Sharon McNary Politics Reporter
- @KPCCsharon
- Phone: (626) 583-5126
Sharon McNary is a Politics Reporter for Southern California Public Radio. She uses public records, public engagement sourcing and other methods (like good old fashioned shoe leather) to help draw stories from the experience, expertise and concerns of our communities as well as from political agendas.
In her first three years at KPCC, Sharon launched KPCC’s Public Insight Network, a group of several thousand people who — by sharing their experiences and expertise — help the newsroom cover Southern California. People who respond to Public Insight Network questions have been included in many KPCC award-winning news reports, including investigative coverage of prison conditions, long-form narratives, and talk show segments.
A military veteran, McNary was a computer programmer before she was a journalist, so she has always sought out tech-savvy and creative ways to cover news.
McNary has worked in TV news and documentaries, radio, wire service and newspapers in the Southern California news market, developing award-winning investigative and computer-assisted reporting projects.
Following a mid-career public service break with the Peace Corps in Bolivia, McNary returned to print and multimedia reporting. She has covered disasters, government corruption, growth and immigration, often using databases, mapping and other technology tools to break news.
McNary is an avid cook, seamstress and knitter while her outdoor pursuits are competing in marathons and triathlons
Stories by Sharon McNary
Southland scouts react to release of 'Perversion Files'
There's mixed reaction from people involved with Boy Scouting on the release of the organization's so-called “Perversion Files,” documents that detail abuse allegations over decades.
Funeral held for iconic CA politician Mervyn Dymally
The funeral of California's longest-serving black elected official drew a constellation of Democratic and political figures, including the Rev. Jesse Jackson
Gov. Brown at UCLA to rally students in support of Prop. 30
Students in the CSU and UC systems have a lot at stake in Prop. 30, including tuition refunds. If it fails, cuts in admissions and tuition increases are expected.
Term limits have lawmakers eyeing LA city council seats
Current and former state legislators crowd the field of candidates in next year's Los Angeles city council races. The reason: term limits.
Study: Californians distrust state government more than ever
However, voters trust themselves to make decisions about initiatives, even though they lack basic knowledge about the state's complex issues
Former Calif. lawmaker, US Rep. Mervyn Dymally dies
Mervyn Dymally, the former California assemblyman, senator and lieutenant governor who also served in Congress for more than a decade, has died.
Independent voters are crucial in numerous CA races
Where Republicans and Democrats are nearly equal in numbers, nonpartisan voters rise in importance, as in one Orange County race
Record number of new, renewing voters in LA County
New registration records were set in Los Angeles County. About 220,000 in California register online, either new or renewing voting records.
Site offers new way to see California election spending
Charting the political money wars -- a data wiz who works in politics helps pull back the curtain on big spending in California elections.
California's Asian-American voters: half are nonpartisan
Researchers say low voter turnout from California's Asian-American due to lack of interest in the group from political parties.
Comedy video: 'Does your Asian mom vote?'
David and Andrew Fung — the comic Fung brothers — imagine bleak futures for themselves if they let their mother refrain from voting.
Californians flock to new online voter registration
The State Senator who sponsored the legislation says "This is a game-changer for our democracy"; Registration continues through Oct. 22
UC Riverside to host congressional debate after telecast
Riverside-area candidates for Congress' 41st District clash Oct. 3 in a live forum to follow the Obama-Romney televised debate.
Survey: Asian-American voters prefer Obama over Romney
Thirty-two percent of likely Asian-American remain undecided about their choice for president, which could affect results in Nevada, North Carolina and Virginia
Super PACs spending freely in Ventura, San Bernardino
Two Congressional races in California saw huge spending by Super PACs, inundating voters with mailers, TV ads and phone calls. Who's spending and why?
