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So You Want To Contribute To LAist? Here's How

One year ago, Congress defunded public media. Now that we're 100% community funded, please become a sustaining member or increase your existing membership today.

(Photo: Fox Photos/Getty Images)


We're here to answer questions about Southern California that keep you up at night. If you have one, ask it here.


When LAist relaunched this week, we invited readers to ask us anything. You didn't disappoint. We've received questions on everything from immigration and escalators to street vending and the solar panels at the L.A. Veterans Affairs parking.

One question caught our eye -- maybe it's because we've seen it pop up on our website, email and social channels: "How can I contribute to LAist?"

We're glad you asked! We want people who are deeply engaged in Los Angeles and in their communities to contribute to the site. You don't need a background in journalism or writing. You just need to be passionate about sharing your stories. Here's more info:

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What kind of stories is LAist looking for?
The sky's the limit. From breaking news to arts and culture stories, we want it all. Get broad. Get local. Take us off the beaten path. What do you know that we don't? We're interested in serious, reported news. We're interested in personal stories. We're interested in quirky, unique corners of the city. We're interested in ANYTHING that tells a deeper story about life in Southern California.

Do you pay?

You bet! We pay $200 per story.

Can I contribute something other than writing?
Yes -- eventually. Down the line, we may want photography, video, artists, jetpacks. You get the idea. If you have something you think belongs on LAist, you can reach out to us at tips@laist.com.

I have an idea, but I'm not sure it's any good. Should I send it to you anyway?
Yes! (Have you spotted a trend yet?) We want to hear from as many different people on as many different subjects as we can.

When will I hear from you?
We've received a lot of inquires since we relaunched, so it may take us a while to reply to you. We promise to consider every email we receive.

You can also get involved by submitting a question below. For every question that is selected, we'll reach out to the person who asked it.

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.
Senior Vice President News, Editor in Chief

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