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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Brian Reed was the host of the hit podcast, S-Town. Public Matters Reporter Amita Sharma spoke to Reed about how the podcast’s aftermath changed his views on journalism. -
Politics is affecting who people date. Many are first asking prospective matches who they voted for and where they stand on reproductive rights, LGBTQ+ rights and climate change before agreeing to meet. -
Few conversations have more landmines than political discussions with loved ones who hold opposing views. But some San Diegans are taking a different approach. -
A lead UC San Diego researcher says the disinformation may shed light on why more Latino voters supported President-elect Donald Trump. -
Political scientists using “fundamentals,” such as voters’ take on the economy and the direction of the country, were more accurate forecasters. -
Researchers at UC San Diego said their colleagues are chilling their own speech out of fear their federal funding may be cut off.
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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.
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- Inside the evolution of Biosphere 2, from '90s punchline to scientific playground
- At least 78 dead and dozens missing after catastrophic Texas flooding
- How good was the forecast? Texas officials and the National Weather Service disagree