*If you’re worried you might not qualify for this position but it’s something you’re interested in, please apply!

Pay: $26 to $28/hour, plus a health insurance stipend, a cellphone stipend, employer match retirement benefits and a paid vacation policy.

Schedule: The position calls for 20 hours per week. The weekly schedule is generally Tuesday afternoon/evenings, Fridays and one other week day. There is room for flexibility.

Location: You can work from our office in Downtown Santa Cruz or remotely. Some initial training and work will happen with our team in person in Downtown Santa Cruz.

A bit about us: Santa Cruz Local is a local newsroom that serves Santa Cruz County, Calif. residents. Our newsroom was founded in 2019 out of desire to give residents an unbiased, fair and accurate source of local news and information. Our team of three is a small but mighty group with experience in journalism, product development and community listening. We’re collaborative, thoughtful and passionate about giving residents useful news and information.

The challenge: We strive to produce deep, fair and accurate reporting about local government, housing, homelessness, health, the environment and other big issues in Santa Cruz County. We want to give Santa Cruz County residents the information and news that they tell us they need.

The job opportunity: Your role mainly would be to fact-check news stories. Accuracy is the top priority. You’d also work with reporters to create clear, deep, concise stories. You’d ask reporters clarifying questions, suggest context and look for ways to make stories more readable and complete.

You would also review Santa Cruz Local’s email newsletter for accuracy, clarity and style. You would occasionally review local government agendas and write brief previews of upcoming meetings. You would also occasionally place stories on our WordPress website.

A few times a month, you would review Santa Cruz Local’s Spanish audio news product for clarity, fairness and accuracy.

The Copy Editor / Fact Checker would report to the Editor.

Details:

Remote work is possible for this role.

Requirements:

Applicants need experience using a computer, accessing the internet and corresponding by email.
Applicants need at least three years of experience with reporting, fact checking or editing in English or Spanish, ideally in journalism. This could include: news reporting or editing including at a school newspaper or an internship, academic work, any technical writing or analysis.
Applicants must collaborate and communicate effectively on a team.
Applicants must have some familiarity with Santa Cruz County and local government.
You must be 18 or older.

Bonus points for:

Ability to read and write fluently in Spanish.
Experience in a newsroom.
Experience with AP Style.
Deep knowledge of Santa Cruz County’s local issues and local government.
Cultural fluency with Santa Cruz County’s Spanish-speaking communities.

If you worry you’re not qualified, please give it a shot and apply anyway. You do not need an educational degree to apply.

Application and hiring process:

Here is our online application. The deadline to apply is 9 a.m. PT Monday, May 8.

We plan to invite top candidates for a Zoom interview by May 16. If you’re invited for an interview, we’ll pay you $50 for your time and participation. We plan to make hiring decisions by the end of June. If you’re not selected for the position, we’ll let you know.

This position starts in early July.

Questions? Email, call or text Santa Cruz Local CEO/Co-founder Kara Meyberg Guzman, kara@santacruzlocal.org or 831-291-3456.

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Santa Cruz Local is an equal opportunity employer that is committed to diversity and inclusion in the workplace. We prohibit discrimination and harassment of any kind based on race, color, sex, religion, sexual orientation, national origin, disability, genetic information, pregnancy, or any other protected characteristic as outlined by federal, state, or local laws.

Santa Cruz Local makes hiring decisions based solely on qualifications, merit, and business needs at the time.

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Copy Editor / Fact checker