About Sharon Mcnary

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Sharon McNary was drawn to Public Insight Journalism for its potential to find compelling news stories by tapping the knowledge and experiences of the public. Sharon, a military veteran, was a computer programmer before she was a journalist, so she has always sought out tech-savvy and creative ways to cover news.

Sharon has worked in TV news and documentaries, radio, wire service and newspapers in the diverse and challenging Southern California news market, developing award-winning investigative and computer-assisted reporting projects. Following a mid-career public service break with the Peace Corps in Bolivia, Sharon returned to print and multi-media reporting. She has covered disasters, government corruption, growth and immigration, often using databases, mapping and other technology tools to break news.

As a Public Insight Analyst in Los Angeles, Sharon works to find sources for Southern California Public Radio. Indoors, Sharon is an avid cook, seamstress and knitter while her outdoor pursuits are competing in marathons and triathlons.

Stories

Digital media stories published elsewhere by Sharon Mcnary:

  • After the Chino Prison Riot [edit]
    Public Insight Journalism crowdsourcing and traditional reporting methods combine to tell the story of the Chino prison riot of August 2009. The web presentation includes dozens of letters written by inmates of a California prison describing conditions before, during and after the riot. Some of the men were held outdoors in metal cages with inadequate clothing and shelter for days after the riot. The story came to KPCC via sources responding to general questions to the public about prison life. One of our sources won the SPJ Sunshine Award for efforts to make government more open.

Writing

Content on this site written by Sharon Mcnary (includes contributory writing):