Marcus L. Bennett came to journalism through an unlikely route. After four years as a housing inspector for the City of Long Beach, he grew increasingly frustrated by the stories that weren’t being told—families displaced by rapid development, zoning battles that reshaped neighborhoods overnight, the quiet mechanics of gentrification that most residents only noticed when it was too late.
That frustration led him to journalism school at Cal State Fullerton at 28. Twelve years later, he hasn’t looked back.
What He Covers
As Senior Correspondent at News of Los Angeles, Marcus covers housing, real estate, and urban development across LA County. His reporting focuses on the policies and market forces that determine who gets to live where—and at what cost.
Notable Work
His 2021 investigation into unpermitted ADU conversions in South LA revealed a pattern of code violations tied to a single property management company, prompting a city audit and new enforcement protocols. The series earned him a Los Angeles Press Club Award for investigative reporting.
Background
Before joining News of Los Angeles in 2019, Marcus spent five years at the Long Beach Post covering City Hall and development politics, plus two years on the breaking news desk at the San Gabriel Valley Tribune. He completed the Investigative Reporters and Editors boot camp in 2018 and has trained with the Knight Center on data journalism techniques.
LA Roots
Marcus grew up in Inglewood and still lives there with his wife and two kids. He coaches youth basketball at Darby Park on weekends—which, he’ll tell you, has given him unexpected sources on everything from school board politics to pothole complaints.
Stay Connected:
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