Los Angeles Correspondent

Financial Times•Los Angeles, CA

9h•Hybrid

About The Position

This is one of the FT’s most exciting global beats: a high-impact reporting role at the intersection of Hollywood, finance, politics and power in Los Angeles. We are looking for an ambitious, outward-facing reporter who thrives on original reporting — this correspondent will be meeting executives, agents, financiers and investors, building deep sourcing and breaking news on the biggest stories shaping the global entertainment industry. The successful candidate will combine speed and authority on corporate news — from deals to succession battles — with the ability to step back and write richly reported features that capture the personalities, rivalries and power dynamics that make this beat distinctive. The Los Angeles correspondent will also cover politics in the US largest state, one that often sets regulatory and legal trends for the rest of the country. California is a huge source of both ideas and funding for Democratic candidates. In federal election years, this writer will also help cover national politics. This is a role for a self-starter with strong instincts for storylines that resonate beyond entertainment: the shifting balance of power in Hollywood, the growing influence of private capital, and the industry’s role in US politics and global culture. The successful applicant will work closely with the FT’s US media editor and global media editor, and be responsible for covering some of the most colourful personalities in corporate America. The role demands a confident writer who can deliver both scoops and deeply reported features on the people shaping this landscape.

Requirements

Ambitious, outward-facing reporter.
Thrives on original reporting.
Speed and authority on corporate news.
Ability to step back and write richly reported features.
Self-starter with strong instincts for storylines.
Confident writer.
Willingness to travel.
Willingness to engage widely across the industry.
Must refrain from using AI in test submissions.
Written materials should be a genuine reflection of their own knowledge, skills and experiences.

Nice To Haves

Experience covering Hollywood, finance, politics, and power.
Experience with dealmaking and consolidation.
Experience covering political influence and fundraising.
Experience reporting on economic and social dynamics.
Experience covering the convergence of media, finance, and sport.
Experience with live events, video, and digital storytelling.

Responsibilities

Meeting executives, agents, financiers and investors.
Building deep sourcing and breaking news on the biggest stories shaping the global entertainment industry.
Covering corporate news, including deals and succession battles.
Writing richly reported features that capture personalities, rivalries, and power dynamics.
Covering politics in California, which often sets regulatory and legal trends for the rest of the country.
Assisting with coverage of national politics in federal election years.
Identifying storylines that resonate beyond entertainment, such as the shifting balance of power in Hollywood, the growing influence of private capital, and the industry’s role in US politics and global culture.
Covering colourful personalities in corporate America.
Delivering scoops and deeply reported features on people shaping the landscape.
Covering the next generation of Hollywood leadership.
Reporting on dealmaking and consolidation across global media groups.
Covering Hollywood’s political influence, including fundraising, campaigning, and its role in midterms and presidential races.
Reporting on the economic and social dynamics of Southern California.
Covering the growing convergence of media, finance, and sport.
Contributing across formats, including live events, video, and other digital storytelling.
Travelling and engaging widely across the industry.