Sfgate Copy Editor, Part Time

Why SFGATE?

Launched in 1994, SFGATE.com was one of the first large-market media sites in the world and served as the exclusive digital home of the San Francisco Chronicle for 19 years. In 2019, the Chronicle (which can now be found online at the paywalled sfchronicle.com) and SFGATE officially became two separately run entities with their own editorial staffs and independent newsrooms.

Today, SFGATE is a digital-only publication that reaches more than 28 million readers every month and tells the stories of the people, places and ideas that make San Francisco, and the Bay Area at large, the weird and wonderful place that it is. We help readers navigate their day, whether it’s by keeping them updated on big breaking news, guiding them to interesting local experiences or sharing a part of the Bay they haven’t seen before.

The site is home to seven verticals: Culture, offering a unique mix of the entertainment news you actually need, and the underground stories from hidden corners of the Bay Area you want; Local, the premier destination for everything that life in San Francisco encompasses (from wildly expensive real estate to schools to what it’s like to live above a raucous bar); Sports, covering the intersection of sports and culture; Travel, covering everything from flight deals and travel news, to hotel hacks and under-the-radar day trips; Politics, where we keep you up to speed on all local, state and national politics that have implications on the Bay Area; Food + Drink, where we tell you the backstory of the people behind the bar and in the kitchen; and News, plus has satellite editors covering Lake Tahoe, California Parks, and Disneyland.

Your impact:

Under the direction of SFGATE’s copy editor, the part-time copy editor (20 hours a week) will work with our digital team to raise the standards of the site for clean, concise prose. You’ll be asked to edit consistently at a high level, demonstrating expertise of grammar and style. You’ll also conceive solutions to common copy problems and help to implement them. You’ll also need to understand when to escalate issues and when to solve them at the individual or team level.

What we’re looking for:

• Phenomenal headline writing skills and the ability to take a complex story and distill it down to a handful of words
• Ability to live in/commute to the San Francisco Bay Area
• An affection for language and an understanding of the impact it can have in our community
• Excellent English language skills and deep knowledge of grammar and style rules
• Keen proofreading eye and strong attention to detail
• Ability to communicate and interact professionally with culturally diverse writers, editors and staff
• Previous experience with a content management system
• Ability to work effectively in a small organization with an emphasis on teamwork
• Ability to work legally in the United States
• Professional experience with standard style guides, such as the Chicago Manual of Style or the Associated Press Stylebook
• Ability to prioritize and balance multiple projects simultaneously
• Ability to manage time effectively and meet deadlines

Who you are:

• You have 3 to 4 years of professional copy-editing experience
• You have a bachelor's degree in English, journalism, creative writing, comparative literature, communications or related fields from an accredited college or university, or equivalent, with a record that demonstrates suitable preparation for this position
• You’ve read SFGATE and have an understanding of the brand and voice

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 between $32,000 and $35,000. Please note this information is specific to those hired in San Francisco. If this role is open to candidates outside of San Francisco, the salary range would be aligned to that specific location. 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 the San Francisco Chronicle & SFGate:

The Chronicle is world-class journalism, San Francisco style. With name-brand voices and a keen editorial eye, The Chronicle is an authority that still surprises. It’s not afraid of being controversial or of doing things that haven’t been done. It’s bolder, brighter, and fearless. It’s news that is delivered to the discerning reader through multiple platforms.

SFGate provides a 360-degree view of San Francisco, wildly reflective of right now. Provocative, energetic and unapologetic, the Gate is in constant conversation with the world's most eclectic city.

Join our world-class team!