Follow LA Observed on Twitter here
The Los Angeles Times had some stalwart California-focused candidates during the years when the paper circulated all over the state. Robert Jones and Peter King come to mind, writing from interesting locales about issues big and small. The LAT's ambitions now are all digital, and the Times is moving sometime politics reporter Robin Abcarian over to be an online California columnist. Here's the email to the newsroom from editor Davan Maharaj, who says "Some of Robin’s columns will appear in print, but her primary mission is driving the digital conversation."
Subject: Robin Abcarian -- California Online Columnist
To: The Staff
From: Davan Maharaj, Editor
Robin Abcarian, who has spent much of the last two years traversing the country with Republican presidential candidates, is taking on a new beat: her native state of California.
Robin is beginning a digital-first column focusing mainly on California but also covering some of the big issues of the day. Her assignment is to bring perspective, analysis and insight to the news, in real time. Robin is perfect for this challenging assignment. She’s one of our finest writers and has deep experience as a political reporter, feature writer, columnist and, in a former life, radio personality.
Her column will be geared not to the rhythm of the newspaper but to our 24/7 Web news cycle. Working with the L.A. Now team, she will work to moderate and enhance the news conversation as it happens, posting frequently and engaging readers directly with text chats, videos and more. Some of Robin’s columns will appear in print, but her primary mission is driving the digital conversation.
Robin will bring her seven years as The Times’ feature columnist to cast an inquisitive, wry eye on the entirety of the California enterprise -- from our northern redwood counties where marijuana cultivation has shaped whole economies, to the tax-averse communities of our temperate southern cities, to the fertile Central Valley, where economic disparities have resulted in a skyrocketing poverty level.
In addition to covering three presidential campaigns and numerous natural and man-made calamities, Robin has also worked as a feature writer and editor at The Times. She briefly left Spring Street to launch a talk radio station in Los Angeles.
Born in Berkeley and raised in Northridge, she lives in Venice Beach.
Abcarian photo: Pinterest
