Experience
Criminal Law Reporter, The Daily Journal
April 2015 to April 2018
Staff reporter covering criminal law for an audience of legal professionals. Beat includes developing sources, breaking news, and tackling larger public policy issues around criminal justice, incarceration, policing, trial and Supreme Court decisions. Daily publication requires reporting and writing stories on a quick turnaround, getting to immediate and broader implications of breaking criminal law news for a sophisticated readership.
Managing Editor, Daniel Magazine
October 2014
Edited one-off lifestyle magazine targeted to Asian men. Responsible for assigning all stories and working with writers, creating and editing stories on food, nightlife, travel, personalities and entertainment.
Entertainment and Culture Writer and Blogger
October 2000-April 2015
Regular contributor to Los Angeles Times Sunday Calendar covering New Media. Beat required keeping abreast of Internet culture, spotting trends and subcultures before they are widely known and writing about them with richness devoted to film, television and other traditional media. Stories have included "Facebook Group Helped With Cancer Support," "Candy Crush Saga Gives Addicted Players A Sugar Rush," "Burning Man's Big Hangup: Cell Phones."
Regular contributor of stories and photos to L.A. Weekly covering Los Angeles arts, music, food and culture for print edition and for blogs for nation?s largest alternative newspaper. Premium on sprightly and entertaining writing for Weekly's in-the-know audience. Coverage draws on a lifetime of observing Los Angeles culture and requires a deep list of contacts around the region. One award-winning story drew more than 100,000 page views and 10,000 Facebook "likes." Create unique content, including stories, graphics and photos for annual Sex in Los Angeles issue and popular annual feature, "The Year in Lego," depicting major news events in Lego.
Travel, culture, and opinion contributor to Los Angeles Magazine, KPCC radio program Off-Ramp, Christian Science Monitor, L.A. Daily News, Salon.com, Sunset, Flavorpill L.A., PopDose.com, American Way, Utne, Women?s Adventure, L.A. Parent, Ensemble Vacations, Babble.com, Westworld Alberta.
Founder of hyperlocal blog in North San Fernando Valley, writing stories on local politics, community issues, local businesses, cultural events, dining, entertainment. Organized events such as food festivals and movie nights to promote website.
Editor, Valley Life Magazine
January 2010 to December 2010
Edited lifestyle magazine serving the West San Fernando Valley. Determining feel and content of magazine, assigning stories to writers, arranging celebrity interviews, writing, researching and assigning stories on dining, shopping, home, garden, travel and entertainment.
Music News Blogger, Feed The Monster Media, Inc.
January 2010 to December 2010
Developed new content and features for award-winning web design firm serving major-market radio stations KROQ.com, LIVE105.com, and B96.com. Wrote, researched, and edited daily music news, artist biographies, promotional copy, interactive quizzes and entertainment content.
Education
University of California at Santa Barbara: B.A.
Wrote weekly column for school newspaper, The Daily Nexus
Los Angeles Pierce College: A.A.
Skills
Use of social media to promote content, SEO, HTML, familiarity with WordPress and most blogging platforms, Photoshop. Photography to accompany most stories.
Awards
Los Angeles Press Club 2018 Southern California Journalism Awards:
First Place, Investigative/Series
Los Angeles Press Club 2016 Southern California Journalism Awards:
Finalist
California Attorneys For Criminal Justice:
2016 Journalistic Integrity Award
Los Angeles Press Club 2014 Southern California Journalism Awards:
Finalist
Los Angeles Press Club 2013 Southern California Journalism Awards:
2nd Place, News feature under 1,000 words
3rd Place, Entertainment news feature
L.J. Williamson's writing has appeared in
The Los Angeles Times
L.A. Weekly
Los Angeles Magazine
The Christian Science Monitor
Sunset Magazine
KPCC's Off Ramp
American Way
Salon
The Utne Reader
Babble
OnEarth Magazine
DailyMantra.com
Hipmama
Birmingham Black & White News
Nevada Magazine
Santa Cruz Good Times
Rocky Mountain Bullhorn
Ottawa Citizen
Colorado Springs Independent
The Hook (Charlottesville)
The Los Angeles Times Sunday Magazine
Hampton Roads Monthly