SPECIAL: The Best Los Angeles Substacks – Journalism Practice in the City of Angels

Published March 7, 2025.

The Rev. Dylan Littlefield speaks during a tour organized by Kim and Richard of Esotouric Tours inside the King Edward Hotel by author (GoPro Hero 11 Black).

Please support my work with your subscription, or for direct support, use Venmo, CashApp, PayPal, or Zelle using zachary.b.ellison@gmail.com

By Zachary Ellison, Independent Journalist

Few things are more treacherous these days than writing about people. For starters, you might write something that they don’t like, and prosing about Los Angeles is particularly dangerous. The City of Angels, with a struggling news industry, increasingly lacks the sort of ecosystem that makes for steady success. Paralleling a national news decline, it takes some real courage and persistence to not only have specific thoughts but to put them online for public scrutiny. Many a journalist in Los Angeles has started a Substack, only to abandon it in time for other projects. Keeping to a beat, much less a wholesale range of topics in Los Angeles, truly takes practice. Los Angeles has millions of people, but the number of journalists isn’t necessarily increasing to meet true demand. We most certainly need more voices in LA!

So I thought I might take leave from writing about public issues for this special and instead write about some of the wonderful journalists who are making digital contributions to discourse about Los Angeles (a place many have left). Many of these journalists I’ve been privileged to make personal acquaintance with, and others I’m only digitally acquainted with their work. In the new era of AI writing, what makes these journalists different from aggregated information is their dedication to their trade combined with a passion for journalism that even the mightiest of computers can’t compete with on an even basis. Journalism still matters in our society, perhaps more than ever before in history. It delivers accountability as well as content, and it requires diligence. The dedication of those profiled below is unquestionably important.

Esotouric Tours

Kim and Richard of Esotouric are leading scholars of historic preservation in Los Angeles. They also are strong advocates for good government, and have capably covered some of the most important corruption stories. Leading regular tours worthy of every penny, they know more about the history of Los Angeles than so many others. Kim and Richard take you to the secret heart of Los Angeles, revealing its darkest secrets with aplomb and dignity along with delightful humor.

Most recent: Metro Says We Don't Need No Stinking Permits for the Friedman Bag Company Demolition... but they do!

Empty Los Angeles

The brainchild of the magical C.C. de Vere, the world of Empty Los Angeles takes you inside the abandoned and forgotten places that dot the urban landscape. Utilizing an encyclopedic and whimsical knowledge of regulations, de Vere proves clearly that Los Angeles deserves better from its buildings to prevent misuse and blight. With a highly cultured mindset, Empty Los Angeles dissects this world in an entertaining, informative fashion bordering on being a dream.

Most recent: The Hollywood Center Motel was Originally Housing

Meghann Cuniff

The news product of talented veteran legal affairs journalist Meghann Cuniff, Legal Affairs and Trials, presents highly capable and rapid courthouse coverage in a way that only a select few can rival in Los Angeles. Most incredibly, this publication has increasingly moved into the world of hip hop and rap music cases, presenting news nationwide about music artists that Los Angeles, perhaps even more than New York or any other locale, made famous worldwide.

Most recent: Jury convicts man for racist rally violence after federal judge rejects guilty plea

Hayes Davenport

New kid on the Substack block Hayes Davenport has the best news hot takes on Los Angeles politics and policy, subscription-worthy. The former City Hall staffer turned Substack journalist tossed aside his worn-down ID badge for a journalist's keyboard. With a comedic bent, Big City Heat reminds us that the world of Los Angeles is both shocking and bewildering, and most especially inside City Hall. Do stay tuned to this fairly ironic publication that’s just getting started!

Most recent: WTF HAPPENED TO LOS ANGELES?!

Daniel Guss

The Guss Report offers a hard-hitting, more conservative but equally valuable take on Los Angeles politics from KFI-AM talk-radio regular Daniel Guss. An award-winning journalist, Guss exposes the pure insanity that is Los Angeles city government. With steady comedic overtones, he picks apart the establishment in a way that just might be pretty unsettling to city leaders. It’s solid, news analysis, highlighting the most important policy issues now facing LA and beyond.

Most recent: "Another Froot Loops Day At LA City Council" by Daniel Guss

Mike Bonin

Former Los Angeles City Councilmember Mike Bonin is a voice of reason and pride for Los Angeles, enriching us all by conveying his knowledge of the city for a new generation of LA leaders to learn from with dignity. Always with an earnest smile, Bonin dives into some of the most serious issues facing LA on Substack with a calming companion podcast: “What’s Next, Los Angeles.” From social justice to economic hardship: no grindstone of truth is left unturned!

Most recent: Recovering Together: Available Resources

A Chaplain’s Life

The life story and wisdom from Reverend Dylan Littlefield of the Hotel Cecil in Skid Row from the Old Catholic tradition gives grace to those on the margins of life on the streets of downtown Los Angeles. Frankly, LA isn’t usually a place that people equate with faithfulness, but for so many, the life support provided by those such as Reverend Littlefield, is essential for recovery from both trauma and suffering, self-inflicted and imposed, is an exceedingly honest portrait.

Most recent: Ash Wednesday at the Cecil

Ruth Roofless

Saving the best publication for last! Ruth Roofless takes you inside the world of displacement and homelessness, bringing lived perspective to one of the most challenging issues facing Los Angeles with deadly consequences. My sometimes co-writer, Ruth’s good humor shines through even in the face of hard-to-imagine levels of suffering. Why can’t Los Angeles get housing and homelessness right? Ruth is closer to the answers to these questions than anyone else around.

Most recent: A tale of two Venice parking lots

I hope you’ll take the time to support these Substacks focused on Los Angeles, all of whom are continuing to produce valuable journalism despite all difficulties and controversies. Together we can make essential news information happen, because when the story gets out, we all feast and focus on even greater to make Los Angeles the type of place we all want to live in and not just despair about in writing. LA Noir may be a thing, but there’s always room for more sunshine in our daily lives.

Please support my work with your subscription, or for direct support, use Venmo, CashApp, PayPal, or Zelle using zachary.b.ellison@gmail.com

Zachary Ellison is an Independent Journalist and Whistleblower in the Los Angeles area. Zach was most recently employed by the University of Southern California, Office of the Provost, from October 2015 to August 2022 as an Executive Secretary and Administrative Assistant, supporting the Vice Provost for Academic Operations and the Vice Provost and Senior Advisor to the Provost, among others. Zach holds a Master’s in Public Administration and a Graduate Certificate in Sustainable Policy and Planning from the USC Sol Price School of Public Policy. While a student at USC, he worked for the USC Good Neighbors Campaign, including on their university-wide newsletter. Zach completed his B.A. in History at Reed College in Portland, Oregon, and was a writer, editor, and photographer for the Pasadena High School Chronicle. He was Barack Obama’s one-millionth online campaign contributor in 2008. Zach is a former AmeriCorps intern for Hawaii State Parks and worked for the City of Manhattan Beach Parks and Recreation. He is a trained civil process server and enjoys weekends in the outdoors. Zach is a member of the Los Angeles Press Club.