Investigations Editor

Detroit Institute of Arts; El Segundo (CA); On-site; USD 150,000 - 210,000; Full time

Job summary

The Los Angeles Times seeks an experienced investigations editor to guide accountability reporting across the newsroom from its El Segundo base. The editor will collaborate with all departments, supervise investigative assignments, and help manage relationships with outside partners.

Ideal candidates have 15+ years in reporting/editing, superb line-editing, and strong news judgment, with a proven track record guiding high-quality investigations in a digital environment.

Qualifications

• Requires 15+ years of reporting and editing experience.
• Exceptional line-editing skills and sound news judgment.
• Track record guiding powerful investigative and accountability journalism.
• Experience in a digital news environment and collaborating across teams.

Responsibilities

• Direct investigative assignments across newsroom desks.
• Lead writers and editors in evaluating and guiding investigations.
• Develop newsroom talent by setting high standards and mentoring staff.
• Partner with newsroom leadership on recruiting and hiring decisions.
• Develop partnerships with outside groups and organizations.

Skills

15+ years

Investigative editing

News judgment

Editing leadership

Tools

Data analysis

Document research

Job description

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.