Kevin Roderick

Kevin Roderick

Guest/Host, LA Observed

Kevin Roderick is founder, publisher and editor of LA Observed, a website covering local media, politics, news and culture. A native Angeleno, he has reported extensively about the politics, culture and history of Los Angeles and California.

Roderick launched LA Observed in 2003, now widely read by journalists, media professionals, bloggers and politicians and regularly cited in national media.

Before launching LA Observed, Roderick was Los Angeles bureau chief for the Industry Standard magazine. He spent two decades as staff writer, state editor and senior editor at the Los Angeles Times, supervising award-winning projects and front page stories. He shared in two Pulitzer Prizes awarded for staff coverage while an editor on the Metro staff.

A contributing writer at Los Angeles Magazine, Roderick's work has appeared in Smithsonian, the Los Angeles Times Magazine, the Los Angeles Times Book Review, C, the Jewish Journal of Greater Los Angeles and LA Architect.

He co-authored Wilshire Boulevard: Grand Concourse of Los Angeles, a Los Angeles Times bestseller and finalist for the Southern California Independent Booksellers Association book of the year honor.

His first book, The San Fernando Valley: America's Suburb, won rave praise from California State Librarian Emeritus Kevin Starr and remains the leading work on the vast basin of 1.7 million inhabitants.

Roderick regularly appears in the media as a commentator on Los Angeles. He has been interviewed by the New York Times, Washington Post, USA Today, Los Angeles Daily News and Los Angeles Business Journal as well as, NBC News, C-SPAN, NPR and American Public Media. He also appears regularly on local TV.

He has moderated programs for Zocalo and the Los Angeles Times Festival of Books, and has been a journalism judge for PEN Center USA and the Online News Association. He is a former member of Investigative Reporters and Editors, Inc. and the National Institute for Computer-Assisted Reporting.

Roderick is the director of the UCLA Newsroom website.

Kevin Roderick on KCRW

LA Times senior staff announced this week that their digital subscriptions are far below expectations, and the company’s future depends on rapid revenue growth.

LA Times: more content, not more subscriptions

LA Times senior staff announced this week that their digital subscriptions are far below expectations, and the company’s future depends on rapid revenue growth.

from Greater LA

Warner Music just moved its employees to a new home in an old factory building in the Arts District.

Arts District Continues to Attract Investments

Warner Music just moved its employees to a new home in an old factory building in the Arts District.

from LA Observed

Friends, family and fans continue to mourn the loss of rapper Nipsey Hussle, who was shot and killed over the weekend outside his clothing store in South Los Angeles.

LA loses an ally in the fight against violence

Friends, family and fans continue to mourn the loss of rapper Nipsey Hussle, who was shot and killed over the weekend outside his clothing store in South Los Angeles.

from LA Observed

More from KCRW

At Typewriter Connection, Angelenos find an analog way to get their intimate thoughts out onto paper — without computers, smartphones, or even electricity.

from KCRW Features

Urban falconer Adam Baz has carved out an interesting career for himself and his four birds of prey in a city with a lot of pigeons and crows to chase.

from Greater LA

Measure HLA, which is on the ballot, has attracted passionate support and strong opposition, amid a broad reckoning over the future and priorities of safety in LA transportation.

from KCRW Features

The cashiers, cooks, baristas, and bartenders represented by Unite Here Local 11 are pushing airport concessionaire Areas USA for better benefits and wages.

from KCRW Features

Looking for scones, finger sandwiches, and loose leaf tea? Let these afternoon teas add a bit of fancy to your life.

from Good Food

With thousands of votes yet to be counted, political observer Raphael Sonenshein zooms in on the Senate race and key congressional races in Southern California.

from KCRW Features

Larry Li was inspired to create “ Ask Your Ma About ‘89 ” after learning a harrowing story about how the Tiananmen Square protests affected his family.

from Greater LA

At an East Hollywood bar, a once-a-month comedy show features four men competing for the heart of a bachelorette, as the host whips out jokes and games.

from Greater LA

Since July, the state of Texas has sent nearly 1,000 asylum seekers to Los Angeles by bus. Local faith-based and non-religious groups are welcoming them.

from Greater LA