While the Los Angeles Times periodically trims its newsroom staff, now it’s looking to hire five reporters for specialized beats that editor Davan Maharaj calls “great news” that will bolster coverage of subjects vitally important to readers, notes Grumpy Editor.
It comes after yesterday’s announcement of a $1 million, two-year grant from the Ford Foundation.
But the upcoming hires won’t be snooping around as investigative reporters, checking out closed-door sessions involving politicians or uncovering the latest scientific developments.
The Times is looking for reporters to focus on the Vietnamese, Korean and other immigrant communities, the California prison system, the border region and --- Brazil.
Maharaj says that although The Times already covered those beats, journalists who also had other responsibilities typically did the reporting.
The five new reporters will provide more robust coverage of those topics, he adds.
“These are vital coverage areas that have been affected by our need to make tough choices in the past decade,” Maharaj informed staffers via email. “Although the grant is for two years, we intend to continue with these beats beyond that period. We will immediately start our search for reporters.”
Ford Foundation and Times editors say the money comes with no strings attached and the newspaper will have complete editorial control over the new reporters and their coverage.
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