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Beat Reporter Jobs in California (NOW HIRING)

Reporter, AI Computing

San Francisco, CA ยท On-site

$125K - $200K/yr

About the role This reporter will break consequential news about AI data center projects and the ... A track record of scoop-driven journalism and source-building on a competitive beat. * The ability ...

South Bay Food Reporter, San Francisco Chronicle The San Francisco Chronicle seeks a reporter to ... restaurant beat In accordance with applicable law, Hearst is required to include a reasonable ...

Senior Editor, Watchdog

Pasadena, CA ยท On-site

$120 - $124/hr

You'll be an advocate for collaborating with other newsrooms and the communities we cover, and partner directly with LAist's general assignment and beat reporters as needed. The senior editor should ...

Showing results 21-40

Beat Reporter information

See California salary details

$11

$27

$36

How much do beat reporter jobs pay per hour?

As of Sep 5, 2026, the average hourly pay for beat reporter in California is $27.06, according to ZipRecruiter salary data. Most workers in this role earn between $23.27 and $31.54 per hour, depending on experience, location, and employer.

What is a beat reporter?

A beat reporter is a journalist who is assigned to cover a specific topic, area, or institution, such as sports, politics, crime, or education, on a regular basis. Their job is to develop expertise and sources within their 'beat' to provide in-depth and ongoing coverage of news and developments. Beat reporters often cultivate relationships with key contacts to break stories and provide context that general assignment reporters may not have. Their focused reporting helps ensure readers receive comprehensive and accurate information on the topics that matter most to their community.

What are the key skills and qualifications needed to thrive as a beat reporter?

To thrive as a Beat Reporter, you need strong reporting, research, and writing skills, typically backed by a degree in journalism or a related field. Familiarity with content management systems, digital publishing tools, and social media platforms is essential for timely and effective news delivery. Curiosity, persistence, and the ability to build relationships with sources are standout soft skills in this role. These skills are vital for producing accurate, engaging coverage and establishing credibility within a specific news beat.

How does a beat reporter typically build and maintain strong relationships with sources?

Beat Reporters often focus on a specific area or subject, requiring them to regularly interact with key sources such as community leaders, public officials, and industry experts. Building trust involves consistency, professional integrity, and clear communication. Reporters are expected to attend events, conduct interviews, and follow up regularly to develop rapport. Maintaining confidentiality and demonstrating a thorough understanding of the beat also help foster long-term, reliable connections that lead to more insightful and exclusive stories.

What is the difference between Beat Reporter vs Staff Writer?

AspectBeat ReporterStaff Writer
CredentialsJournalism degree, reporting experienceJournalism or related degree, writing skills
Work EnvironmentNews agencies, newspapers, online mediaMedia outlets, magazines, online platforms
Industry UsageSpecialized coverage of beats (e.g., politics, sports)General content creation across topics
Search & Comparison IntentFocus on beat-specific reporting rolesBroader writing roles in media

While both roles involve journalism and writing, a Beat Reporter specializes in covering specific topics or beats, providing in-depth, ongoing coverage. A Staff Writer has a broader scope, creating various types of content across different subjects. The Beat Reporter often works closely with specific beats like politics or sports, whereas the Staff Writer may contribute to multiple sections or topics within a media organization.

What are popular job titles related to Beat Reporter jobs in California?

For Beat Reporter jobs in California, the most frequently searched job titles are:

What job categories do people searching Beat Reporter jobs in California look for?

The top searched job categories for Beat Reporter jobs in California are:

What cities in California are hiring for Beat Reporter jobs?

Cities in California with the most Beat Reporter job openings:

Infographic showing various Beat Reporter job openings in California as of August 2026, with employment types broken down into 70% Full Time, 29% Part Time, and 1% Contract. Highlights an 97% Physical, 1% Hybrid, and 2% Remote job distribution, with an average salary of $56,294 per year, or $27.1 per hour.

