‘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

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. A story of good intentions — and government blunders. 

2.20.18

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

1.1.18

'He didn't learn this ​at home'

After violent protests in Charlottesville, a father confronts his "pro-white" son

9.15.17

Crossing the border into Trump's America 

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

6.25.17

Series: The Screen Age: 

How technology is changing childhood for Generation Z

2016

The Waffle House

A bittersweet end for a Bloomington 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. 

Latest stories

Twitter // mjessicacontrera@gmail.com

Photos from top left:

Jonathan Newton of The Washington Post

Bonnie Jo Mount of The Washington Post

Victoria Milko for The Washington Post

Adam Ewing for The Washington Post

Dustin Franz for The Washington Post

Evelyn Hockstein for The Washington Post

Michael Robinson Chavez of The Washington Post​

Kate Miller for The Washington Post / Design by Jake Crump 

Anna Powell Teeter, entrepreneur extraordinaire  for The Indiana Daily Student