A black principal, four white teens
and the ‘senior prank’ that
became a hate crime

7.9.19

'Why did you do this?'

His brother gunned down 17 people.
​But he's the only family Zach Cruz has left.

1.25.19

‘I would rather
not be alone.’

Behind their anger, students who survived the Parkland shooting are still teens struggling with trauma.

2.20.18

An unhealthy contradiction

They are poor, sick and voted for Trump. What will happen to them without Obamacare?

3.11.17

13, right now

This is what it's like to grow up in the
​age of likes, lols and longing

5.25.16

The boy on the bridge

12.13.18

A Wrenching Dilemma

Across the country, decades’ worth of rape kits are finally being tested, but no one can agree on what to do next. ​

2.20.18

First, this town lost its Macy’s. Then Sears.
​Now, all eyes were on J.C. Penney.

1.1.18

Crossing the border into Trump's America 

Not deported, not detained, but given an ankle monitor and permission to stay

6.25.17

The Waffle House

A bittersweet end for a community staple

10.22.13

​for checking out my work. 


​

By way of Akron, Ohio and Indiana University, I'm a reporter for The Washington Post. 

My latest stories

Twitter: @mjcontrera // mjessicacontrera@gmail.com

Photos from top left:

Will Newton for The Washington Post 

Broward County Sheriff

Jonathan Newton of The Washington Post

Bonnie Jo Mount of The Washington Post

Victoria Milko for The Washington Post

Michael Williamson of The Washington Post 

Adam Ewing for The Washington Post

Dustin Franz for The Washington Post

Michael Robinson Chavez of The Washington Post​

Anna Powell Teeter, entrepreneur extraordinaire  for The Indiana Daily Student