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LAist Is Hiring A Staff Writer
Photo by Rob Rovira via the LAist Featured Photos pool on Flickr
LAist is seeking a full-time writer who is comfortable blogging, has solid news judgment and a touch of wit to cover a range of topics, from hard news to arts and food.
This is a paid, full-time position, with fully covered medical, dental and vision benefits. The position is based in Los Angeles. Days and hours may vary from a 9-to-5 job, as covering breaking news in real time will be one of the staff writer's responsibilities. Though the ideal candidate would possess a working knowledge about Los Angeles and its surrounding areas, the right candidate has the versatility and tenacity to become an authoritative local news source. You should be as comfortable reporting—pestering public officials, poring through city records, tracking down sources—as you are musing about the latest cocktail craze.
LAist was launched in 2004, as one in a network of local publications operated by the independently-owned Gothamist, and it has steadily expanded. Over time, the publication has grown into a unique hybrid of engaging and informative aggregation and wholly original content. But the two forms are increasingly commingling and are both influenced by the LAist "voice" that makes our aggregation trenchant and entertaining.
The Staff Writer's responsibilities will include:
- On a daily basis, reporting on breaking news, writing engaging blog posts, and aggregating stories.
- Checking facts and elaborating on others' reporting as necessary.
- Occasionally editorializing on subjects of local interest in a smart, sometimes light-hearted way.
- Coming up with interesting longer-term story ideas and working together with other staffers to bring them to fruition.
The ideal candidate should be as comfortable with writing aggregated blog posts from multiple news sources as he, she, or they is adept at covering breaking news, digging up untold tales, and writing stories assigned by editors. Fluency in Spanish, especially for reporting, is not required but a PLUS, as is specific and deep knowledge about different L.A. communities. The Staff Writer reports directly to LAist's Editor-in-Chief.
Requirements: At least two years of full-time blogging, reporting or equivalent experience, an instinct for what's newsworthy and the skills to report it out, a ferocious drive and piercing wit, a working knowledge of and desire to learn more about the big issues facing Los Angeles, and the stamina to create five well-written posts per day.
If you're interested, send a brief email with a summary of your experience and any particular L.A. expertise, along with writing clips to jobs@laist.com, subject "LAist Staff Writer." No need to follow up: if we're interested, you'll hear from us. No attachments, please.
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Gothamist LLC is an Equal Opportunity Employer.
One year ago, Congress voted to defund public media, eliminating a critical $1.7 million from our budget every year going forward. But they couldn’t silence us, and we’re not going anywhere. LAist is now 100% community funded and that means we’re taking our future into our own hands and turning to you to keep local reporting strong.
You come to LAist because you want independent reporting and trustworthy local information. Our nonprofit newsroom doesn’t answer to shareholders looking to turn a profit. Instead, we answer to you and our communities. We are free to follow facts wherever they lead and to hold power to account without fear or favor. Our only loyalty is to our readers and listeners and our mission: to inform, engage, and strengthen Southern California’s communities.
If this story helped you, please become a monthly member today to help sustain this mission. It just takes 1 minute to donate below.
You come to LAist because you want independent reporting and trustworthy local information. Our nonprofit newsroom doesn’t answer to shareholders looking to turn a profit. Instead, we answer to you and our communities. We are free to follow facts wherever they lead and to hold power to account without fear or favor. Our only loyalty is to our readers and listeners and our mission: to inform, engage, and strengthen Southern California’s communities.
If this story helped you, please become a monthly member today to help sustain this mission. It just takes 1 minute to donate below.
Senior Vice President News, Editor in Chief
