Creator journalism in action: Covering the LA fires

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The devastating Los Angeles fires are well-covered. Not only is LA a city with no shortage of news outlets, from the troubled LA Times to public radio powerhouses KPCC and KCRW to some of the best local news in the country from KTLA, we are witnessing the surreal images coming out of Pacific Palisades, Altadena and now the Hollywood Hills in real-time. And as disaster is wont to do, it’s attracted the attention of the national news machines. Justifiably. As of this writing, fire coverage is leading CNN, The NYT, The WaPo, Vox, NPR and Fox News.

But, there’s always more to the story than the shock-and-awe images. LA’s independent creator journalists are there, too, covering the fire across the city, platforms, demographics and narratives. Below a roundup of the most compelling creator journalism coming out of the city right now, compiled in conjunction with fellow former Angeleno Lex Roman and some tips from Angeleno friends kind enough to respond to me while living through this hell:

• Torched: Alissa Walker reflects on living through what she calls “the other big one”: The growing count of friends who have lost homes, wondering what breathing all this in will do to her kids’ lungs, lamenting the city’s poor planning and pondering, “What if the Olympics were happening right now?” (Ghost)

• Matt Pearce: “The ash has gotten thicker this morning, faintly falling on the face of my iPhone like cancerous snowflakes. I briefly forgot my N-95 when I stepped outside. I realized, on the sidewalk, that I was filling my lungs with the remnants of somebody’s home.” (Substack)

• People’s City Council: The independent “abolitionist, anti-capitalist & anti-imperialist collective” is amplifying stories like the historically black neighborhoods impacted by the fires and incarcerated people who are still in the danger zone. (X)

• Film the Police LA: This account, usually true to it’s name, is focused 100 percent on both fact-checking official statements and first-hand accounts and footage. (X)

• Unrig LA: Focusing on how policy plays into LA’s handling of the fire response. (X)

• Da’Ron: Sharing first-person street-level video perspective. (TikTok)

• Sean Beckner-Carmitchel: Freelancer on the ground in LA, using his Bluesky account as a clearinghouse for resources – from where reporters can get PPE to specific information for workers:

• Mel Buer: Freelancer who has an ongoing thread full of mutual aid resources. (Bluesky)

• Talia Jane: Resources and fact-checking/contesting narratives coming from City Hall, the police and fire departments. (Bluesky)

• Jeremy Lindenfeld: An indie photographer posting some chilling images.

Who are you following? Share with me here or on Bluesky.

Stay tuned for my final Substack post tomorrow (Friday!).