About

Beto Alvarez currently serves as Deputy Director of Newsroom Innovation and Planning at the L.A. Times, reaching more than 40 million unique visitors monthly. He focuses on developing tools, workflows, and features that improve how journalists publish and how readers experience the site. He works closely with editors, product managers, and engineers to find solutions that work at scale, under deadline, and for real people doing demanding jobs, with a current focus on the L.A. Times mobile app.

He started in the industry at 16, collaborating with his father on illustrations that were syndicated nationally. Taking an unconventional path directly through the newsrooms of the Dallas Morning News, Philadelphia Inquirer, San Diego Union-Tribune, and L.A. Times, he has worked across illustration, data visualization, design, video, audio, and digital publishing. That cross-disciplinary background shapes how he approaches every problem he takes on.

Throughout his career, Beto has been recognized with four regional Emmy Awards, a Silver Medal from the Society for News Design, a Bronze Medal from the Malofiej International Infographics Awards, and recognition from PRINT Magazine. He currently serves as Treasurer on the SND Board of Directors.

He grew up in Texas and has lived in San Diego since 2010, where he lives with his partner Tiffany, their kids, one yappy dog, a turtle, and two fish. Beto has played bass guitar in a bunch of rock and roll outfits and is a lifelong skateboarding enthusiast.