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General Assignment Reporter Jobs in California (NOW HIRING)

You will be a strong, take-charge reporter who hits the ground running every day. We value strong enterprise reporting and we're looking for someone who finds the stories that lead newscasts.

Local News Reporter

Sacramento, CA · On-site

$70K - $80K/yr

You will be a strong, take-charge reporter who hits the ground running every day. We value strong enterprise reporting and we're looking for someone who finds the stories that lead newscasts.

You will be a strong, take-charge reporter who hits the ground running every day. We value strong enterprise reporting and we're looking for someone who finds the stories that lead newscasts.

Reporter (Part-Time)

Los Angeles, CA · On-site

$33.38 - $38.70/hr

Reporter Department: News Reporting To: Assistant Brand Manager Employment Type: Part-Time Location: Los Angeles, CA Work Arrangement: On-Site Pay Transparency: This position's anticipated starting ...

As the Los Angeles Scene Reporter, you will keep track of concert and tour announcements in order to provide timely stories for the mxdwn audience. You will become the go-to source for all of the ...

Local News Reporter

Sacramento, CA · On-site

$70K - $80K/yr

You will be a strong, take-charge reporter who hits the ground running every day. We value strong enterprise reporting and we're looking for someone who finds the stories that lead newscasts.

Reporter (Part-Time)

Los Angeles, CA · On-site

$33.38 - $38.70/hr

Reporter Department: News Reporting To: Assistant Brand Manager Employment Type: Part-Time Location: Los Angeles, CA Work Arrangement: On-Site Pay Transparency: This position's anticipated starting ...

South Bay Food Reporter, San Francisco Chronicle The San Francisco Chronicle seeks a reporter to focus on one of the Bay Area's most exciting but undercovered restaurant regions: the South Bay. The ...

Reporter Department: News Reporting To: Assistant Brand Manager Employment Type: Part-Time Location: Los Angeles, CA Work Arrangement: On-Site Pay Transparency: This position's anticipated starting ...

$25 - $35/hr

Reporting to the Deputy News Editor, the General Assignment News Reporter will have a focus on breaking exclusive stories and covering major events unfolding in Los Angeles and beyond. From ...

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Showing results 1-20

General Assignment Reporter information

See California salary details

$14.8K

$41.8K

$76.5K

How much do general assignment reporter jobs pay per year?

As of Jun 12, 2026, the average yearly pay for general assignment reporter in California is $41,823.00, according to ZipRecruiter salary data. Most workers in this role earn between $31,600.00 and $48,900.00 per year, depending on experience, location, and employer.

What is the difference between General Assignment Reporter vs Beat Reporter?

AspectGeneral Assignment ReporterBeat Reporter
Primary FocusCovering a wide range of topics and breaking newsSpecialized coverage of a specific beat or subject
Work EnvironmentVaried, often on short notice, covering different storiesConsistent, in-depth reporting within a specific area
CredentialsJournalism degree, reporting experienceSimilar credentials, often with expertise in the beat

Both roles require journalism skills and reporting experience, but a General Assignment Reporter covers diverse topics, while a Beat Reporter specializes in a particular area. The choice depends on whether you prefer variety or in-depth expertise in a specific field.

What does a General Assignment Reporter do?

A General Assignment Reporter is a journalist who covers a wide range of news stories rather than focusing on a specific beat, such as politics or sports. They are often sent to report on breaking news, community events, crime, human interest stories, and other topics as assigned by their editors. Their day-to-day tasks can vary greatly, requiring flexibility, strong research skills, and the ability to work under tight deadlines. General Assignment Reporters must quickly gather information, conduct interviews, and write clear, accurate articles for print, online, or broadcast media.

What are some common challenges faced by General Assignment Reporters in managing diverse story topics and tight deadlines?

General Assignment Reporters often juggle multiple stories on a variety of topics, which requires quick adaptability and strong organizational skills. They typically work under tight deadlines, making it essential to prioritize tasks and efficiently gather accurate information from different sources. Balancing breaking news coverage with longer-term feature stories can be demanding, but it also offers opportunities to develop a wide-ranging skill set and build relationships across newsroom teams. Collaboration with editors, photographers, and digital teams is key to producing timely, well-rounded stories.

What Is a General Assignment Reporter?

A general assignment reporter writes about and reports on various topics for a newspaper, news website, or television station. As a general assignment reporter, the story types you are reporting on can range from human interest to breaking news. Your assignments change on a regular basis, depending on the most pressing events of the day. Your primary duties revolve around finding content for your report. A general assignment reporter job is a great way to gain experience before becoming an editor, news director, or columnist. Most general assignment reporters earn a bachelor’s degree in journalism, communication, or a related field.

What are the key skills and qualifications needed to thrive as a General Assignment Reporter, and why are they important?

