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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The investigation comes several months after two Encinitas board members were ousted following their complaints to the corporate board about San Diego County YMCA President and Chief Executive Officer Baron Herdelin-Doherty. -
KPBS Midday EditionThe deadly shooting of two journalists in Virginia by a disgruntled former coworker highlights that fact that homicide is currently the fourth leading cause of death at work, according to OSHA. -
KPBS Midday EditionThe 10-year anniversary of Hurricane Katrina brings up painful memories for some San Diegans. We hear from a woman who relocated after losing everything to the storm and how San Diegans helped out in the aftermath. -
Documents indicate Southern California Edison's arbitration claim against Mitsubishi may not be clear-cut. -
The $3.3 billion ratepayer tab contained within the controversial settlement over the San Onofre Nuclear Generating Station is but a fraction of the decades-long bill customers are left to cover because of the shutdown. -
KPBS Midday EditionThe parties are over, the celebrities have cleared out, and the superheroes have packed up their capes. Another Comic-Con has come to a close.
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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.
- San Diego County estimates 400,000 Medi-Cal, CalFresh recipients could lose benefits
- A crisis team responding to a suicide attempt asked for help, El Cajon Police refused
- LEGO's Comic-Con diorama turns the San Diego Convention Center into a mini masterpiece
- A man is halted climbing the US-Mexico border wall. Under new Trump rules, US troops sound the alarm
- Fearing lawsuits, El Cajon Police stopped responding to some mental health calls