Employment Opportunities – Rafu Shimpo

About Us

The Rafu-Shimpo  is a bilingual Japanese-English language newspaper based in Little Tokyo, Los Angeles, California. The Rafu Shimpo has been a cornerstone of the Japanese American community since 1903, providing news, stories, and insights that matter to our readers. We strive to celebrate heritage while addressing the current events and issues impacting the Japanese American and broader Asian American communities.

Employment Opportunities

We are hiring immediately for the following positions: Japanese-English Advertising Manager and English Editor.

Please read the job postings carefully, as they outline (1) the qualifications we are looking for, (2) the job descriptions, and (3) the instructions on how to apply. We look forward to hearing from you!

Japanese-English Advertising Manager

Location: Hybrid / Los Angeles, CA
Employment Type: Full-time
Salary: $19/hr

Job Summary

The Rafu Shimpo is seeking an energetic and ambitious Entry-Level Advertising Manager to join our team. We are willing to train the right candidate.

Duties include

• Communicating with advertising clients in a positive, professional, and timely manner
• Developing strong relationships with clients
• Creating and presenting advertising proposals to potential clients
• Selling and managing print and digital advertisements 
• Manage advertising campaigns from inception to completion, ensuring client satisfaction
• Maintaining accurate client records, including client database, account information, billing, and invoicing 
• Collaborating with the editorial and design teams to ensure advertisements are effectively integrated
• Providing reports to executives, including performance results
• Attend local networking events or community gatherings as needed to represent the newspaper and promote advertising options

Required Qualifications

• Ability to
  • work independently and with a team
  • work professionally and effectively with colleagues and supervisors
  • build strong client relationships
  • cold call and find leads
  • keep track of dates and meet deadlines
• Excellent
  • written and verbal communication skills
  • organization skills
  • attention to detail
• Computer literacy
• Google Suite proficiency

Preferred Qualifications

• Bilingual in Japanese and English
• Proven work experience in advertising, marketing, or sales preferred
• An associate’s degree
• Familiarity with social media 

Benefits

• Health, dental, and vision insurance
• Paid time off and holidays
• On-the-job training and mentorship
• Opportunities for career advancement in a dynamic media environment

To Apply: Send your resume and a cover letter to [email protected] with the subject line “Advertising Manager Application – [Your Name] by December 23rd.

English Editor

Location: Hybrid / Los Angeles, CA
Job Type: Full-Time
Salary: $20.00/hr

Job Description: We are seeking a dedicated and experienced editor to lead our English editorial team. The ideal candidate will have a strong background in journalism, excellent editorial skills, and a deep understanding of the Japanese American community. As the Newspaper Editor, you will be responsible for overseeing the content, ensuring accuracy, and maintaining the integrity of our publication.

Key Responsibilities:

• Editorial Leadership: Develop and execute editorial strategies that align with the newspaper’s mission, audience needs, and evolving trends in journalism
• Editorial Oversight: Supervise and evaluate the work of writers, reporters, and other editorial staff.
• Content Planning: Plan and coordinate the content of the newspaper, including news, features, and opinion pieces.
• Quality Assurance: Ensure the accuracy, completeness, and fairness of all published content.
• Layout and Design: Oversee the layout and design of the newspaper to ensure it is visually appealing and reader-friendly.
• Deadline Management: Manage deadlines and production schedules to ensure timely publication.
• Editing and Proofreading: Edit and proofread articles for grammar, punctuation, and style.
• Collaboration: Collaborate with other departments on special projects to ensure cohesive operations.

• Community Engagement: Be the face of The Rafu Shimpo in the community, building relationships, representing the newsroom at events, and establishing trust with readers and stakeholders.
• Strategic Planning: Partner with the publisher and CEO to develop strategies that expand our readership and deepen our impact, using metrics and analytics to make informed editorial decisions

Required Qualifications:

• At least 3 years of journalism experience (example – community college or university newspaper experience counts) OR  Bachelor’s degree in Journalism, Communications, English, or a related field 
• Excellent writing, editing, and proofreading skills.
• Experience in maintaining high journalistic standards under deadline pressure, including standards of accuracy and fairness.
• Strong understanding of the Japanese American community and its issues.
• Ability to manage multiple tasks and meet tight deadlines.
• Excellent interpersonal, leadership, and team management skills
• Ability to work professionally and effectively with colleagues and supervisors
• Computer literacy and Google Suite proficiency
• Willingness and ability to travel as needed

Preferred Qualifications

• At least 2 years of editorial experience
• Familiarity with digital media, SEO principles, and audience analytics

Benefits

• Health, dental, and vision insurance
• Paid time off and holidays
• On-the-job training and mentorship
• The chance to make a meaningful impact in the Japanese American community.

How to Apply: Interested candidates should submit their resume, a cover letter detailing their qualifications and interest in the position, and samples of their work to [email protected] by December 23rd.