top of page
Suit Head Shot.jpg

CHRIS L. JENKINS

Filmmaker | Journalist

Chris L. Jenkins is an award winning journalist and documentary film producer and writer. Over a 20-year career, he has told stories about social justice, identity and progressive culture, with a focus on race, class and equity. 

Chris is the producer for Shame of Chicago, Shame of the Nation (2024) a four-part docu-series on PBS. He is also the producer and writer of the award winning documentary, Trapped: Cash Bail in America streaming on YouTube Originals, and producer of the feature documentary  Anthem,  currently airing on HULU.

For nearly two decades, he was a reporter and editor at The Washington Post where he covered and led award winning journalism around politics, criminal justice, immigration, culture and race. He has also served as Managing Editor for The Root.com and producer and writer for ESPN's HBCU Football: Our Time special; the independent film Rikers: Innocence Lost; and story producer for the feature documentary, Van Jones: The First Step, which premiered at the 2021 Tribeca Film Festival. Forthcoming work includes serving as writer and story producer for Hussle, a five-part docuseries on the life and times of Nipsey Hussle.

While at The Post, Chris was the author of numerous award winning stories and productions, and was a core member of the paper's team that won the 2008 Pulitzer Prize for its breaking news coverage of the Virginia Tech shooting massacre.

AWARDS
Trapped Film Festival Graphic (1).png
A Show For a Change Film Festival, 2020

Social Impact Award, 2020

Trapped: Cash Bail in America

 Writer / Producer

Washington Post Staff, 2008

Pulitzer Prize

for Breaking News

For its exceptional, multi-faceted coverage of the deadly shooting rampage at Virginia Tech

Staff Writer

SeriesFest Film Festival

Winner, 2017

Diversity in Storytelling Award

MEN: The Dreamer

Executive Producer

Austin Revolution Film Festival

Nominated, 2017
Best Short Documentary

MEN: The Moodys

Executive Producer

HBO Documentary Competition, Martha’s Vineyard African American Film Festival

Nominated, 2017
Best Documentary

MEN: The Father

Executive Producer

NABJ Salute to Excellence Award, 2014

Best Digital Storytelling, 2014

BrotherSpeak: Exploring the Lives of Black Men

 Executive Producer

mddc_assoc_logo.jpg
MDDC Press Association, 2012 Press Awards

First Place

Business Reporting, 2013

For Some Black Women, Economy and Willingness to Aid Family Strains Finances

Staff Writer 

bottom of page