Assistant Editor, Entertainment News

California Times•El Segundo, CA

2d•$104,421 - $129,069•Onsite

About The Position

The Los Angeles Times is seeking an experienced, energetic, and creative journalist to serve as an assistant editor on the Fast Break Desk, contributing to breaking entertainment and sports news coverage. This role involves working with reporters and the deputy editor to cover pop culture, celebrity, and entertainment stories, as well as producing subscriber-exclusive enterprise content. The assistant editor will also assist with obituaries and other breaking news, and must be experienced in obtaining and reporting from court documents, coroner reports, and police reports. The ideal candidate will not only publish breaking news rapidly but also identify unique angles and fresh takes to differentiate The Times' coverage. This editor will be a key partner in shaping breaking news strategy, story formats, standards, and workflow, requiring strong coaching skills and the ability to collaborate across departments. The position is suited for an editor who can manage diverse tasks, seamlessly transitioning between reporting, editing, and monitoring story ideas, while staying attuned to reader interests. Additionally, the role may involve collaborating with the broader Entertainment team to lend subject matter expertise and develop in-depth storytelling. A strong understanding of SEO and the ability to craft compelling headlines and package stories for optimal audience experience are essential.

Requirements

A minimum of 10 years of journalism experience; editing experience is mandatory.
Excellent skills in line editing, combining strong news judgment, fluency in style, and deep knowledge of taste and legal considerations.
An understanding of the importance of speed, accuracy, and precision in publishing.
Experience locating and reporting from public records, such as civil and criminal court filings and coroner and police reports.
An aptitude for navigating digital platforms and staying on top of current events.
Proven ability to work well in a team setting and juggle multiple tasks in a deadline-driven environment.
Effective communication skills with peers, supervisors, and the broader newsroom.
An ethical and inclusive approach in the workplace that promotes collaboration.
Versatility and adaptability, working not just across production platforms but also across entertainment subject areas.
An excellent team player and effective communicator who’s able to work comfortably with a variety of personalities and skill levels and across departments.
A nuanced understanding of audience data and analytics and a track record of using data to make informed decisions on coverage.

Responsibilities

Assign, edit, and occasionally write breaking news and trending stories across entertainment, including notable deaths, pop culture, and celebrity news.
Identify unique angles and fresh takes that advance stories beyond the news of the day and what other outlets have already reported.
Write engaging headlines and SEO components with a digital, diverse audience in mind.
Respect and meet tight deadlines, including brisk turnarounds on edits for multiple news posts each day.
Collaborate with editorial staff, including reporters, editors, photo, social media, and audience engagement teams, to produce stories on all platforms.
Use designated tools, such as an authorized CMS or messaging system, to clearly communicate editorial coverage plans in a clear and timely manner.
Offer guidance to staff on conceptualizing, reporting, and writing content to ensure quality, accuracy, and fairness.
Provide timely verbal feedback and coaching to staff.