Albert Serna Jr. on Muck Rack

Albert Serna Jr.

Verified
(He/Him)
Los Angeles
As seen in: OpenSecrets, Medium, HuffPost, Yahoo News Malaysia, Yahoo News New Zealand, ABC News, Los Angeles Times, Chicago Tribune, The Toronto Star, Chron, The Seattle Times and
Covers:  Investigations, FOIA, Public Records, Crime, Queer Culture, News, Long-form, Money in Politics
Doesn't Cover: Sports
Queer Chicano journalist | Founder/Editor @investigate_la | previously: @opensecretsdc @MuckRock @howardcenterasu | MA in investigative journalism | SQAF

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Albert Serna Jr.’s Biography

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Executive Editor/Founder at Los Angeles Center for Investigative Journalism.
Bylines in OpenSecrets, MuckRock, AZCIR, Cronkite News, Tampa Bay Times, Boyle Heights Beat.
Former contributor to Huffington Post, WeHo Times.
Living at the intersection of queerness and Latinidad.

Albert Serna Jr.’s Journalist Portfolio

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Big checks, no cap: El Monte paid out more than $17 million in overtime over five years

Big checks, no cap: El Monte paid out more than $17 million in overtime over five years

El Monte - To find one of the highest-paid city officials in the San Gabriel Valley, residents only need to l…

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Big money, big stakes: 5 things everyone should know about money in 2024 elections

Big money, big stakes: 5 things everyone should know about money in 2024 elections

The 2024 election marks a historic moment in U.S. politics, not only for candidates but also for the record s…

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State ballot measures attract more than $417 million ahead of Election Day

State ballot measures attract more than $417 million ahead of Election Day

This year, voters in 41 states decide on 159 statewide ballot measures with issues ranging from abortion and …

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‘Guardian angel’ megadonors give $196M to influence 2024 elections

‘Guardian angel’ megadonors give $196M to influence 2024 elections

Contributions from “guardian angel” megadonors totaled about $196 million between the start of the 2023-2024 …

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Drag queens unite to form political action committee ahead of 2024 election

Drag queens unite to form political action committee ahead of 2024 election

A new political action committee isbringing together some of the biggest names in drag to push back against a…

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Corporate sponsors of Pride events also contribute to politicians with anti-LGBTQ leanings

Corporate sponsors of Pride events also contribute to politicians with anti-LGBTQ leanings

During Pride Month, many corporations show support for LGBTQ+ rights but still fund groups and politicians wh…

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Articles

Big checks, no cap: El Monte paid out more than $17 million in overtime over five years

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By Albert Serna Jr. 
| investigatela.org
El Monte — To find one of the highest-paid city officials in the San Gabriel Valley, residents only need to look to El Monte. In 2023, one officer made more than city managers and police chiefs across the region. An investigation into the city’s budget and payroll data found that the El Monte Police Department spent more than $17 million on overtime to officers over five years.
Open in Who Shared Issue with article?

Boyle Heights rallies

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By Albert Serna Jr. 
| LAist
Read on... what Boyle Heights residents are saying about the crash and the following protests. Why now: At Wednesday’s press conference at Salazar Park, witnesses, community activists, and clergy members described the incident as a troubling example of the militarization of Los Angeles. The event, organized by social justice group Centro CSO, drew a crowd of about 50 people.
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State ballot measures attract more than $417 million ahead of Election Day

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By Albert Serna Jr. 
| Tucson Sentinel
OpenSecrets This year, voters in 41 states decide on 159 statewide ballot measures with issues ranging from abortion and marijuana to changing election procedures and regulating affordable housing. Committees supporting or opposing those ballot measures raised more than $417 million combined as of Oct. 28. While each state has different regulations governing how measures are put on the ballot, money is still needed to get voters’ attention.
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See all 349 licensed articles (353 Total)

Interview

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What was your first job as a journalist?

Writing for an indie music magazine online.

Have you ever used a typewriter?

Yes, back in the 90s when I was a little kid

How is social media changing news?

It's allowing for the swifter deliverance of news and information. However this isn't always a positive as it can lead to errors in reporting

Awards

Editor & Publisher Magazine EPPY Award

2023 - Best community service project/reporting

Community Service may be one or a series of articles focused on a common subject or goal, and how it contributed to improvements of the community served.

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Editor & Publisher Magazine EPPY Award

2023 - Best investigative/enterprise video

An Investigative/Enterprise Video is a single story or a series of stories focusing on added information that may or may not be apparent to the public, whose revelations may bear consequences to their lives. The reporting is significantly enhanced using video. Judged on originality, depth, significance of topic told through video.

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