Per Diem Copy Editors

About the role

The Los Angeles Times seeks copy editors to work on an as-needed basis with the News, Features or Sports copy desks. Responsibilities include editing articles, photo captions and galleries, news breakers and newsletters; text for graphics, videos and databases; and other coverage for grammar, syntax and style as well as formatting, SEO and legality.

Responsibilities

• Edit articles, photo captions and galleries, news breakers and newsletters; text for graphics, videos and databases; and other coverage for grammar, syntax and style as well as for formatting, search engine optimization and legality
• Serve as a newsroom quality-control specialist, ensuring that all content meets Times standards
• Write engaging headlines and photo captions that are optimized for search and can perform well on social media
• Operate in a fast-paced environment with continuous digital publishing demands and daily print deadlines
• Expedite the movement of material between the website and print by collaborating with copy editors, assigning editors, reporters, website producers, page designers, graphics editors and photo/visual journalists

Requirements

• A minimum of one year of experience editing news and features stories for a journalistic publication; copy desk experience editing the coverage areas listed above is a plus
• Strong skills in line and copy editing and headline writing for digital and print, strong news judgment and knowledge of taste and legal considerations
• Consistent ability to work quickly, accurately and with precision
• Demonstrated ability to work well in a team setting and multitask in a deadline-driven environment
• Expertise in using production systems and software tools required to edit, produce and curate content for digital and print. This may include Slack, Cue/CCI, Google Docs, Gmail, search engines and social media tools
• An ethical and inclusive approach in the workplace that promotes positive collaboration
• Versatility and adaptability, working not just across production platforms but also across subject areas and possibly filling in on the other Times’ copy desks from time to time

Benefits

The position is listed as Per Diem Employee in the Los Angeles Times Guild. Employees will be part of a pool and eligible for available shifts on a monthly basis. They generally will work fewer than 25 hours per week, with no guaranteed or fixed schedule. We will consider candidates who would work remotely in other time zones as well as those who would work in El Segundo, Calif. Afternoon, night and weekend work is expected.

Pay

The pay scale the Company reasonably expects to pay for this position at the time of the posting is $35.00.