Editorial Assistant

About the Organization

Random Lengths News is an independent community newspaper covering the Los Angeles and Long Beach Harbor Area. Its reporting centers on local concerns and community viewpoints, with an emphasis on labor, education, public safety, and accountability in government. The publication supports open discussion, public participation, and reporting that is direct and fact-based. It also pays attention to worker, consumer, and citizen rights, the impact of corporate power, inequities built into systems, and progressive community achievements. The paper further encourages non-exploitative artistic and cultural work, and it actively opposes discrimination based on sex or age across all racial and ethnic groups while promoting collective political action at the neighborhood level.

Role Overview

This remote, full-time position supports the editorial team in preparing content for digital and print publication. The Editorial Assistant helps refine articles through copyediting, proofreading, and formatting, while also keeping submissions organized and content accurate, clear, and consistent with the publication’s editorial standards and mission.

Key Duties

• Review and polish articles for grammar, style, accuracy, and overall readability.
• Check facts and verify sources to help ensure the reliability of published content.
• Organize incoming submissions and track them through the editorial workflow.
• Maintain editorial schedules and assist with meeting production deadlines.
• Coordinate with writers and editors throughout the content development process.
• Prepare stories for publication on the website and in print formats.
• Update online content as needed and support basic web publishing tasks.
• Assist with headline creation, captions, social media copy, and related production work.
• Help with research and source confirmation when needed.
• Carry out administrative tasks connected to editorial operations and community engagement.

Qualifications and Expectations

The role calls for strong writing and editorial judgment, along with the ability to improve stories without losing their original intent. Candidates should be comfortable editing text carefully, communicating well in a remote team, and working across several deadlines at once. Experience with journalism, advocacy reporting, or local issue coverage is helpful, especially for someone interested in social justice, labor, and civic affairs. Familiarity with content management systems and shared collaboration tools is also important. The ideal candidate works independently, stays highly organized, and pays close attention to detail. Coursework or prior experience in journalism, communications, English, media studies, or a related area is welcome but not mandatory. The publication also values inclusive, gender-neutral language and alignment with its community-focused mission.