L.A. Material is a new digital newsroom covering Los Angeles — our goal is to make the city legible. We are a small, independent, and fast-growing team building a new kind of local news organization, committed to rigorous journalism and a sustainable model for the future of local media.L.A. Material is seeking an expert, organized and versatile editor to help us build L.A. Material and expand our editorial offerings.
Your responsibilities will include editing our daily newsletter, as well as some featurettes (short interviews, humor and culture pieces) and longer features and investigations. You'll also help generate story ideas, and work with editorial leadership to oversee coverage, manage editorial workflow, and anchor our daily publishing operation.
Editor candidates should bring exemplary news judgment and an unwavering commitment to integrity, independence and journalistic ethics. They should be innately, passionately organized, and excited about optimizing newsroom workflow and communication. They should be able to act with urgency when news breaks, and have an ear for great stories — for the surprising, delightful, unexpected assignments that will light up Los Angeles group chats.
Also, their line-editing skills should be sharp: The ideal candidate is a wizard with structure, unerring with usage and grammar, aces with headlines, and can capably cultivate depth, rigor and style (and the loyalty and trust of his or her reporters). Candidates should be detail-oriented, dependable, kind, calm and collegial. Also, fun.
We are a small, dynamic team developing a new kind of newsroom, and strong candidates will be innately even-keeled and flexible. They should also be open and curious about new things, comfortable using data, deeply interested in helping stories find audiences — and inspired by the opportunity to help build a sustainable model for local news.
Basic Skills & Qualifications:
At least 5 years editing in a professional newsroom (more preferred).
Impeccable news judgment, and a commitment to rigor, accuracy and fairness.
Innate, relentless organizational skills — we’re a small operation, and the ideal candidate will help keep us optimized and efficient.
The ability to make smart, strategic assignments, keeping the interests of our audience in mind.
The ability to improve stories — for clarity, fairness, structure and style.
Expert line-editing finesse, and the ability to keep our copy sparkling and zippy.
The ability to write sharp headlines that lure people to read our work, and a commitment to delivering a satisfying editorial experience once they do.
A fascination with Los Angeles.
Curiosity about the local news landscape as it’s evolving in Los Angeles and across the nation.
Preferred Skills & Qualifications:
Years of experience living in and covering Los Angeles, and excellent antennae for what’s interesting here.
Openness to potentially working a Sunday - Thursday schedule.
Experience editing a newsletter and supporting its editorial and audience growth.
Experience developing sticky recurring formats and features.
A track record of building audiences that follow your thinking and writing.
Experience on mic for radio or podcasts.
Fluent Spanish.
Compensation & Benefits:
Competitive compensation packages will be based on experience and qualifications and have a target salary range of $105,000-$125,000.
Stock options program for full-time employees.
Medical, dental and vision insurance.
Flexible time off.
L.A. Material is an equal opportunity employer committed to building a diverse and inclusive workplace. We consider all qualified applicants without regard to race, color, religion, creed, gender, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, pregnancy, age, national origin, ancestry, citizenship, disability, marital status, veteran status, genetic information, or any other protected status under federal, state, or local law.
To apply for the position, please send your resume or a link to an up-to-date LinkedIn profile, along with a cover letter laying out what you’d bring to the role and why you’re interested in joining L.A. Material.