data analysis.
• Develop and protect sensitive sources across government and communities.
• Travel to NEWSWELL locations as needed.
• Collaborate with editors and impact producer to reach broad audiences.
• Pilot tools including responsible AI to enhance research.
• Partner with ASU Cronkite School for student engagement and newsroom collaboration.
• Contribute to an inclusive newsroom culture.

Skills

Investigative mastery

Solutions journalism

Storytelling

Digital fluency

Risk awareness

Mentorship

AP style

Education

Bachelor’s or Master’s degree in journalism or related field

Equivalent combination of education and experience

Five years of journalism experience with accountability/investigative work

Tools

SQL

R

Python

ArcGIS

QGIS

Job description

NEWSWELL seeks a Regional Investigative Reporter to serve a statewide California audience and support local newsrooms with high‑impact accountability reporting. This role is part of NEWSWELL’s new investigative team serving the Western newsrooms within its nonprofit collective.

You will use FOIA, data analysis and deep sourcing to produce exclusive findings, mentor colleagues, and collaborate with ASU’s Walter Cronkite School to engage students and strengthen democracy.