South Bay Food Reporter

South Bay Food Reporter

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 ( 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:

• 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