The Los Angeles Times is looking to hire an experienced, talented editor to work with investigative and accountability reporters across the newsroom.
The investigations editor will work with every department to identify and evaluate short- and long-term reporting opportunities, with a focus on accountability reporting. The work includes guiding projects as well as editing or helping to edit stories.
This editor will collaborate with all newsroom departments, editors and reporters and be a paperwide resource for colleagues pursuing investigative projects from their inception. The responsibilities may include helping to manage relationships and joint projects with outside partners. The editor will also be involved with recruiting and hiring decisions.
Tasks will include:
- Directing and supervising investigative assignments from reporters across all newsroom desks
- Lead writers and editors in evaluating potential investigative projects and guide them through reporting and editing
- Actively develop newsroom talent by setting high standards and pushing writers and editors to produce their most ambitious work
- Partner with newsroom leadership on recruiting and hiring
- Develop partnerships with outside groups and organizations.
- Building on an L.A. Times tradition of strong, award-winning investigative reporting
We are looking for candidates with 15 or more years of reporting and editing experience, superb line-editing skills, excellent news judgment (and judgment generally) and a gift for inspiring some of the newsroom's most talented reporters. A track record of guiding powerful, high-quality investigative and accountability journalism as well as experience in a digital news environment are essential.
Ideal candidates will have:
- Experience with investigative tools, including data analysis and document research
- A rigorous and meticulous approach to accountability journalism
- A track record of guiding investigations, especially examinations of government and institutional actors
- Ability to generate ideas for projects that are of particular importance to California and West Coast audiences
- A proven ability to edit with speed and accuracy
- The ability to think strategically about what big projects are worth the investment of time and resources
- A gift for developing productive, collegial team cultures
- Experience collaborating across newsroom teams
This management role will be based in El Segundo, Calif. This editor may be asked to appear on TV and radio on behalf of the L.A. Times and represent the organization at conferences, seminars, professional meetings and employer-sponsored events. Occasional night and weekend work is expected.
Please submit a resume, cover letter and applicable clips to Editor at Large Scott Kraft at the Apply link. In your cover letter, include your thoughts on how you would approach the role and your philosophy of investigative reporting.
The pay scale the Company reasonably expects to pay for this position at the time of the posting is $160,000 to $180,000 and takes into account a wide range of factors including but not limited to skill set, experience, training, licenses, certifications, and other business or organizational needs. Compensation will be determined based on the above factors along with the requirements of the position. At the L.A. Times, it is not typical for an individual to be hired at or near the top of the range for the role. Please visit our career site to view the benefits available to our employees. We recommend adding our applicant tracking system domain (@dayforce.com) as a safe sender or contact, sometimes these emails get filtered to candidates' spam folders.
