Shawn Hubler

I am a reporter for The New York Times, and I cover California.

What I Cover

I am based in Sacramento, the state capital, so I am interested in the major policy trends and personalities that have long made California so influential, but I also write breaking news and features throughout the state and nation. My interests are eclectic, like the state I cover: I have written about Hollywood strikes, homelessness, the Maui wildfire and the vast prehistoric lake that emerged last spring in the Central Valley. I also have written about California’s unofficial airline, Los Angeles’s bridge infatuation, Thundergraupel, Puckle guns and politically active bears.

My Background

I have spent most of my adult life in California, working for news organizations from Orange County to Sacramento. For nearly two decades, I covered the state for The Los Angeles Times. There, I wrote about the 1992 Los Angeles riots from the Florence and Normandie intersection; the 2000 dot-com bust from San Francisco; and the internet’s impact on children from Orange County. I also shared three Pulitzer Prizes for coverage of the riots; the 1994 Northridge earthquake that devastated Southern California; and the violent, televised, 1997 shootout in North Hollywood between armored bank robbers and police that prompted the militarization of law enforcement nationally. I also have been a deputy editor at CalMatters, an award-winning, nonprofit news organization that specializes in California policy, and a member of the editorial board at The Sacramento Bee.

I am a native of Central Pennsylvania and a graduate of Pennsylvania State University. I am married to Bob Magnuson, a former journalist and news executive and Southern California native. We have three wonderful grown daughters and an opinionated cat.

Journalistic Ethics

Like all Times journalists, I am committed to upholding the standards of integrity outlined in our Ethical Journalism Handbook. I do not accept gifts from sources or contribute to political causes. I protect my sources and identify myself as a reporter when I am on the job. I try to reflect California’s demographic and political diversity by elevating many kinds of voices. I strive to not only be accurate and fair in my reports, but also humane and understanding. I fact check before I publish and correct errors that I make.

Contact Me

Email: shawn.hubler@nytimes.com
X: @ShawnHubler
WhatsApp: Email or DM to get my number
Signal: Email or DM to get my number
Anonymous tips: nytimes.com/tips

Featured

CreditPhilip Cheung for The New York Times

Latest

California Today
Angelenos Reflect on a ‘Big Moment in American History’
The murder trial of O.J. Simpson was a defining part of a turbulent era in Los Angeles.
By Jill Cowan and Shawn Hubler
In Los Angeles, the O.J. Simpson Case Defined a Turbulent Era
From the car chase to the verdict, the murder case became an inextricable part of Los Angeles history in the 1990s, and Angelenos to this day still ponder what happened.
By Corina Knoll, Shawn Hubler and Jill Cowan
Big Sur Urged to Evacuate as Another Storm Approaches
Officials are advising people to leave one of the nation’s most scenic coastal stretches before rain washes away more of Highway 1.
By Shawn Hubler
Once a Sure Thing, Newsom’s Homelessness Measure Barely Passes
The measure known as Proposition 1, which includes $6.38 billion for treatment and housing, was a top priority for Gov. Gavin Newsom to reduce homelessness in the state.
By Shawn Hubler
Two Weeks Later, a Newsom Homeless Measure Still Hangs in the Balance
Gov. Gavin Newsom billed Proposition 1 as crucial to solving California’s homelessness crisis. Voters, who see the issue as a top concern, have split almost evenly on the proposal.
By Shawn Hubler
California’s Ballot Measure on Mental Health Care Still Isn’t Decided. Why?
Proposition 1 was expected to be widely approved, but the vote is close. Here’s what the measure is and what’s at stake.
By Shawn Hubler
Who Needs Paper? Many Students Embrace the All-Digital SAT.
Several test takers across the country found themselves in favor of the new format of the college admissions exam — even with some technical glitches.
By Shawn Hubler, Robert Chiarito and Alessandro Marazzi Sassoon
Katie Porter, a Rising Star in Congress, Finds Herself Without Another Seat
The California representative harnessed social media and her committee perch to build a following. But it wasn’t enough to survive a brutal Senate contest, and she has nowhere to go this election season.
By Jill Cowan
Steve Garvey’s Improbable Rise, Decades After His Baseball Heyday
The former Major League Baseball star running for the Senate faces long odds in Democratic-run California. He hopes to appeal to voters who are frustrated — and love a good sports analogy.
By Shawn Hubler
Schiff and Garvey Advance in the California Senate Race for Feinstein’s Seat
Representative Adam Schiff, a prominent antagonist of former President Donald J. Trump, will face Steve Garvey, a Republican former baseball star, in a November runoff.
By Shawn Hubler