Steven Vargas (he/him) is a multimedia journalist, dancer and actor based in Los Angeles. His work focuses on the intersections of media, social justice, and performance. More recently, he was an arts reporter at the Los Angeles Times. His work can also be found in publications like E! News, USA Today, TheWrap, Dance Magazine, ARTnews, BuzzFeed News and more.

Originally from Texas, Steven came to the West Coast to pursue his passions for media and the performing arts. He graduated from USC with an MA in Specialized Journalism (The Arts) in 2022 and previously graduated from USC with a BA in Theatre and Journalism with a minor in Dance in 2020, earning the Order of Laurel and Palm. He is a founding member of the Equity Board, an initiative at USC Annenberg Media dedicated to diversifying sourcing and promoting inclusive coverage across the publication. In this position, he penned the newsroom’s “Guide for Equitable Reporting Strategies and Newsroom Style.” His short documentary, “Dancing at Home,” earned first place in the L.A. Press Club’s Life in the Time of the Coronavirus contest in May 2020 and was awarded the PPAGLA Student Videographer of the Year. In 2021, he participated in the second cohort of Jose Solís’ BIPOC Critics Lab with the Kennedy Center.

Meanwhile, his artistic practice combines his skills in reporting and dance to share stories through movement. He has done just that while working with organizations like USC Arts in Action, Sojourn Theatre Company of Chicago, Black Lives Matter LA, and Reform LA Jails Coalition. Past productions include "Facing Our Truth: Plays on Trayvon, Race, and Privilege," "Don't Go” and "Race Relay." He studied dance with A.I.M. by Kyle Abraham, Movement Migration and Imprints Dance Company (later performing as a guest artist for the company). He participated in the 2018 Artist As Citizen Conference with Artists Striving to End Poverty (ASTEP) at the Juilliard School and studied at Shakespeare's Globe in London with a Fulbright Summer Institute Scholarship.

Steven utilizes his skills and experiences on and off stage to communicate poignant stories through journalism, theatre and dance.