About
Yuri Avila is a freelance photojournalist based in San Francisco and Oakland, California, with almost 10 years of experience working in different fields of journalism.
Originally from Mexico City, Yuri has lived in five countries, which has influenced her ability to find stories in new places and connect with people from various backgrounds and experiences.
Yuri holds a master's degree from the UC Berkeley Graduate School of Journalism, focusing on photojournalism and multimedia reporting, as well as a BA in Political Science and International Relations from the Center of Research and Teaching in Economics (CIDE) in Mexico.
Her stories primarily cover issues related to gender, migration, LGBT communities and their intersections. She also enjoys covering music events and nightlife.
Her work has been published in The New York Times, The Los Angeles Times, Vogue, The San Francisco Chronicle, BuzzFeed News and Mexican publications such as Animal Politico and Aristegui Noticias.
Photo: Jordan Price
Awards and Grants
- Second Place, Steve “Gonzo” Gonzales Photo Contest, National Association of Hispanic Journalists (NAHJ), 2024
- Part of the New York Times graphics team awarded the Pulitzer Prize in Public Service, 2021
- Dorothea Lange Fellowship, UC Berkeley, 2021
- Jim Fahey Safe Home for Women Fellowship, Berkeley Law, 2021
- Reproductive Health Rights and Justice in the Americas Grant, International Women Media Foundation, 2020
- Jennifer Leonard Fellowship, Investigative Reporters and Editors, 2019
- Part of the Verificado 2018 team Finalist for the Gabriel García Márquez Journalism Award in Innovation, 2018
- Part of the Animal Politico team winner of the Online Journalism Award (ONA) in Excellence in Collaboration and Partnerships, 2018.
Languages
Spanish (Native speaker)
English (Working proficiency)
German, Portuguese (Advanced)
French (Intermediate)