After years of layoffs, here’s a surprise — the Mercury News is looking to hire two reporters, one for the Sacramento bureau and another to cover startups and VCs. Here’s an e-mail that went out to Los Angeles Daily News reporters yesterday regarding the openings. The source of the e-mail is the blog LAObserved.

From: Carolina Garcia 

Date: Wed, Oct 13, 2010 at 1:59 PM 

Subject: 2 job openings at the Merc 

Dave [Butler, the Merc’s editor] has two reporter openings. 

SACRAMENTO REPORTER 

The San Jose Mercury News has an immediate opening for an experienced state government reporter in our Sacramento bureau. This person will be responsible for all aspects of the California state capital, but with a focus on enterprise and investigative work that will help set the agenda in Sacramento. Working in the MediaNews Capitol bureau in Sacramento, the reporter will produce stories that will appear in newspapers throughout California and likely beyond. The successful candidate will have at least two years covering a statehouse and at least five years total experience with a major metropolitan daily or similar media outlet. Candidates should be well-versed in government coverage and in California’s political landscape. Interested? Send a cover letter, resume and 6 clips (PDF copies with online links, preferable) to statehousejob@mercurynews.com 

START-UP/VENTURE CAPITAL REPORTER

The San Jose Mercury News is looking for a reporter to cover the Silicon Valley start-up and venture capital community. Candidates must have at least two years experience covering the start-up industry, or a background working in the industry as well as at least two years of reporting experience at a daily news organization. We are looking for a reporter who can produce enterprise stories for the front page, craft an engaging weekly column focusing on the people and companies that are driving the industry, as well as quickly write breaking news for the Web. The ideal candidate will also have solid judgment, since part of the job will be to serve as an “early-warning” system for the Business Section to alert its editors about the “next” Facebook, or Twitter, or other phenomenon that will reshape Silicon Valley. 

Candidates should send a cover letter, resume and 3-5 clips to: 

Stephen R. Trousdale 

Business Editor 

San Jose Mercury News 

750 Ridder Park Dr. 

San Jose, CA 95190