Tech news site dot.LA will have a staff of five to cover technology news in and around Los Angeles when it launches on Jan. 27.
They are:
- Its editor-in-chief is Joe Bel Bruno, who previously held editor positions at The Wall Street Journal, the Los Angeles Times, The Hollywood Reporter and Variety. Bel Bruno ran markets coverage for the Dow Jones news wire and the Wall Street Journal. From 2004 to 2009, Bel Bruno was a national business writer for the Associated Press in New York, where he served as the lead stock market reporter and anchored the news service’s coverage of the financial crisis. He spent three years in London as senior correspondent for Knight Ridder Financial/Bridge News. He’s also held spots at The Orange Country Register, Copley News Service and The Bond Buyer newspaper.
- Tami Abdollah, who most recently covered cybersecurity for the Associated Press, will be a senior tech reporter. As the cybersecurity reporter at the AP, she reported heavily on national security issues and the U.S. Department of Justice. Her story subjects have included election security, the government showdown with Apple on encryption with multiple scoops, ransom ware’s massive growth, the 2016 presidential election, cyber hacking threats, and the internet of things.
- Ben Bergman, who most recently worked for NPR and KPCC, will follow the money, covering venture capital and the billions being pumped into LA tech and startups. Previously Bergman was a reporter, host, and reporter for NPR, The New York Times, Marketplace, KPCC, and Gimlet Media. He was a 2018 Knight-Bagehot Fellow in Economic and Business Journalism at Columbia Business School.
- Rachel Uranga, who most recently worked at the Los Angeles Business Journal, will cover the intersection of business, technology and culture. At the Business Journal, she was a beat reporter covering trade and Southern California retailers and manufacturers.
- Managing Editor for Digital and Reader Engagement Eric Zassenhaus, who most recently worked at Pacific Standard as digital product manager. He will be responsible for the website and social media, keeping a keen eye on metrics and searching new avenues to find an audience.
