Fresno Restaurant & Food Reporter/Influencer

The Fresno Bee, part of McClatchy Media and a proud storyteller for California’s Central Valley, is seeking a personable, audience-obsessed multimedia journalist to join our Fresno Restaurant & Food Experiences Team.

Fresno loves to eat. Dining out is at the center of how we spend time with friends and family, explore our cultures and neighborhoods, and show off our city to visitors. From taco trucks and mom-and-pop spots to buzzy new restaurants and regional specialties, Fresno’s food scene is rich, diverse and constantly evolving. It’s based on our extremely diverse culture.

Almost as much as we love to eat, we love to talk about food: What’s the best? Why don’t we have …? Whatever happened to …? Where can I find …? This reporter/influencer will be tasked with answering those questions and more, joining our already vibrant team of reporters who cover the region’s food scene.

Strong candidates will bring fresh ideas on producing a high volume of unique, relevant journalism to build reader loyalty, as building a loyal audience around food and dining requires publishing consistently and often. Stories might include openings and closings, high-utility lists, Q&As with readers, or chefs, behind-the-scenes features, first-person pieces and nuanced discussions of how Fresno’s food and drink scene compares to others in California and beyond. We’re looking for innovation and engagement. No idea is too far out-there to be considered.

A key part of this role will be developing and sustaining an influencer-style public persona around Fresno’s restaurant and food experiences scene.

Direct interaction with our audience will be a significant part of the job, including filming and appearing in videos for our website and social platforms; sharing responsibility for a newsletter; and talking to locals in person and virtually about their needs and questions, including at Fresno Bee events.

McClatchy Media’s journalists 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.

In This Role, You Will Need To

• Find, pitch and execute stories that build and engage local readership.
• Write with power, verve and personality.
• Be comfortable becoming a recognizable on-camera guide to Fresno’s food culture on social platforms.
• Be eager to build and engage a following using short-form, vertical video that showcases local restaurants, food experiences and personalities.
• Be skilled at or excited to learn how to collaborate on planning, shooting and editing short-form video with editors and visual journalists, including appearing regularly on camera.
• Intentional about maintaining journalistic ethics and independence while cultivating that personality-driven presence.
• Build a network of sources to find unique stories that inform, delight and engage readers looking for what to eat, drink and do in Fresno.
• Curate and write a newsletter with an openness to feedback and focus on voice.
• Work well in a team environment, both virtually and in person.

Requirements

• A deep knowledge of restaurants, food and/or hospitality, especially in the Fresno/central San Joaquin Valley area, or a demonstrated ability to develop that expertise quickly.
• College degree or equivalent work experience.
• At least 1–3 years of reporting experience.
• Excellent news judgment and a demonstrated ability to “see the story” that is going to matter to readers.
• Valid drivers' license and vehicle insurance meeting or exceeding the legally mandated minimum requirements.
• Unwavering commitment to accurate, ethical journalism.
• Ability to work collaboratively to aggressively tackle stories with urgency.
• Comfort with a job that will be demanding, fast-paced and constantly evolving as our region grows.

To apply , include a persuasive cover letter, your resume and five to eight examples of your best work , including any social or video work that showcases your on-camera presence and personality.

The anticipated base pay range for this position is between $29.50 and $34.50 per hour, based on a 40-hour week. Individual base pay may vary within that range, depending on job-related knowledge, skills, experience and relevant education. What We’ll Bring Fresno is a vibrant, growing city with deep agricultural roots, a rich food culture, proximity to world-class national parks and a comparatively low cost of living. It’s a fantastic place to put down roots, and this job offers the chance to contribute to its future.

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 health care 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.