LA Business First seeks a commercial real estate reporter

L.A. Business First is looking for a top-notch reporter to cover commercial real estate and economic development. The commercial real estate beat is the essence of high-level reporting. It requires building — and working — strong source networks to uncover deals before anyone else and report both the dollar value and the broad impact of new projects, new employers and new players.

We need someone who is driven to do the hard work of digging up scoops and is intrigued by the challenge of putting together the pieces of news to present a larger picture of the forces shaping our community. From expansions, relocations and other deals, to coverage of important real estate events, trends and executives, a good L.A. Business First reporter is editor of his or her own beat coverage and is easily able to assess what merits a story, an in-depth investigation or just a brief.

Candidates must be able to blend traditional journalism skills — source building, sharp news judgment, interviewing prowess and scoops-driven reporting — with digital and social media know-how. Reporters don’t just turn in copy; they must think more broadly about multimedia options, such as videos and galleries.

L.A. Business First reporters are expected to provide forward-looking business intelligence to savvy readers, not just to inform them, but also to connect them with decision-makers and educate them on the strategies that work — or don’t. A focus on the people behind the deals is essential.

Job Responsibilities

Report and write short-form and long-form stories.
Own the beat, dictating day-to-day coverage and thriving on digging out source-driven exclusives.
Relentlessly develop sources and manage relationships with high-level executives and other community leaders.
Engage in events hosted by L.A. Business First, bringing together leaders of the local business community.

Skills & Experience

Bachelor’s degree or equivalent work experience.
Desire and ability to break news and to identify newsworthy events and sources.
Strong analytical and investigative-interviewing skills.
Ability to work both independently and collaboratively.
Ability to relate comfortably to a wide range of people — virtually, via phone and in-person.
A clear drive to develop sources and build audience.
Solid understanding of news writing, journalistic ethics and story structure.
Ability to leverage relationships with sources to deliver content that differentiates L.A. Business First.
Multimedia skills — including video, photos, broadcast, on-camera — helpful.

To apply, go here.

Chris Roush

Chris Roush was the dean of the School of Communications at Quinnipiac University in Hamden, Connecticut. He was previously Walter E. Hussman Sr. Distinguished Professor in business journalism at UNC-Chapel Hill. He is a former business journalist for Bloomberg News, Businessweek, The Atlanta Journal-Constitution, The Tampa Tribune and the Sarasota Herald-Tribune. He is the author of the leading business reporting textbook "Show me the Money: Writing Business and Economics Stories for Mass Communication" and "Thinking Things Over," a biography of former Wall Street Journal editor Vermont Royster.