jessica mendoza

journalist • podcast maker • all-around media person

I'm an audio reporter and sometimes host for the Wall Street Journal's daily narrative news podcast The Journal. Some of my favorite episodes I've done are the trademark fight over the phrase Taco Tuesday, the devastating fires in Maui through the perspective of a local resident and the toxic culture at the FDIC.I've worked at NPR and The Christian Science Monitor, where my limited series on language and identity was named a finalist for the 2022 Online Journalism Awards. In a previous life I was a radio host and TV sports reporter in the Philippines, where I'm from.Right now, I'm reading Abraham Verghese's The Covenant of Water and (slowly) working my way through Steven Erikson's massive fantasy series The Malazan Book of the Fallen. Say hello!


WORK

Recent work
The Computer Glitch That Caused Nearly 1,000 Convictions
The 2024 College Financial Aid Mess
A Hole in a Plane and a Headache for Boeing
China Wants More Babies. Many Women Are Saying No.
The Double Life of a Tech Exec


Podcasts
The Journal
It's Been a Minute
Say That Again?
Stronger
It's About Time
Tulsa Rising
Perception Gaps
Rethinking the News


Videos
unPrecedented video series
Why disease boosts discrimination, and what that costs society
COVID-19 revives urgent call for universal health care
The COVID-19 economic crisis will hurt. Can history offer hope?
National unity during crisis? Look to lessons from WWII.
Violent racism: Can Floyd protests break an old cycle?
Also:
Why fixing a broken Congress matters (claymation)


Some Writing
Impeachment's rock stars: Powerful women
In Florida, Democrats worry Venezuela policy could drive Latinos to GOP
The view from one of the last abortion clinics in Louisiana
AOC is the right’s new villain. And in Queens, they love her for it.




RESUMé

WORK EXPERIENCE

NPREditor / Producer, It's Been a Minute (Washington, D.C., May 2022 - present)As an editor:
- Work with producers and host to construct an interview arc and line edit final cuts
- Support and guide assistant producers
- Help enforce deadlines
- Write and edit digital copy
As a producer:
- Pitch segment ideas and report them out
- Identify and book guests
- Write scripts
- Cut, score and edit episodes


The Christian Science Monitor
Multimedia Reporter / Podcast Producer (Washington, D.C., 2020 - 2022)- Reported, produced and hosted narrative podcasts focused on marginalized communities
- Mentored younger team members
- Collaborated with other departments to support their audio needs and interests
- Acquired grants and other resources to amplify the social and digital presence of audio offerings
Political Reporter (Washington, D.C., 2018 - 2020)- Covered the 2018 primaries and midterms, and the 2020 Democratic primaries
- Covered Trump's first impeachment from Capitol Hill
- Wrote features on Congress members and communities across the country that had been swept up in political controversies
- Reported and published a series on the politics of abortion
West Coast Correspondent (Los Angeles, 2016 - 2018)- Reestablished the Monitor's West Coast bureau
- Wrote community profiles, explainers and feature pieces focused on regional angles to national issues like climate change, gun control, higher ed and free speech
Social Media/News Intern (Boston, 2015 - 2016)- Wrote multiple pieces daily using a data-based platform that identified high-interest topics
- Posted wire stories
- Managed the Monitor homepage on weekends


The GroundTruth Project
Human Rights Fellow (Boston, June to December 2014)- Wrote stories about global human rights issues
- Covered company events published on the GroundTruth site
- Helped develop social media audience and managed accounts


TV 5 Network
Sports Reporter (Manila, Philippines, 2011 - 2013)- Covered the sidelines for the live broadcast of Philippine Basketball Association games
- Interviewed players and coaches and contributed reports throughout each game
- Hosted related events and other sports leagues


Magic 89.9 FM (Quest Broadcasting Inc.)
Radio / Events Host (Manila, Philippines, 2008 - 2013)- Co-hosted an afternoon radio program at a Top 40 station
- Designed programming and determined the playlist for the show
- Hosted live events, including concerts, product launches, and panels

EDUCATION

MA in Journalism, Northeastern University (Boston, 2014)BA in Communications with honors, Ateneo de Manila University (Manila, Philippines, 2010)
Graduated cum laude, and awarded full scholarship on merit upon acceptance as a freshman

SKILLS & LANGUAGES

Proficient in ProTools, MTE, Zoom H5 Recorder, Canva, Report-ITBasic knowledge of Adobe Premiere Pro, Headliner, SquarespaceNative speaker in English, Tagalog

GRANTS, AWARDS AND FELLOWSHIPS

Online Journalism Awards Finalist in Excellence in Audio Digital Storytelling, Limited Series (2022)'Building Your Brand' Grantee, International Center For Journalists (2022)Paul Miller Washington Reporting Fellow, National Press Foundation (2018)

VOLUNTEER WORK

Member, Board of Governors, National Press Club (2023-present)Young Members Committee Co-Chair, National Press Club (2022-2023)Events Committee Co-Chair, National Press Club (2021-2022)




Substack

I also have a newsletter that I run with my good friend and fellow pod nerd Samantha Laine Perfas. It's called The Mess, and it's all about the chaos of being a grown adult in these uncertain times. Hit the button to join our growing crew!