Through her tenacious reporting, deep relationships with sources and skilled writing, Brittny Mejia is able to tell stories that other journalists cannot. She finds her way into the lives of vulnerable people at the most devastating times, gains their trust and listens to their experiences. Those attributes give readers information they would never find otherwise, give story subjects justice and dignity and often hold authorities accountable for their actions.
One focus of Mejia’s reporting in 2025 was the impact of federal immigration raids on the often invisible Californians we rely on to live our comfortable lives: agriculture workers dreaming of better lives for their children; delivery drivers trying to make ends meet; a disabled carwash worker.
Many of the immigration stories came to light thanks to relationships with local immigrant rights groups and sources in communities that Mejia has long covered. That kind of dedication, accuracy, fairness and humanity allow her to delve deeply into the lives of some of the most vulnerable among us while also showing readers the workings of government. She partnered with her colleagues in photo and video to share their experiences.
