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
More from KCRW
‘Rachmaninoff and the Tsar’ explores a musical prodigy
TheaterWorld-famous pianist Hershey Felder talks about his new role as composer Sergei Rachamanioff in the new play, “ Rachmaninoff and the Tsar ,” at the Broad Stage in Santa Monica.
CA's only women's sports bar to open in Long Beach
SportsCalifornia’s first bar dedicated to women’s sports, Watch Me!, will open this month in Long Beach. It will welcome all ages to inspire young athletes.
‘Hacerla’ es apoyar a tus hijos: La historia de un trabajador de costura
Making ItGregorio Mancilla ganaba menos del salario mínimo como trabajador de costura cuando se fijó la meta de ahorrar suficiente dinero para mandar a su hija a la universidad.
LAX says air traffic is picking up after global IT outage
TransportationAir traffic is picking up at LAX after a global technology outage grounded three major airlines. Travelers should check their flights online before heading to airports.
Staff at 2 popular Culver City eateries say they aren’t getting paid on time
Business & EconomyWorkers at Margot and Juliet, two upscale Culver City restaurants owned by Rohan Talwar of IB Hospitality, say their paychecks have been bouncing all year.
Hollywood Sign Digital Time Capsule: What stories will you share?
Los AngelesThe new Hollywood Sign Digital Time Capsule is a place for everyone to submit art, photos, essays, and audio clips of what the iconic block letters mean to them.
Californians must respond to evictions in 5 days — or lose their homes
Housing & DevelopmentThousands of California tenants lose their evictions each year because they didn’t file a response in five days. Lawmakers want to give them more time.
Ahead of cell bans, this phone-free school is thriving
EducationMarina Del Rey Middle School went phone-free a year ahead of the Los Angeles Unified School District’s 2025 mandate. It changed everything.
Condo owners are ‘counting pennies’ as home insurance soars
Housing & DevelopmentInsurance hikes aren’t just affecting homes at high risk of fire. Homeowners in urban areas share the brunt of climate change too. Condos are hit especially hard.