Advice for KPCC / LAist job applications
'We are not looking to do what’s always been done'
Editor’s note: I’ve made this subscriber-level post available to all newsletter readers.
If you like my work, career advice, Q&As with journalists and more, please consider subscribing. You’ll get more posts like this one every other Thursday.
A big thank you goes out to Ashley Alvarado, Brian Frank, Emily Elena Dugdale and Megan Garvey of KPCC / LAist for their thoughtful and transparent answers about what it’s like to work in their nonprofit newsroom in Southern California.
What is it like to work at KPCC/LAist? And what advice would you share with those who aspire to work there?
Ashley: I don’t remember a time during the many (many, many) years I’ve been at KPCC/LAist when we’ve had so many open positions. Whether you’re early in your career or an experienced reporter, editor or producer, there’s an opening that may align with your interests and expertise.
The varied kinds of open positions reflect the organization’s multi-pronged approach to public-service journalism. We are not looking to do what’s always been done. Instead, we’re striving to better reflect the diversity of Southern California in our staffing and our journalism and to center and meet the information needs of people who live here.
You see that in our digital and on-air reporting, growing on-demand studio, engaged journalism, and events.
Among the open positions:
We are also an organization that has spent a lot of time reflecting on the ways in which we can best support diversity, equity, and inclusion for our staff and for our audiences. Our executive team has committed a set of roughly 45 actions over the next year and a half to execute on this commitment. That includes the expansion of our internship program to include three offerings throughout the year; regular content audits; a public-facing style guide redesigned to support inclusivity; stipends to support participation in associations like NABJ, NAHJ, AAJA, NAHJ, NLGJA; an internal leadership program; and more.
I share all of this because, as a journalist of color and especially as a JOC working in public media, I’ve experienced so many of the ways big and small that I can be told I belong — or that I don’t — in a workplace. We are not perfect. But we are an organization that is doing the work, and I’m here to say that if you’re committed to identifying and meeting information needs and habits, you belong.
Brian: In addition to what Ashley laid out above, I think it’s always worth talking about a company’s benefits package, and as a union shop we’ve won some nice concessions over the years. Some of these benefits have even carried over to our colleagues outside the bargaining unit, so it doesn’t matter whether you’re applying for a job in development or content production. There’s always room to improve, but I think you’ll find the baseline for paid time off, the emphasis on work-life balance and quality of life, multiple options for health insurance, are all pretty progressive.
Fair warning: there’s been a long-running complaint about the onboarding process here. What do I mean by that? We’re not a huge company, but we’re large enough that you can keep coming across people you haven’t met, or discovering things you think you ought to know that you were never trained on. That said, the company has taken a lot of steps toward improving the experience for new employees, and Ashley’s been a big part of that over the years, not least in her role overseeing our diversity, equity, and inclusion efforts. I think you’ll find this company tends to attract really wonderful, open-minded, friendly folks who are always willing to lend a hand. If you have a question, someone will be willing to get you an answer.
Some folks have also complained that there aren’t enough opportunities for advancement. In some cases, particularly on smaller teams within the organization, there may indeed be a limited number of steps on the ladder as you advance in your career. But there’s also nothing wrong with outgrowing an organization. And I’ve personally found management to be pretty flexible in allowing folks to try out different roles. With so many different platforms managed under one roof, from podcasts to live events to radio to web production, you can gain a lot of experience across the industry without ever leaving. It’s a great place to be if you’re open to trying new things.
Emily: This is an organization that is starting to seriously reimagine almost every aspect of running a news organization. Several years of high turnover and limited opportunities for advancement have pushed a much-needed conversation about retention and work culture. The structure of NPR stations is overall outdated. And we’re acknowledging that and moving into a better place, with dedicated employees who are leading hard conversations about diversity, equity and inclusion and creating real change.
We’re a wildly different place than we were even a year ago - and we still have a long way to go. Working here means becoming an active part of that conversation, supporting your colleagues with a commitment to anti-racism, and being prepared to do things differently than many public radio stations. I have one main piece of advice, and it’s to always advocate for yourself and your colleagues. Make connections with people you admire, join our mentoring Slack channels, and fight for what you want to do with your time. Some of the best opportunities I’ve received here came after repeated conversations and support from my mentors.
