Correspondent - Immigration and Law Enforcement

LAist; Pasadena (CA); Hybrid; USD 66,813 - 82,656; Full time

Job summary

A prominent media organization is seeking an experienced watchdog reporter to cover immigration and law enforcement in Southern California. The ideal candidate will produce impactful stories, leveraging data and public records, while embracing a community-engaged journalism approach. This role emphasizes accountability and aims to reflect the concerns of L.A. and Orange County communities. Expected compensation ranges from $48.50 to $60.00 per hour based on experience, with a hybrid working location in Pasadena.

Qualifications

• Five years or more of reporting or professional journalism experience.
• Capacity to use public documents and engage audiences effectively.

Responsibilities

• Produce high-impact investigations, delivering four stories or more per month.
• Pitch and report stories that include data and public analysis.
• Work with editors to enhance investigative reporting across the newsroom.

Skills

Reporting skills

Digital news production skills

Analytical reporting

Creativity in media

Fluency in Spanish

Education

Bachelor’s degree or equivalent

Job description

We are seeking an experienced watchdog reporter to cover immigration and law enforcement in Southern California as part of LAist’s watchdog team.

In this role you’ll have the mandate to hold government and powerful institutions to account. You’ll track the Trump administration’s rapid expansion of immigration enforcement actions in Southern California, and investigate issues including increased detentions, excessive force and civil liberty violations. You’ll also examine abuses of power and corruption found in law enforcement agencies and tell stories that watchdog public spending and shed light on wrongdoing.

Context and what federal policies mean for life in Southern California will be central to this work. The role will be centered in a fact‑based, non‑partisan approach that serves community members in L.A. and Orange County across the political spectrum.

The ideal candidate is savvy with data and public records, quick on their feet, and comfortable telling stories across multiple platforms. We’re seeking someone with a track record of breaking news and developing sources in government departments, city halls and law enforcement agencies. You’ll work with editors to identify stories with the highest potential to have an impact on policy and the quality of Southern Californians’ lives. This is a quick‑paced team, with each reporter having a goal of producing no fewer than four stories each month.

LAist is a leading practitioner of engaged journalism. We believe engaging with our audience throughout the reporting process can result in coverage that better reflects and listens to the concerns of our community members. We’re seeking a reporter who will embrace this approach and lean into audience survey results and feedback the newsroom has gathered from community members.

The watchdog reporter will report to a senior editor.

LAist reporters and editors value collegiality, mutual trust and a sense of humor, especially under pressure. Please include a cover letter that links to your best work and describes the role you played in that work, what you learned along the way, and what you’d bring to the LAist newsroom.

This position sits in the collective bargaining agreement between LAist and Screen Actors Guild—American Federation of Television and Radio Artists ("SAG‑AFTRA").

Compensation and Location

Expected Compensation Range: $48.50 - $60.00 per hour. The exact hourly rate is determined by experience and education related to the role, organizational compensation structure, and internal equity.

Location: Hybrid, Pasadena, CA

Application Process

Application Process: Applicants must be authorized to work for ANY employer in the U.S. We are unable to sponsor or take over sponsorship of an employment Visa at this time.

Application Deadline: Open until filled.

Position Responsibilities

• Produce high‑impact investigations and daily enterprise reporting that betters the lives of Southern Californians, delivering four stories or more per month.
• Pitch, report and produce stories and features that include data, public records, and novel analyses as well as hold the powerful to account.
• Understand and deploy our promise to practice diversity, equity, and inclusion in how we assign, report, edit, produce, and distribute our journalism.
• Write, assemble, edit, track and mix stories for air and digital.
• Join shows and events as a subject matter expert.
• Work with editors to establish priorities and goals that are in line with the watchdog unit goals.
• Work with editors and other colleagues to help enhance investigative reporting across the newsroom.
• Work closely with our engagement team to understand audience needs to develop relationships and build collaborations with stakeholders.
• Other duties as assigned.

Required Education and Experience

• Bachelor’s degree or equivalent.
• Five years or more of reporting or professional journalism or applicable experience.

Required Skills, Knowledge and Abilities

• Demonstrated reporting skills, digital news and production skills.
• Proven ability to identify and originate stories, report accurately and quickly, and meet deadlines.
• Ability to deliver sophisticated analytical reporting.
• Ability to take complex detailed information and present it in easy‑to‑understand stories.
• Demonstrated capacity to use public documents, internet research, social media, interviews and other reporting methods to report stories.
• Ability and willingness to use audience engagement tools.
• Strong fundamental writing, reporting and interviewing skills.
• Creativity in using web, radio, and social media platforms to convey information, engage listeners and users, and utilize the capacity of different platforms.
• Commitment to learn and enact best journalism practices.
• Familiarity with public radio news.
• Facility with source and beat development; subject‑matter expertise a plus.
• Ability to work simultaneously on short and long‑term projects.
• Ability to evaluate and analyze reporting and facts to frame stories with strong narrative lines or compelling findings, context and scope.
• Become and remain a member in good standing of SAG‑AFTRA by the thirtieth (30th) day of employment.

Preferred Skills and Experience

• Court reporting experience.
• Fluency in Spanish.

Physical Demands and Working Conditions

• May travel at times.
• Must be able to perform the essential duties of the position with or without reasonable accommodation.
• Required to move about in an office environment and sit for extended periods of time.
• Required to move about in the community.
• Frequent use of hands for data entry/keystrokes and simple grasping.
• Working conditions: moderate noise level.

All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, age, national origin, protected veteran status, disability status, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, marital status, genetic information, or any other characteristic protected by law.

We are committed to hiring a breadth of diverse professionals and encourage you to apply.

Equal Opportunity Employer

This employer is required to notify all applicants of their rights pursuant to federal employment laws. For further information, please review the Know Your Rights notice from the Department of Labor.