What are the responsibilities and job description for the Cofounder / Co-Host position at North State Observer?
We’re launching a weekly podcast this summer covering the people, politics, and culture of the North State.
We’re looking for a journalist, media professional, or aspiring journalist to come in as co-founder and co-host.
The commitment to start:
Just 12 weeks. Around 6 hours per week. That’s the pilot season — enough time to find out if this is something you want to build long-term, without overcommitting before you know.
What you’ll do:
— Co-host weekly episodes recorded live on-location in Chico
— Help shape editorial direction: story angles, guest strategy, interview prep
— Bring your own perspective and voice to North State stories
What we’re looking for:
— A journalist, reporter, editor, producer, or media student at any stage of their career
— Chico State journalism students and recent grads strongly encouraged
— Based in Chico or the North State — this is a local operation
— Comfortable on mic and in front of a live crowd
— Genuine curiosity about North State politics, community, and culture
About the co-founding partner:
Your co-founder has deep experience in business and media and is building this alongside a full-time career. The business side — strategy, technology, operations, and funding — is covered. You can focus entirely on the editorial work and let that be your lane. That said, if you have an interest in the business and strategy side of building a media company, that door is wide open too. This is a co-founder relationship and it can be as broad as you want it to be.
Compensation:
Equity co-founder stake. The 12-week pilot is a low-risk way to see if this is the right fit before either of us makes a bigger commitment. If it is, you’ll own a meaningful piece of something you helped build.
No formal application. Send a message — who you are, what you’ve covered or studied, and why the North State.