Freelance food writer

Opening: Embarcadero Media Freelance Reporter – Food
Department: Editorial, Foodist – appears in Palo Alto Weekly, The Almanac, Mountain View Voice, Redwood City Pulse
Reports To: Adrienne Mitchel / Food Editor
Location: Remote
Date: 3/3/25

About Us

Embarcadero Media Foundation is a nonprofit journalism group with three printed weekly newspapers, seven hyperlocal news websites and six email newsletters that serve a population of more than 500,000 people on the MidPeninsula and the East Bay’s Tri-Valley. We are looking for a motivated and passionate freelance reporter to join our food branch, The Peninsula Foodist, to inform, inspire and entertain our readers and the foodies of the Peninsula.

Articles for Peninsula Foodist appear on four websites – Palo Alto Online, The Almanac, Mountain View Voice and Redwood City Pulse – and may also appear in two print newspapers – Palo Alto Weekly and The Almanac. Peninsula Foodist has its own Instagram account, @peninsulafoodist, and weekly newsletter.

Job Summary

The Food Freelancer will be responsible for producing food features (generally 800-1,200 words) and food blogs (generally 300-600 words). The ideal candidate will possess excellent interviewing, writing and storytelling skills and have a passion for food. The Food Freelancer will be working closely with the Food Editor and the Features Editor at Embarcadero Media.

Key Responsibilities

• Produce food features, roundups, enterprise stories, profiles and Q&As. Deadlines are flexible as long as you communicate your timeline with the Food Editor.
• Produce food blogs, such as restaurant openings and closings. Deadlines are flexible as long as you communicate your timeline with the Food Editor.
• Keep an eye out for food stories while in the field and pitch relevant stories to the Food Editor
• While the Food Freelancer is not responsible for taking photos on the scene, they are responsible for communicating with the source about a time for a photographer to come by and/or to request courtesy images from the source

Required Qualifications

• Degree in journalism or related field
• 1 year of experience reporting professionally
• Knowledge of the Peninsula’s food scene (San Mateo and Santa Clara counties, excluding San Jose)

Preferred Qualifications

• Prior experience reporting on food and/or working in the food industry
• Being a foodie!

Skills and Abilities

• Strong communication and written skills
• Ability to interview, craft a story and write in AP style

Working Conditions

• Flexible hours – produce at least 1 feature or 1 set of three blogs per month
• Remote
• May have to drive to meet sources and conduct interviews

Compensation

• $200 for a feature
• $250 for three blogs

How to Apply

Interested candidates should submit a resume, cover letter and three clips via the application form. Freelance reporter applications will be accepted on a rolling basis. For details, contact [email protected].