KP Q&A: POLITICO Editorial Director for California, Julia Marsh

The People and Process Behind the Headlines

By Patrick George, Partner, KP Public Affairs

POLITICO Editorial Director for California, Julia Marsh

From Sacramento to Silicon Valley and beyond, POLITICO California and their subscriber-only service POLITICO Pro, provides policy professionals with the in-depth reporting and tools they need to get ahead of policy trends and political developments shaping the Golden State.

KP Public Affairs’ Patrick George recently caught up with POLITICO Editorial Director for California, Julia Marsh who shared updates, insights, and tips for working with the highly influential outlet. As top editor in California, Marsh oversees the news operations’ direction and growth. As a service to those who work with the media and follow POLITICO, here are some insights from Marsh: 

What were some formative experiences in your journalism career?

First, I studied abroad in Havana, Cuba. While I was there, I was exposed to government-sponsored media. The reporting was not at all how things were on the ground. I learned firsthand what freedom of the press means and how privileged we are. Second, in my current position, I appreciate how extremely rare it is for a media company to be growing in numbers and respect. We’ve proven political and state journalism can thrive and grow. POLITICO is engaged in vital, substantive journalism, not cat videos and click bait.

What do you want readers to really understand about POLITICO?

POLITICO is the foremost authority in California and the U.S. covering politics, policy, and power. POLITICO is also in the European Union and United Kingdom. We write about the key political issues for players close to home and all over the world. Now, 18 years after our founding, we have the experience and expertise to create impactful journalism. Upstarts have come and gone, but we’ve survived and thrived.

How are the POLITICO newsletters organized in California?

We’ve revamped the marquee California Playbook newsletters. Dustin Gardiner and Lara Korte head these daily rundowns of political news and coverage in the AM newsletter and Lindsey Holden heads up the PM newsletter. Other reporters are regular Playbook contributors. Chris Cadelago also helps as our bureau chief in California. (He was recently recognized as a Capitol Weekly Top 100 Influencer in Sacramento). POLITICO also recently brought on former Los Angeles Times staffer Melanie Mason, a senior political reporter based in LA to cover politics including through dispatches in our Playbooks. 

You can sign up or California Playbook here and California Playbook PM here.

How is the rest of the editor team organized and what are the key reporter beats?

I serve as editorial director overseeing all coverage and expansion. We have four editors: Katy Murphy is the California editor who oversees education and the budget. We recently hired Emma Anderson, the California news editor who oversees tech coverage including artificial intelligence. She also edits health coverage. Katy and Emma share editing duties for the Playbooks. Sasha Issenberg is an editor and UCLA political science professor who has written about ballot initiatives and oversees a new ballot initiative team. And Debra Khan oversees the California Climate newsletter and coverage of energy, climate, transportation, and environment.

Read and subscribe to the California Climate newsletter here.

POLITICO covers a lot of policy areas including tech, healthcare, education, budget, energy, labor, environment, climate, and transportation. Eric He is a new legislative reporter delivering content for premium subscribers. He writes bill and issue analyses with the help of other reporters and editors. They cover each major bill in each legislative session. For example, Eric writes an annual analysis every fall on what California Governor Gavin Newsom vetoes and signs. Last year he broke down the bills that were on labor’s wish list, showed how cost issues factored into vetoes, and identified the major players behind each bill. He will do a similar write-up on the budget in the spring. As for what’s next with our California expansion, we’re making strategic decisions at the highest levels of POLITICO about growth and looking for ways to go further in state coverage.  

If you are a POLITICO Pro subscriber, you can see our California staff directory here. To learn more about subscriptions and advertising please contact advertising@politico.com.

POLITICO Global Editor-in-Chief John Harris, California Governor Gavin Newsom and POLITICO’s Cadelago

How does that align with or mirror the national team?

Reporting on California isn’t done in silos. California reporters and editors work closely with our DC-based team and colleagues in the UK and EU, particularly in tech and energy. There is also interaction between beats in California, New York, New Jersey, and Florida where we have state bureaus and also at the Federal level. I’m on regular calls with editors across the country.

POLITICO’s Julia Marsh (center), Politico's executive editor Joe Schatz (left), California bureau chief Christopher Cadelago (right)

It is a presidential election year – will that impact what POLITICO California covers?

The race runs through California given its population size and consequential House races. California is also important because it has a lot of influence as a donor base. POLITICO California has reporters who have deep experience covering Vice President Kamala Harris during her time here. Before returning from Washington DC to California, Chris Caledago was a lead reporter for the presidential campaigns of Biden and Harris as well as their time in the White House. Jeremy White, Katy Murphy, Melanie Mason, Lara Korte, and Dustin Gardiner are also regularly covering the election with the national teams.

For PR people, any advice on how to get the attention of POLITICO reporters?

I encourage PR professionals in California to have relationships with reporters. Relationships are paramount. PR people should get to know the reporters, follow their coverage, and know how and why story pitches are relevant. We love exclusive, high-level interviews with principals and heads of companies. Just give us enough time to consider a pitch and do the reporting. Ideally four days. More time is better because there are deadlines, timeliness, and time constraints in news. If you’re unclear where the story fits (California, another bureau, or nationally) just ask a California reporter. People can also come to me and other editors. My email is jmarsh@politico.com.

What should PR professionals, PIOs, and others consider when they want to go off the record?

If you want to have an off-the-record conversation with a reporter, say it at the top of the exchange. Just be clear about what you consider off the record and not for attribution. Reporters assume on the record unless you say otherwise. Reporters also may need to discuss it with their editors before they commit.

What is not POLITICO material?

The guiding principle is we want political and policy information from people inside the rooms. We’re interested in previously unknown facts. In addition to state legislators, we’re interested in how governors and mayors are involved in legislative matters and make decisions on how to act. You’d be surprised at the crossover with areas like business, pop culture, and sports. For example, Lara Korte’s story in August exposed how political leaders in California cracked down on the concert ticket industry while receiving ticket freebies, including Taylor Swift tickets. 

POLITICO California has a variety of solutions available for partners looking to reach and activate the most influential people in the Golden State. Have a petition you want signed? A cause you’re promoting? Seeking to increase brand awareness amongst this key audience? Share your message with our influential readers to foster engagement and drive action. From impactful digital sponsorships to meaningful events and research, POLITICO California is the premier partner for elevating your political and policy messages.

To learn more about commercial offerings or exclusive insight and analysis from subscriber-only services, click here or reach out to Rebecca Haase (rhaase@politico.com), POLITICO’s VP and GM for States expansion.

 Questions?

For questions, contact KP Public Affairs’ Partner: Patrick George (pgeorge@ka-pow.com). For more information about Patrick, visit KP Public Affairs’ website at https://www.kppublicaffairs.com/team.

POLITICO’s Cadelago interviews Governor Newsom