Jerusalem Demsas Biography
Jerusalem Demsas is a prominent American journalist currently working as a staff writer at The Atlantic, where she covers housing policy, infrastructure, and economic issues. She joined The Atlantic in March 2022 after previously working at Vox, where she wrote extensively on the housing crisis and co-hosted the politics and policy podcast The Weeds. Demsas has been recognized for her insightful and often counterintuitive analysis of topics such as gentrification, NIMBYism, and the barriers to housing and economic mobility.
Demsas’s work has earned her recognition in the journalism community, including being awarded the ASME Next Award in 2023 by the American Society of Magazine Editors for her contributions as an influential voice under 30. Her personal experiences growing up as a child of Eritrean refugees have shaped her deep interest in housing policy, particularly its effects on low-income families and minority communities.
In addition to her writing, she is also a visiting fellow at the SNF Agora Institute at Johns Hopkins University, where she explores institutional failures in democratic governance​.
Jerusalem Demsas Age
Jerusalem Demsas is 34 years old as of 2024.
Jerusalem Demsas Height
Jerusalem Demsas is approximately 5 feet 6 inches tall (1.65 meters)​
Jerusalem Demsas Parents
Jerusalem Demsas has shared that her family c.ame to the United States as Eritrean refugees from Ethiopia. However, she has not provided detailed information about her parents, such as their names or other personal details, as she tends to keep her personal life.
Jerusalem Demsas Religion
Jerusalem Demsas has not publicly disclosed her personal religious beliefs.
Jerusalem Demsas Ethnicity
Jerusalem Demsas is of Ethiopian descent.
Jerusalem Demsas Educational Background
Jerusalem Demsas attended the College of William and Mary, where she studied economics.
Jerusalem Demsas Career
Jerusalem Demsas has built a distinguished career in journalism, primarily focusing on the housing crisis, infrastructure, and the economy. Her career began to take off during her time at Vox, where she became known for her in-depth analysis of housing policy and her co-hosting of The Weeds podcast. During this time, she explored issues like gentrification, zoning laws, and the broader housing crisis that plagues many parts of the United States.
In March 2022, Demsas joined The Atlantic as a staff writer, where she continued her focus on housing and infrastructure, further expanding her coverage to explore institutional failures in U.S. policy. One of her most recognized contributions was her work on the cultural and systemic barriers that make it difficult for communities to accept new housing developments. Demsas argued that opposition to new housing is often rooted in deeper cultural values rather than just economic self-interest. She pointed out how this opposition is tied to broader societal concepts of the “good life” and fear of change, particularly in well-established neighborhoods​.
Throughout her career, Demsas has consistently highlighted the human impact of policy failures. She emphasizes that behind every housing decision is a person or family affected, whether it’s a low-income renter trying to find housing near a good school or a homeowner concerned about changing neighborhood dynamics.
Before her time at Vox and The Atlantic, Demsas also worked in political communications and climate-change policy research, experiences that informed her nuanced understanding of government policy and its failures. Her reporting often intersects with political issues, touching on race, class, and mobility, which she views as key components of the housing debate​.
Demsas is known for tackling counterintuitive ideas and pushing back against widely accepted narratives. She often writes about the politics of exclusion, NIMBY-ism (Not In My Backyard), and the ways local democratic processes sometimes exacerbate national crises like housing shortages.
In addition to her writing, Demsas has appeared on various platforms discussing her views on the housing crisis and has been a guest on shows like PBS’s Amanpour & Company, where she delved into topics such as zoning reform and affordable housing.
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Jerusalem Demsas Awards and Recognition
Jerusalem Demsas has been recognized for her impactful journalism, particularly her contributions to housing policy and infrastructure coverage. In 2023, she received the prestigious ASME Next Award from the American Society of Magazine Editors. This award honors emerging journalists under the age of 30 who are making a significant impact in the field of magazine media​.
Jerusalem Demsas Book
Jerusalem Demsas’s book On the Housing Crisis: Land, Development, Democracy, published in September 2024, is an insightful exploration of the housing shortage crisis in the United States. In this collection of essays, Demsas delves deep into how local politics, zoning laws, and cultural perceptions about land use have contributed to the severe lack of affordable housing.
Jerusalem Demsas Net Worth
Jerusalem Demsas’s net worth is estimated to be around $700,000 as of 2024.
Jerusalem Demsas Salary
Jerusalem Demsas’s income is primarily derived from her journalism career, with her average salary reported to be around $71,500 per year.
Jerusalem Demsas Husband
Jerusalem Demsas keeps her personal life private, including details about her marital status.
Jerusalem Demsas Twitter Presence
Jerusalem Demsas is active on Twitter, where she shares insights on housing policy, economics, and institutional issues. Her Twitter handle is @JerusalemDemsas, and she regularly engages with her audience on current events related to her areas of expertise, including urban development, housing crises, and political policies.
FAQs
Who is Jerusalem Demsas?
Jerusalem Demsas is an American journalist and staff writer at The Atlantic, primarily covering topics like housing policy, infrastructure, and economic mobility. She previously worked at Vox as a policy journalist and co-host of The Weeds podcast.
What topics does Jerusalem Demsas focus on?
She focuses on the housing crisis, zoning laws, economic policies, gentrification, and NIMBYism (Not In My Backyard). Her work examines institutional failures and how they affect people’s ability to move and live in areas with better opportunities.
Where does Jerusalem Demsas work?
As of 2022, Jerusalem works as a staff writer at The Atlantic, covering housing and economic issues. Before this, she worked at Vox, where she gained recognition for her work on the housing crisis.
Has Jerusalem Demsas received any awards?
Yes, in 2023, Jerusalem was awarded the prestigious ASME Next Award by the American Society of Magazine Editors, recognizing her as an emerging journalist under 30.
Where can I read Jerusalem Demsas’s work?
You can read her work in The Atlantic and formerly on Vox. She also appears on The Weeds podcast, which covers in-depth policy discussions.