To thrive as a General Assignment Reporter, you need excellent writing, research, and interviewing skills, typically supported by a degree in journalism, communications, or a related field. Familiarity with content management systems (CMS), digital publishing tools, and multimedia equipment is often required. Strong soft skills include curiosity, adaptability, time management, and effective interpersonal communication. These abilities are crucial for producing accurate, timely, and engaging news stories in a fast-paced and ever-changing media environment.
What cities in California are hiring for General Assignment Reporter jobs? Cities in California with the most General Assignment Reporter job openings:
What are popular job titles related to General Assignment Reporter jobs in CA? For General Assignment Reporter jobs in CA, the most frequently searched job titles are:

South Bay Food Reporter

Hearst Newspapers

South San Francisco, CA

Full-time

Medical, Dental, Vision, Retirement, PTO

Posted 29 days ago


Job description

South Bay Food Reporter, San Francisco Chronicle 

The San Francisco Chronicle seeks a reporter to focus on one of the Bay Area's most exciting but undercovered restaurant regions: the South Bay. The ideal reporter will be hungry to break news, speedily report on closures and deliver exclusives on major new restaurant openings in San Jose and the surrounding areas. They will balance daily news reporting with trend stories and other enterprising features to become a must-read for anyone interested in eating in the South Bay. They will be a strategist, focused on growing our audience in the region and willing to experiment in the process.

Candidates should be able to deliver clean copy in a fast-paced environment. We are looking for a positive and creative communicator who thrives in a collaborative environment and holds a deep commitment to journalism that is fair and inclusive.

* This is a remote position; however, candidates must be based in the South Bay area. *

What you will do: 

Report and write 2-3 stories a week about the South Bay food scene, including openings, closings and regional trends

Develop sources, comb through social media and look up public records to find and pitch original story ideas

Work with our video and audience teams to identify and film occasional food videos for Instagram and TikTok

Contribute to the Chronicle's Food + Wine broader Bay Area restaurant news coverage as needed 

Work collaboratively with teams, including audience, photo, data and design

What it will take to be successful: 

At least two years' experience at a daily newspaper, magazine or web publication or the equivalent as a reporter and/or editor

Demonstrated expertise in reporting and writing, with strong news judgment

Ability to respond quickly to breaking news, while also juggling multiple projects with different deadlines

Ability to write sophisticated, high-impact features based on original, long-term reporting and incisive analysis

Ability to collaborate with all newsroom teams and work in a fast-changing news environment 

Interest in business reporting and passion for the food and restaurant beat

In accordance with applicable law, Hearst is required to include a reasonable estimate of the compensation for this role if hired in California. The reasonable estimate is $75,000 - $85,000. Please note this information is specific to those hired in the San Francisco Bay Area. A final decision on the successful candidate's starting salary will be based on a number of permissible, non-discriminatory factors, including but not limited to skills and experience, training, certifications, and education.

About Us: 

The San Francisco Chronicle (www.sfchronicle.com) is the largest newspaper in Northern California and the second largest on the West Coast. Acquired by the Hearst Corporation in 2000, The San Francisco Chronicle was founded in 1865 by Charles and Michael de Young and has been awarded six Pulitzer Prizes for journalistic excellence.

Our Benefits: At Hearst Newspapers we not only support our employees through personal and professional development, but we also believe in promoting each individual's physical, financial and emotional wellbeing (and that of their family).  Our industry-leading benefits include:

  • Physical Wellbeing: Medical, Dental, and Vision coverage to keep you and your family healthy.
  • Invest for the Future: Competitive retirement plan with matching program in most markets.
  • Generous Paid Time Off: Recharge with ample time off, including holidays and vacation.
  • Paid Parental Leave: Support for growing families, with paid leave for new parents.
  • Monthly Child & Dependent Care Reimbursement: Financial support for the care of your loved ones.
  • Emotional Wellbeing: Be your best self with our mental wellness benefits.
  • LGBTQ+ & Inclusive Health Services: Inclusive healthcare designed for every individual's unique needs.
  • Fertility Coverage & Menopause Support: Helping you along every step of your family journey.
  • Pet Wellness Reimbursement & Rover Credits: We care about your pets, too - helping you keep them happy and healthy.
  • And more, click here for additional benefits and details.

HNP Overview:

With 2,500 employees across the nation, Hearst Newspapers (HNP) represents a network of 28 daily and 50 weekly publications, including the Austin American-Statesman, Houston Chronicle, San Antonio Express-News, San Francisco Chronicle and Times Union (Albany). Our portfolio also includes several top digital-only news and lifestyle sites such as Chron., CT Insider, MySA and SFGATE, along with marketing services businesses like Medium Giant and entertainment brands such as King Features Syndicate.

At HNP, we're investing in new and innovative ways to tell stories - growing newsrooms, diversifying tools and evolving platforms - to support the millions of people who trust us each month to help them make decisions, take action and be inspired.

Be part of something bigger - Your Headline Awaits


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