Currently an enterprise reporter for the Los Angeles Times, Miller focuses on how policy decisions and corporate actions reshape educational institutions and cultural landmarks. His work sits at the intersection of public accountability and historical legacy.
We’ve tracked Daniel Miller’s evolution from metro reporter to one of the Los Angeles Times’ most versatile enterprise writers, a journalist who combines old-school shoe-leather reporting with a modern sense of institutional accountability. His work consistently illuminates the friction points between powerful institutions and the communities they serve.
Miller’s 2024 deep dive into the legal battle over pandemic relief funds revealed how the Department of Education’s clawback efforts disproportionately impacted Title I schools. Through FOIA-obtained documents and interviews with 43 district administrators, he demonstrated how the policy reversal created a $2.3 billion shortfall for technology upgrades in low-income communities. The piece became a key reference in subsequent congressional hearings about emergency funding allocation.
“What began as a lifeline for struggling districts became a financial boomerang,” Miller wrote, encapsulating the paradox of pandemic-era education policy.
This 2025 accountability piece tracked the complex web of contractors, insurance payouts, and environmental regulations slowing school reconstruction efforts. Miller’s forensic analysis of bidding documents exposed how emergency contracting rules were leveraged to bypass minority-owned business requirements. His follow-up reporting prompted the district to revise its disaster recovery procurement protocols.
Miller’s scoop on USC’s preemptive austerity measures revealed how private universities are preparing for potential Title IX and research funding rollbacks. By obtaining internal memos and cross-referencing donor databases, he illustrated how development offices are prioritizing relationships with private foundations over federal grant programs.
Miller consistently covers how funding changes affect operational realities rather than pedagogical debates. A successful pitch might examine how community colleges are restructuring athletic programs in response to federal work-study cuts, with concrete examples from at least three institutions. Avoid theoretical discussions of curriculum reform.
His recent Magic Castle investigation shows appetite for legacy institution exposés. Pitch stories about guild certification processes, unionization efforts at theme parks, or financial audits of film tax credit programs. Provide documented evidence of systemic issues rather than individual complaints.
The Anaheim-Disney reporting template works for stories about municipal bonds supporting sports stadiums, transit-oriented development conflicts, or healthcare provider tax breaks. Supply FOIA-ready paper trails and whistleblower contacts.
Miller’s sushi revolution piece demonstrates interest in cultural cross-pollination narratives. Look for untold stories about industry-shaping collaborations, like tech transfer between defense contractors and video game developers.
His coverage of USDA meat inspectors suggests interest in regulatory enforcement gaps. Pitch stories about OSHA inspection backlogs in warehouses or ERISA compliance issues in gig economy retirement plans.
California and other states sue Trump administration over COVID-19 education funding clawback
L.A. Unified schools burned in Palisades fire hit milestone in $600 million rebuild
USC announces cutbacks amid federal funding uncertainty under Trump administration
At PressContact, we aim to help you discover the most relevant journalists for your PR efforts. If you're looking to pitch to more journalists who write on Education, here are some other real estate journalist profiles you may find relevant:
