Join the hundreds of talented and innovative team members who are making an impact every day at California Times, incorporating Los Angeles Times and San Diego Union-Tribune, two of the most iconic media brands in the nation. Whether you love to tell compelling stories or want to drive our award-winning powerhouse in new directions, the Los Angeles Times team is the place to be.

Job Description Summary

The Los Angeles Times is looking to hire a national political writer to join our Washington, D.C., bureau.

The politics beat is one of our most important given the massive shift in policy priorities from the Biden administration, the close margins in both the House and Senate ahead of next year’s elections, as well as California’s importance as a source of political power, ideas and campaign fundraising.

Along with the political reporters based in California and colleagues in the Washington bureau, this writer will cover the Biden administration and other major developments on the national political scene.

Job Description

The successful candidate will have a proven ability to cover news and write analyses with a high level of sophistication, authority and accuracy under demanding deadlines. The reporter will also be able to seek out new and overlooked voices to add perspectives to stories not always seen in Washington-based reports. Previous experience covering national politics and the ability to operate in a quick-paced multimedia environment is strongly preferred.

This job involves travel. Although this is primarily a writing position, we expect our reporters to be comfortable taking photos and basic smartphone videos.

Requirements:

• A minimum of seven years of reporting experience


• Impeccable journalistic instincts and an unimpeachable commitment to ethics


• Superior news judgment and knowledge of taste and legal considerations


• An understanding of the importance of accuracy and precision


• Bachelor’s degree or higher, or equivalent experience

The L.A. Times is an equal opportunity employer and welcomes expressions of interest from people with diverse backgrounds and perspectives. Explore our company history, achievement, values, mission and more on our Careers Site.

This position is listed as Reporter in the Los Angeles Times Guild. Times staff is largely working remotely, but when we fully return to the newsroom this position will be based in Washington, D.C.

The Times requires that its employees who come to or work at a physical L.A. Times worksite be fully vaccinated against COVID-19. Vaccinated staffers will have the option to work from the bureau office. If you require a medical or religious accommodation we will engage in the interactive process with you.  Proof of vaccination will be required prior to entrance to a physical worksite.  If we make you an offer and you are not yet vaccinated, we will accommodate a delay in start date.

Qualified candidates should submit a resume, cover letter and applicable clips to Washington Bureau Chief Kimbriell Kelly. In that cover letter, candidates should detail what types of stories they would want to pursue, and along what platforms, that would be of interest to our Los Angeles Times audience.

Please note, the opportunity to attach additional documents appears on the third screen.

Thank you for your interest in joining our team at the Los Angeles Times!  We look forward to reviewing your application.