California is taking a hard look at the intersection of racial justice and how agencies around the state police. 

Here’s what the state’s new Attorney General said, this spring: “We need to rebuild trust between law enforcement and communities. Accountability is part of that trust.”

Since 2018, when SB 1421 gave the public a broader right to records about police misconduct, the California Reporting Project has brought together 40 newsrooms to request and analyze police personnel files, including use of force and official dishonesty. The project’s purpose is to help Californians understand the role of law enforcement in their lives, through accountability, in storytelling, and in data analysis.

Using thousands of case records obtained so far, reporters have produced stories that have appeared on NPR member stations across the state, plus the LA Times, Associated Press, Sacramento Bee, Desert Sun and many others. A podcast with NPR, “On Our Watch,” is out this month. 

The engagement producer for the California Reporting Project will bring this groundbreaking work to a wider audience. You will be an essential conduit between other journalists reporting stories, and people whose lives are impacted by police misconduct. This job is a perfect fit for anyone who wants to help shape this critically important journalism so that it can reach and empower the communities whose stories we’re telling right now. 

This work matters: after some of our stories, officers have been disciplined, charges dropped, and department reviews initiated. You can help make our journalism even stronger. 

This is a limited-term, part-time position working 20 hours per week through November 2021. This position requires field work and community outreach in Bakersfield, CA.

One of our core values at KQED is that we are better together, and that we commit to learning, growth, and holding ourselves accountable. We value the contributions of marginalized people in society — including Black, Indigenous, and all people of color,  people with disabilities, and LGBTQIA+ people — and we believe that these communities must be centered in the work we do, and we strongly encourage members of these communities to apply.

 

Essential Functions: 

• You will work with a project manager to create and implement overall engagement strategies.
• You will identify and amplify community questions, needs, and concerns about policing practices, and establish relationships with community stakeholders -- which means you will spend time with people. 
• Working with the project manager, you will help us identify nontraditional distribution methods, and execute strategies for sharing CRP stories, data and analysis. 
• You will develop, implement and manage strategies to increase engagement of CRP audiences through search, web, mobile and email platforms and other emerging digital channels, so we can help new audiences find our stories and data for the first time. 
• You will assist the project manager and collaborate with everyone around, including stakeholders and partners, to develop ways to get the word out about our work to people who can use it.
• You may participate in CRP collaborations on audience research, oversee content on social media platforms, monitor metrics, and plan social media advertising.
• You may be assigned other duties and special projects as well. 

Preferred Skills, Knowledge and Abilities:

• You are interested in the issues around law enforcement and policing, and you love meeting and communicating with people to understand what they think.
• You can communicate in Spanish, as so many Californians do. 
• It would be fantastic if you know how to use engagement tools like Hearken, Typeform, and GroundSource. 
• We’d love it if you have some experience with best practices for publishing and content creation and formats across different online platforms -- like Facebook, YouTube, Twitter, Instagram.
• You may represent the California Reporting Project in meetings and at in-person events (when it is safe to do so).

We want journalists who bring a diversity of experiences, talents and viewpoints to join us in our work. So, if you don’t think you can check off every box on the list above but are confident you can contribute to our efforts, please don’t hesitate to apply. 

 

Let us tell you more about our benefits:

Whether you’re single, married, have children, are in a domestic partnership or anything in between, we have you covered. Employees at KQED enjoy a family-friendly workplace offering paid time off, paid holidays, paid parental leave, family medical leave benefits, comprehensive health/vision/dental and commuter benefits as well as a 403(b) plan. KQED encourages diversity, openness and offers training to support personal and professional development. In addition, we are proud to offer Employee Resource Groups, wellness programs as well as free KQED membership.

The mission that drives us:

KQED is for everyone who wants to be more.    

Our television, radio, digital media, and educational services change lives for the better and help individuals and communities achieve their full potential.

KQED serves the people of Northern California with a community-supported alternative to commercial media.    

We provide people with the knowledge they need to make informed decisions; convene community dialogue; bring the arts to everyone and engage audiences to share their stories. We help students and teachers thrive in 21st-century classrooms, and take people of all ages on journeys of exploration- exposing them to new people, places and ideas.

We celebrate diversity, embrace innovation, value lifelong learning and partner with those who share our passion for public services.

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