Megan G: We’ve worked hard to create an environment where journalists are encouraged to do their best and most ambitious work. It’s a lot easier to say that than it is to create the space and support to make it possible. It’s been a (still under construction) process to balance our daily news needs with our enterprise and project work. That said, the job openings reflect our commitment to finding the right balance between delivering the daily news that our audience needs to stay informed about Southern California and the stories no one would know about if we didn’t find them.
My goal as executive editor is to create a newsroom where there’s no need to go elsewhere to realize your goals as a journalist or to do work you find meaningful. At the same time, goals and life can change and I believe time in the SCPR newsroom will give journalists very valuable experience, no matter where they ultimately end up in their careers.
How can candidates make their applications stand out?
Ashley: Here’s an unpopular opinion: I love cover letters. But let me tell you why. As somebody who reviews hundreds of applications every year, I know there is no shortage of talented journalists. Your cover letter is an opportunity to let me know why you want to work at KPCC/LAist. Use the opening of your cover letter to assert your passion, not your privilege. Address the email to KPCC/LAist. Better yet, to the hiring manager. (I’ve read too many applications addressed to I Heart Radio.) Show you’ve done your homework. What will you bring to the organization? What are you hoping the organization can support you to do?
When I’m hiring interns, I’m not trying to fill specific slots. Instead, I’m looking to identify candidates’ interests and skill sets then matching great candidates to positions where they could make a meaningful contribution and get hands-on experience. (We also have a series of workshops and a mentorship program.)
Brian: I’m with Ashley on the cover letter. Whatever job you’re applying for, remember this is an organization full of writers, producers, and other creative types. Treat your application like you’d treat your work, because that’s how it will be interpreted. If you can’t bother to fix some typos on your resume, or your cover letter doesn’t read like some of your best writing, you’re much more likely to end up in the discard pile. Put in the time. Make sure it’s polished. Do the work.
I’ll add just one other thing: the application process here is really competitive. Expect multiple interviews and, depending on what role you’re applying for, homework. You’re not going to get the job if you’re applying on a whim. Take it seriously, think about why you want to work here, what you have to offer, and be ready for some in-depth conversations.
Emily: Tell us what you can do, but also, think about what we can do for you, and be honest with yourself and your potential employer about what you need in order to be successful in your job. That is super important!
Megan G: Please, please, please include a cover letter that gives us insight into why you want to work in a public media newsroom. Take a few minutes (or more) to explore our Medium page and understand how we do business and how our approach differs. Then tell us why you’re the right person for the job. As our Managing Editor Tony Marcano has underscored, we have to change how we do our own work if we have a shot at changing the systems and perceptions around us.
Is there anything else you'd like to share?
Ashley: Please consider applying for one of these positions! This is a place that is positioned to grow with you. Roughly 4,000 years ago, when I was in college, I could not have imagined getting to do the work I do, or that a position like mine would exist. They didn’t then. But as we’ve identified opportunities with engaged journalism, we’ve created and grown an engagement team. (We’re now hiring a senior producer for community engagement.)
Brian: I have to echo Ashley again. In fact, I’m still in the process of creating my role here. The journalism landscape has changed a lot in the last 10-20 years, and it’s still in flux. Don’t just think like an employee. If you come with a vision, and ideas about where you think the industry should be headed next, we’re all ears.
Emily: I am learning every day how to be a better reporter, colleague, and human. No one is too busy for a few minutes of their time (unless they have communicated boundaries!), so do your research, find people who do cool things (read stuff first so you don’t ask questions that have already been answered), and pick up the phone. I took a cold call from a young journalist this morning while out on a walk. People want to help you grow.
Megan G: When you work at SCPR, you’re getting colleagues across the entire organization who share a commitment to journalism. Nearly one in 30 Americans lives in L.A. County so what’s local here has a massive impact. This is a great place to work if you care about having an authentic connection to communities and you’ve yearned for support from top leadership for mission-based work.
Ashley Alvarado is vice president of community engagement and strategic initiatives. She also oversees the internship program at KPCC/LAist.
Brian Frank is an associate editor for special projects. When he’s not working on digital story production, he’s tinkering with tools to make production easier for the rest of the newsroom.
Emily Elena Dugdale is a criminal justice reporter and a former KPCC intern. She is currently working on a project on policing in the Antelope Valley in collaboration with ProPublica.
Megan Garvey is the executive editor for KPCC/LAist.