Skipping the media middleman

Los Angeles County Supervisor Zev Yaroslavsky is adapting to the new media order by revamping his official website to be more newsy under the guidance of Joel Sappell, who used to oversee the Los Angeles Times website. The new site is intended to bypass the media and communicate directly with Yaroslavsky's constituents. There's a job open for a part-time web reporter to write the stories that journalists used to do, though I assume a Zev-friendly spin will be, um, strongly encouraged. From JournalismJobs:

Looking for a new challenge and a new venue for those writing and reporting skills? Then help us create a paradigm-shifting website for one of Los Angeles’ most effective and popular elected officials, L.A. County Supervisor Zev Yaroslavsky. With fewer journalists covering our political institutions, we’re looking for a writer with sharp editorial skills to produce web stories across a variety of topics, including health, transportation, arts, environment, criminal justice and the economy. Our goal is to connect and communicate with constituents on issues that impact their lives and intersect their interests.

This part-time job is best suited for applicants who’ve worked at newspapers, have superior story instincts, appreciate the complexities of government and have embraced the visual storytelling and community-building of the Internet.

In addition to running LATimes.com until a 2007 shakeup, Sappell had been a projects and city editor at the paper and an investigative reporter. He joined Yaroslavsky's staff as Deputy for Special Projects last June, after taking a Times buyout (which he explained here.)