Bilingual reporter / assistant editor

A headshot of Nik Altenberg who is wearing glasses and has medium-length brown hair.

[email protected]

As someone who grew up in Downtown Santa Cruz, I find it odd when people call it a “small town” — we face many of the challenges of a big city. Complex problems deserve nuanced attention and as Santa Cruz Local’s bilingual reporter and assistant editor, I strive to bring that level of attention to all of our reporting. 

I graduated from UC Santa Cruz with a bachelor’s degree in Latin American and Latino Studies in 2023. My journalism background is in radio, data and open-source research. Some of my reporting interests are climate, migration, housing, health care and incarceration. I live in Oakland and visit Santa Cruz County often. 

Have a question you want me to answer? Reach me at [email protected].

Recent stories by Nik Altenberg