Reporter, Axios San Francisco

About the role

You will own the San Francisco beat for Axios Local, becoming the primary source of trustworthy, essential news for residents of the city and its surrounding areas. This role demands that you co-author a daily Axios newsletter that serves as the definitive guide to the most important stories, insights, and scoops for your readers. You will be responsible for identifying and shaping the biggest conversations happening locally, ensuring that the coverage respects readers' time and delivers clarity. A core part of your ownership will involve experimenting with and leveraging AI tools to enhance reporting speed and newsletter production. You will write in Axios's signature Smart Brevity style, bringing a distinct voice and personality to the work while helping to build and define the future of Axios Local. Your ambition should be to make yourself indispensable to local readers and to the product itself.

Key facts

What you'll do

Investigate and report on news, events, and trends that define daily life in San Francisco for a local audience.

Generate scoops and break news relevant to San Francisco residents by identifying underreported stories and untapped sources.

Co-author a daily Axios newsletter that synthesizes key developments and provides clear, actionable information to readers.

Leverage AI tools responsibly to accelerate reporting workflows, research, and newsletter production without compromising accuracy.

Build and maintain a robust network of sources across government, business, culture, and community groups to deepen coverage.

Write in Axios's Smart Brevity style, prioritizing clarity, precision, and impact in every piece.

Collaborate with editors and product teams to refine the Axios Local product and suggest improvements based on reader feedback.

Cover a wide range of topics including politics, business, culture, transportation, housing, and public safety as they affect San Francisco.

Ensure all reporting meets Axios standards for fairness, accuracy, and transparency in storytelling.

Act as the on-the-ground voice of Axios in San Francisco, translating complex developments into accessible narratives for residents.

Identify emerging trends and long-term changes shaping the city's future through sustained observation and analysis.

Contribute ideas for features, data-driven projects, and reader engagement initiatives that strengthen the local community.

Maintain a consistent publishing rhythm under tight deadlines while managing multiple assignments and priorities.

Champion inclusive storytelling practices that reflect the diversity and complexity of San Francisco's communities.

Requirements

You must have direct, professional experience covering San Francisco for a news organization.

You must possess an extensive network of sources in the city and a demonstrated ability to cultivate new ones.

You must be capable of breaking news and generating original scoops based on your reporting and relationships.

You must show omnivorous curiosity about San Francisco, regardless of how long you have lived there.

You must have a portfolio filled with original reporting, newsletter writing, and published work relevant to the city.

You must be comfortable incorporating a distinct voice and personality into your writing while adhering to Axios style.

You must have proven experience working in fast-paced news environments and consistently meeting strict deadlines.

You must be deeply motivated to serve local readers and make yourself indispensable to both them and the Axios Local product.

Nice to have

Prior experience leveraging AI tools for reporting and newsletter production is preferred.

A deep understanding of the tech ecosystem, civic institutions, and neighborhood dynamics in San Francisco is preferred.

Experience contributing to product development or providing feedback on newsroom tools is preferred.

Practical notes

This is a remote-optional role based in the United States. Compensation is determined by location within the country. No additional travel is required for this position. There are no visa sponsorship requirements for this role.