Pinto Ruiz covers Latino and immigrant communities across North Carolina, focusing on democracy, immigration, and community affairs. Previously, Pinto Ruiz covered agriculture, environment, and water at KWQC TV6 News in the Quad Cities for Report for America and the Ag & Water Desk. Her reporting focused on elevating farmers’ voices and bringing awareness to the importance and difficulty of the work farmers do to feed the USA, often in an unpredictable industry. Some of her extensive reporting focused on mental health in agriculture, grain bin safety, and proposed pesticide legislation, earning her an honorable mention in the 2026 North American Agricultural Journalists writing awards. Pinto Ruiz is bilingual in English and Spanish and is a proud Colombian, which means you can often find her searching for the things she misses most as an immigrant—Colombian food and a good cup of Colombian coffee—alongside her companion on adventures, her dog Miel.
Beat: Democracy, Immigration and Community Affairs Reporter
Enlace Latino NC is seeking a Reporter focused on Democracy, Immigration, and Community Affairs to join our newsroom. This journalist will cover the North Carolina General Assembly, local governments, and the key issues that shape life for Latino and immigrant communities across the state. The reporter will produce rigorous, accessible, and people-centered journalism that connects policy, democracy, and community life — examining how decisions made at both the state and local levels impact areas such as health, housing, the economy, and civic participation. This position plays a vital role in Enlace Latino NC’s mission to provide consistent, in-depth coverage of democracy, immigration, and community affairs — not only during election cycles, but year-round — ensuring that our audiences are informed, engaged, and represented in the stories that matter most to them.