Jennifer Medina

I am a political reporter at The New York Times, based in Los Angeles. My reporting focuses on political attitudes and demographic change.

What I Cover

I write about national politics from the ground up by focusing on voters. I report on how demographics are changing the electorate and the potential impact on elections. I try to explore what is behind people’s political opinions — what is driving their votes and why they think the way they do. My goal in reporting is to test the conventional wisdom that often drives politics. I am interested in understanding the forces shaping our political landscape, and what that says about our past and future. My work in the last several years has focused specifically on Latino voters, one of the fastest-growing segments of the electorate.

My Background

I have reported for The Times for more than 20 years. For nearly a decade, I was based in New York, where I covered crime, transportation and the city’s public school system. I also covered politics in Albany, N.Y., and Hartford, Conn. In 2011, I moved to Los Angeles to write about national news from Southern California. I traveled all over the region examining how public policy affects people’s lives, focusing especially on immigration, education and poverty. I have covered many national disasters and mass shootings, often focusing on the humanity displayed amid tragedy.

I was born in Riverside, Calif., and graduated from the University of Southern California. I now live in Los Angeles with my family. I speak Spanish and Hebrew.

Journalistic Ethics

All Times journalists are committed to upholding the standards outlined in our Ethical Journalism Handbook, which means I do not make political donations. I do vote, but am not registered as a member of any political party. I go into all reporting efforts with an open mind, ready to be surprised. Frequently, people will not say what I expect them to say. I try to put voters’ viewpoints in as much relevant context as possible. I always make an effort to understand issues from a variety of perspectives, ensuring independent journalism.

I don’t use social media, but I do enjoy hearing from readers. Please email me and I will be happy to exchange phone numbers.

• Email: jennifer.medina@nytimes.com

• Signal: you can email me for number

• Anonymous tips: nytimes.com/tips