Job Description:

POLITICO is looking for an ambitious, experienced editor to lead coverage of California's technology industry, politics and policy as part of our growing California newsroom and global tech team.

This editor will helm California Decoded, POLITICO's daily newsletter focused on the people, power and policies shaping California's technology sector - especially on state and local governments or elections. The editor will oversee and edit a team of reporters covering Silicon Valley influence, California technology policy and the fast-moving world of automation, including self-driving cars and other emerging technologies.

This is a high-impact editorial role at the intersection of California politics, technology and global power. The editor will help set the agenda for coverage of the technology industry's influence in Sacramento and California, while connecting the Golden State's biggest stories to debates playing out in Washington and other global tech centers.

The ideal candidate is a sharp, deeply sourced journalist who understands how California politics and government intersect with the technology industry. They will be comfortable editing breaking news at high speed, shaping ambitious enterprise, developing reporters and writing with authority for a sophisticated audience of lawmakers, government officials, industry executives, advocates and POLITICO subscribers.

The editor will be responsible for setting the editorial vision for the daily California Decoded, coordinating coverage across multiple reporters and working closely with POLITICO's technology journalists in Washington, London and Brussels. The role will also involve editing POLITICO homepage stories and helping identify the California technology stories with the biggest national and international implications.

What You'll Do:

• Lead the editorial vision and daily production of California Decoded, including setting the newsletter agenda, editing copy and developing distinctive enterprise and analysis.
• Edit reporters covering Silicon Valley politics and influence, California technology policy, lobbying and political fundraising, and emerging technology including automation and autonomous vehicles.
• Help build a cohesive California tech reporting operation, setting priorities and coordinating coverage across beats.
• Shape breaking-news coverage and enterprise stories that go beyond basic industry reporting to explain who has power, who is lobbying for what and what comes next.
• Identify stories with implications beyond California and work with POLITICO's global tech team to connect developments in Sacramento and Silicon Valley to Washington, London, Brussels and other power centers.
• Work closely with reporters to develop sources, sharpen story ideas, strengthen reporting and produce clean, authoritative journalism.
• Edit high-impact stories for POLITICO's homepage, newsletters and subscriber audience.
• Help recruit, develop and mentor journalists as the California tech team grows.
• Collaborate with editors and reporters across California, Washington and POLITICO's global newsrooms.
• Maintain POLITICO's rigorous standards for accuracy, fairness, independence and nonpartisan journalism.

What You'll Need:

• Significant experience as an editor, reporter or journalist covering technology, politics, policy or government, with a strong understanding of California.
• A sophisticated understanding of the technology industry and its relationship with Sacramento and Washington.
• A demonstrated ability to edit ambitious journalism and help reporters turn strong reporting into distinctive, high-impact stories.
• A track record of breaking news, developing enterprise and producing journalism that explains not just what happened, but why it matters.
• Excellent news judgment and the ability to move quickly in a demanding daily news environment.
• Exceptional writing and editing skills, with a clean, clear and authoritative voice.
• Experience editing or producing a daily newsletter is strongly preferred.
• An ability to see connections across beats and develop stories with state, national and international significance.
• A collaborative management style and a commitment to developing reporters and working across teams.
• A rigorous commitment to fair-minded, accurate and nonpartisan journalism.
• Experience in California technology policy, campaign finance, lobbying, artificial intelligence, automation, autonomous vehicles or other emerging technologies is a major plus.

To apply: Please submit a résumé, cover letter and samples of work that showcase your political editing and idea-generating skills. This position will be based in San Francisco or Sacramento, with regular collaboration with POLITICO's California, Washington and global technology teams.

COMPENSATION: $120,000-$140,000 Annual Base. The final salary offered will be based on factors including relevant experience, skills, and qualifications.

We value our people. Click here for more on what we offer and what it's like to work for POLITICO.

Let's keep in touch. You can view our list of open positions here.

Posting date:
2026-09-16
Title:
California Tech Politics & Policy Editor