Job Description

Summary/Objective

The Bay Area News Group -- which operates the Mercury News and East Bay Times online and in print -- has an immediate opening for an energetic reporter and exceptional story teller interested in joining our top-notch housing team to cover an issue that defines the Bay Area and shapes the lives of anyone who lives or works here.

We're looking for someone who is passionate about a topic that has the attention of everyone in the region, whether they are newcomers or long-time residents, young or old, rich or poor, renters or homeowners. You should be an experienced self-starter with an affinity for data and an ability to mine sources for a steady stream of daily news coverage and deeper enterprise for online and print platforms. You should be equally comfortable working independently and as part of a team, collaborating with other reporters who cover housing, homelessness, home sales and commercial deals.

Essential Functions

You will be responsible for covering the Bay Area rental market, examining everything from how savvy newcomers land an apartment and what deals are being offered to rent control, evictions and the ways landlords and tenants are coping in a competitive market. You should be adept at finding and telling the human stories of the housing crisis, an issue whose emotional center is at the core of life in the Bay Area.

Competencies & Skills

• Excellent news judgment
• Strong writing skill under deadline pressure
• The ability to juggle multiple stories of varying complexity
• At least three years of experience as a working journalist
• Some real estate or housing reporting experience is preferred
• Regular and reliable attendance is required
• The ability to report in multiple languages in our diverse region is also a plus.

Travel

• Local travel only 50%

Required Education

• 4-year college degree (journalism or related fields)

Required Experience

• Three years prior experience

Work Environment

• This job operates in a professional office environment and at the Company and client sites for business meetings and presentations. This role routinely uses standard office equipment such as computers, phones, photocopiers, filing cabinets and fax machines.
• This position may be a permanent remote role.

Physical Demands

• The physical demands described here are representative of those that must be met by an employee to successfully perform the essential functions of this job. While performing the duties of this job, the employee is regularly required to talk and hear. The employee frequently is required to stand; walk; use hands to finger, handle or feel; and reach with hands and arms and requires the ability to occasionally lift office products and supplies up to 30 pounds.

Other Duties

• This job description is not designed to cover or contain a comprehensive listing of activities, duties or responsibilities that are required of the employee for this job. Duties, responsibilities and activities may change at any time with or without notice.