The Abridged version:
- The Community Reporters program is accepting applications to join its second cohort.
- No previous news or journalism experience is required to become a member of the team.
- Team members should be committed to completing two stories per month, as well as attend monthly training sessions.
After a successful launch last year, the Abridged by PBS KVIE Community Reporters program is again recruiting local storytellers to join its second cohort.
The first cohort of six members began reporting at the start of 2026 and has published more than 20 stories highlighting various aspects of life across the Sacramento region, including pieces about e-bikes on the American River bike trail, the history of Sacramento’s iconic Elks Tower building and how the trinket-trading trend took root in our area.
The group began the program with no formal journalism experience and has since participated in monthly training workshops, learning practical skills from Abridged’s newsroom of award-winning reporters and editors.
“KVIE exists to serve this community, and our Abridged Community Reporters program is one of the clearest examples of what that looks like in practice,” said PBS KVIE President and General Manager David Lowe. “In year one, it proved that when we invest in local voices, this region shows up for local news — and that’s exactly why we’re opening applications for another cohort.”
Applications for the 2027 cohort open Tuesday and will remain open until Friday, Oct. 16. Candidates should have an interest in finding and telling local stories that other media outlets miss, along with a dedication to learning the principles of good journalism.
Team members are expected to produce two stories each month, as well as be available to participate in an orientation and monthly training workshops.
Team members are paid for each story, and the Abridged staff is available for additional training, guidance and support. Community reporters also have the chance to connect and support each other as they develop their skills.
“This is an opportunity that is as big or small as a reporter chooses to make it,” said James Smith, a current member of the Community Reporters team. “It’s a writer’s dream to find a platform to write about the things we find fascinating. On top of that, we’re supported by the training of the KVIE award-winning staff and editors, with one-on-one coaching on any skills building we may ask for. I would advise any young person to run with this. It’s a golden opportunity to push yourself to build skills and learn from the pros.”
If you’re interested in learning more or submitting an application, the Community Reporters job description is below, along with a link to the application form. Journalism experience is not necessary.
Abridged Community Reporters Job Description
Abridged by PBS KVIE is seeking aspiring and highly motivated storytellers from across the Sacramento area to help us tell the stories of the region’s people, places and communities. Previous journalism or news experience is not required, but you should bring a desire to serve the community, an eagerness to learn more about covering news, a strong work ethic and an understanding of the difference between fact and opinion.
PBS KVIE will provide a comprehensive training program and participants will be compensated at a set per-story rate. The training program will include education on the key foundations of high-quality, ethical journalism, technical guidance on multimedia tools and practical information on expectations, editorial workflow and more.
Interested candidates should be:
- Engaged in what’s happening in their neighborhood, in local government and politics, in the arts scene or in other communities built around geography or shared interests, and enthusiastic about sharing that information with others.
- Committed to contributing two stories per month.
- Available to attend an in-person orientation/training session, along with monthly meetups and workshops.
- Interested in learning about the principles of good journalism and how to produce high-quality content in multiple formats.
If you’re interested in being considered for a spot on our Community Reporters team, click here to submit your application.
If you have questions, reach out to Citizen Journalism Editor Adam Eisenberg at aeisenberg@kvie.org.
