Amita Sharma
Investigative ReporterAs the public matters investigative reporter, Amita leads KPBS’ coverage on efforts to undermine democracy, including threats to public officials, bolstering the Big Lie, chipping away at voter’s rights, attempts to overturn election results, eroding institutions and weakening the government's capacity to do its job, as well as civic efforts to engage people with opposing views without rancor.
The goal of the position is to report on the stakes, from a San Diego County perspective, on the United States’ current political moment.
She has spent the last two years reporting on local threats to democracy, including regional extremism, the shrinking of local news coverage while the number of hyper partisan “news” websites grow, censorship at libraries and incivility at public meetings.
Her previous coverage includes: exposing abuses in local nursing homes at the height of the pandemic, including a serial rapist who had worked in several El Cajon facilities and was arrested following her reporting; unearthing a contract between the city of Chula Vista and Motorola that allowed the company to sell data collected by the Chula Vista Police Department; and reporting on discrimination and retaliation in the San Diego County Public Defender’s Office that led to court settlements and the retirement of the Public Defender.
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KPBS Midday EditionAmid California’s record-shattering housing prices, the state’s senior homeowners are sitting on a gold mine. That’s made them marks for con artists. -
The state’s affordability crisis has prompted vows from gubernatorial candidates Gavin Newsom and John Cox to reignite the California Dream. -
KPBS Midday EditionCox said he would streamline regulations, end "frivolous litigation and lawsuits," and shorten the approval process to help resolve the state's housing crunch. -
California Lt. Governor and gubernatorial candidate Gavin Newsom and Republican John Cox will square off Monday in a radio debate at KQED-FM. KPBS Investigative Reporter spoke with Newsom this week in Los Angeles about his plans to jump start the waning California Dream. -
As cities look for ways to tackle homelessness and the state pours half a billion dollars into finding solutions, KPBS Wealth and Poverty reporter Amita Sharma looks at the science of empathy. -
Nearly half of working Californians are grappling with poverty, according to a new survey by the DC-based Public Religion Research Institute.
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County requiring employees of grocery stores and many other retail outlets to wear masks as of midnight Friday. That’s a tall order, says the California Grocers Association.
- In Escondido, a school board member changes her name but not her politics
- SCUBA divers volunteer at San Diego's Birch Aquarium
- San Diego Unified is getting rid of some K-8 middle schools
- San Diego City Council to once again consider Balboa Park parking fees
- Elected officials announce proposed ordinance aimed at fed enforcement actions