Senior Legal Industry Reporter - California

LexisNexis Risk Solutions

San Francisco, CA โ€ข On-site

$72 - $98/hr

Other

Medical, Dental, Vision, Life, Retirement, PTO

Posted 4 days ago


Job description

## Senior Legal Industry Reporter - CaliforniaApplylocations: California: San Francisco, CAtime type: Full timeposted on: Posted Yesterdayjob requisition id: R116073Law360, a LexisNexis company, is an online newswire for business lawyers that covers major litigation, transactions, and regulatory issues. Founded in 2004 and acquired by LexisNexis in 2012, Law360 is a cutting-edge organization and one of the fastest-growing subscription news services in the U.S. Our subscribers include the largest law firms in the U.S. and around the world, in-house counsel at major corporations, and key decision-makers in the government sector.**Are you excited to break news on the technologies transforming the legal industry?****Do you enjoy uncovering stories, identifying emerging trends, and delivering insightful journalism on artificial intelligence and legal innovation?****About our Team**Law360 provides breaking legal news and analysis on the most important topics legal professionals, business leaders and regulators need to stay on top of issues, safeguard clients and sharpen their competitive edge. The award-winning journalism of Law360 keeps readers connected to the latest, most essential news and insights across 70+ practice areas, industries and jurisdictions, including federal litigation, business deals, mergers & acquisitions, security and more. Law360, which serves more than 2.7 million readers every day, is owned by LexisNexis Legal & Professional and part of RELX, a global provider of information-based analytics and decision tools for professional and business customers.**About the Role***This role can be performed in San Francisco or Los Angeles.*Law360 is seeking a senior reporter to cover the legal industry in California and the wider adoption of legal technology and artificial intelligence across law firms, courts and regulators.We are looking for an ambitious journalist who thrives on breaking news, spotting emerging trends, and delivering insightful coverage that explains how the technology is reshaping the business and practice of law. The ideal candidate is equally comfortable filing quick-turn stories on major developments in the legal industry and producing deeply reported features and enterprise pieces that put those developments into context.This reporter will cover one of the most consequential shifts facing the legal industry: the rise of generative AI and the broader transformation of legal services through technology. They should be curious about how AI tools are being adopted, how the technology works, the successes and failures, and what these changes mean for lawyers, clients, courts, regulators, and the economics of the legal profession.The reporter is expected to cultivate a network of sources across the legal tech ecosystem, including law firm leaders, startup founders, investors, consultants, academics, and regulators. Candidates should have strong news judgment, a proven ability to generate scoops, familiarity with technology and the confidence to chase exclusive reporting in a competitive environment.The successful candidate will also be able to translate complex technical concepts into clear, compelling journalism for a sophisticated legal audience. They should have strong writing skills and a demonstrated ability to move seamlessly between breaking news, analysis, and longer-form feature stories.**Requirements*** Possess at least five years of full-time, paid reporting experience* Demonstrated reporting and writing skills* Comprehensive understanding of the tech landscape, AI, SaaS and related topics* Ability to generate own story ideas that are relevant and timely* Experience working a beat* Collaborative approach and desire to follow the news* Ability to juggle daily news and longer-term features and enterprise reporting**Preferences*** Experience covering the legal industry, including in-house legal departments, law firms, legal associations and regulators, legal technology and artificial intelligence.* Experience reporting for a professional audience.* Ability to generate scoops, write breaking news stories and deeper analytic pieces* Ability and openness to regularly meeting with tech, law firm and other sources**Work in a way that works for you**We promote a healthy work/life balance across the organization. We offer an appealing working prospect for our people. With numerous wellbeing initiatives, shared parental leave, and study assistance, we will help you meet your immediate responsibilities and your long-term goals.**Working for you**We know that your wellbeing and happiness are key to a long and successful career. These are some of the benefits we are delighted to offer:* Health Benefits: Comprehensive program for medical, dental and vision benefits* Retirement Benefits: 401(k) with match* Wellbeing: Wellness platform with incentives, Employee Assistance and Time-off Programs* Short-and-Long Term Disability, Life and Accidental Death Insurance, Critical Illness, and Hospital Indemnity* Family Benefits, including bonding and family care leaves* Health Savings, Health Care, Dependent Care and Commuter Spending Accounts* In addition to annual Paid Time Off, we offer up to two days of paid leave each to participate in Employee Resource Groups and to volunteer with your charity of choice**About the Business**LexisNexis Legal & Professional provides legal, regulatory, and business information and analytics that help customers increase their productivity, improve decision-making, achieve better outcomes, and advance the rule of law around the world. As a digital pioneer, the company was the first to bring legal and business information online with its Lexis and Nexis services.**Salary:** $85,000/annuallyU.S. National Base Pay Range: $17,100 - $28,700. Geographic differentials may apply in some locations to better reflect local market rates.**We know your well-being and happiness are key to a long and successful career. We are delighted to offer country specific benefits. Click** **here** **to access benefits specific to your location.**We are committed to providing a fair and accessible hiring process. If you have a disability or other need that requires accommodation or adjustment, please let us know by completing our Applicant Request Support Form or please contact 1-855-833-5120.**Criminals may pose as recruiters asking for money or personal information. We never request money or banking details from job applicants. Learn more about spotting and avoiding scams** **here****.**Please read our Candidate Privacy Policy.We are an equal opportunity employer: qualified applicants are considered for and treated during employment without regard to race, color, creed, religion, sex, national origin, citizenship status, disability status, protected veteran status, age, marital status, sexual orientation, gender identity, genetic information, or any other characteristic protected by law. #J-18808-Ljbffr