The Los Angeles Business Journal, one of the nation’s most respected regional business media organizations, is seeking an experienced and ambitious Managing Editor to help lead its newsroom and shape the next generation of business journalism in Los Angeles.
Reporting directly to the Editor-in-Chief and working alongside a second Managing Editor, this position will play a central role in driving daily and weekly editorial coverage across print, digital and emerging media platforms.
The Los Angeles Business Journal serves the region’s most influential business leaders, entrepreneurs, investors and decision-makers with authoritative reporting, insightful analysis and essential market intelligence. Our journalism reaches readers through our flagship weekly print publication, a growing digital news platform, newsletters, special reports, multimedia content and a robust calendar of high-profile business events.
In addition to its weekly publication and daily online coverage, the Business Journal publishes Inside The Valley six times a year, delivering in-depth business reporting focused on the San Fernando, Conejo, Santa Clarita, Antelope and Simi valleys.
We are looking for a journalist with strong news judgment, exceptional editing skills and a reporter’s instincts — someone who understands how a modern newsroom operates and how compelling business journalism translates across print, web, newsletters, social, audio and other digital platforms. They should be willing to experiment with different ways of presenting the news and adjusting those approaches according to audience reception.
The ideal candidate will have meaningful experience both editing and reporting, with the majority of the role focused on assigning, editing and elevating the work of reporters. This person should be comfortable helping identify stories, sharpening angles, strengthening reporting, crafting headlines and working with journalists to produce timely, sophisticated and engaging coverage of the people, companies, industries and trends shaping the Los Angeles economy.
This is an opportunity to help lead the editorial direction of an established and highly respected business media brand while contributing to its continued evolution across today’s rapidly changing media landscape.
Roles & Responsibilities
· Help shape the Business Journal’s editorial agenda by identifying timely, relevant and high-impact business stories across Los Angeles and the industries that drive the regional economy.
· Generate and assign story ideas for staff reporters while also contributing original reporting, enterprise stories, features and special projects as needed.
· Edit news, features, special reports and magazine content for accuracy, clarity, context, structure, tone and overall journalistic quality.
· Work closely with reporters throughout the reporting process — from story conception and sourcing strategy to framing, organization and final execution.
· Serve as a hands-on newsroom leader who can strengthen story angles, challenge assumptions, identify gaps in reporting and help elevate both daily coverage and longer-form journalism.
· Oversee story flow from assignment through publication, including copy editing, headline development, page review, proofing and coordination with production.
· Collaborate with the Editor-in-Chief and fellow Managing Editor on newsroom priorities, editorial planning, special sections and broader coverage strategy.
· Contribute to the continued evolution of the Business Journal’s digital journalism, including web-first coverage, newsletters, multimedia storytelling and other emerging platforms.
· Monitor breaking business news, competitive publications, industry developments and major economic trends to ensure the Business Journal remains timely, relevant and authoritative.
· Develop and maintain strong relationships with executives, entrepreneurs, investors, professional service leaders and other key sources across the Los Angeles business community.
· Write features, news stories, profiles, special reports, magazine articles and other editorial content as newsroom needs require.
· Manage multiple deadlines and editorial priorities in a fast-paced weekly and digital publishing environment while maintaining consistently high standards of accuracy and quality.
· Take on additional editorial responsibilities and special projects as assigned.
Qualifications & Skills
· Significant professional journalism experience, ideally including both reporting and editing in a newsroom environment.
· Strong news judgment and a demonstrated ability to identify compelling business stories, develop distinctive angles and recognize issues that matter to an executive readership.
· Exceptional editing skills, with the ability to improve structure, sharpen writing, strengthen reporting and preserve a reporter’s voice while elevating the finished story.
· Excellent writing and reporting ability across breaking news, enterprise journalism, profiles, features and analytical business coverage.
· A strong understanding of business, finance, economic development and the broader forces shaping companies and industries. Experience covering business or financial news is highly desirable.
· Proven ability to manage, mentor and collaborate with reporters, providing constructive editorial direction while maintaining high journalistic standards.
· Strong sourcing skills and the confidence to build relationships with senior executives, entrepreneurs, investors, attorneys, bankers, civic leaders and other influential members of the business community.
· Ability and willingness to meet sources in person, attend industry events and remain actively engaged with the Los Angeles business community.
· Excellent organizational and time-management skills, with the ability to oversee multiple stories, projects and deadlines simultaneously.
· Strong interpersonal and communication skills, with the ability to work effectively both independently and as part of a collaborative newsroom.
· Fluency in AP style and a strong command of journalistic ethics, accuracy, sourcing and fact-checking standards.
· Comfort working across print and digital platforms and an understanding of how editorial presentation, headlines, audience engagement and distribution differ by platform.
· Bachelor’s degree required; journalism, communications, English or a related field is preferred.
· Experience with Adobe InDesign or comparable publishing systems is a plus but not required.
Compensation
· Annual salary range: $65,000–$75,000, commensurate with experience, qualifications and demonstrated editorial expertise.
Benefits
The Los Angeles Business Journal offers a competitive benefits package that includes:
· 401(k)
· Medical, dental and vision insurance
· Flexible spending account
· Life insurance
· Paid time off
· Mileage reimbursement for approved business travel
· Workplace flexibility as appropriate to the role and newsroom needs
Schedule & Work Environment
· Full-time, Monday through Friday, generally 8:30 a.m. to 5:30 p.m.
· This is an in-person position based in Los Angeles, CA 90025.
· The Managing Editor is expected to be actively engaged in the Los Angeles business community and must be able to travel locally for source meetings, company visits, industry events, press conferences and other editorial assignments as needed.
· Some flexibility outside standard business hours may occasionally be required based on breaking news, publishing deadlines, events or other newsroom priorities.
Education
· Bachelor’s degree required.
· Degree in journalism, communications, English or a related field is preferred.
Experience
· Five or more years of professional journalism experience preferred, with demonstrated experience in reporting, editing or newsroom leadership.
· Business journalism experience is strongly preferred.
