Mike Isaac

I’m a New York Times reporter based in the San Francisco Bay Area, covering tech companies and Silicon Valley.

What I Cover

I largely write about Meta, the parent company of Facebook, and its family of apps, including Instagram and WhatsApp. I write about Meta’s virtual and augmented reality division as well.

I’m also interested in the rest of Silicon Valley, the business dynamics between some of the world’s most powerful tech companies, and how they shape both digital and offline culture through the products they create. That includes venture capital, startup founders, big tech battles and the next frontiers of computing.

Stories about bad behavior, corporate malfeasance and hypocrisy are always something I’m interested in pursuing.

My Background

I’ve covered the technology industry for more than a decade, through the rise of Web 2.0 and the dawn of the social web.

I wrote “Super Pumped: The Battle for Uber,” a New York Times best-selling book on the rise and fall of the ride-hailing company, based on my experiences covering Uber for The Times during one of the most tumultuous periods in its history. The book was turned into a limited series for Showtime in 2022.

Previously, I was a senior editor reporting on social media companies for Re/Code and AllThingsDigital, and covered the rise of mobile computing as a staff writer for WIRED Magazine. I began my career as a music journalist, writing for Paste Magazine and Performer, and still attend as many shows as I can.

Though I’ve moved more than 30 times across the United States, I mainly grew up in Fort Worth, Texas, where I attended high school. I eventually made my way to the Bay Area, where I attended the University of California, Berkeley, and graduated with a bachelor’s degree in English literature. I now live in Oakland, California.

Journalistic Ethics

My priority is keeping my sources protected, especially during sensitive or high-risk stories. I strive to be accurate and fair in my coverage, no matter what the subject. I won’t shy away from the tough stories, and will always give subjects a chance to comment and express their side of a story.

I do not own stock in any of the companies I cover. I have a 401(k) and am invested in various index funds, none of which I have direct control over. If I am related to or involved with someone connected to a company I may cover, I excuse myself from the story. You can read The Times’s full ethics policy, which all Times journalists are committed to upholding.

• Email: mike.isaac@nytimes.com

• X: @mikeisaac

• Public SMS: 510-228-4646; text or call and leave a message for me here to get my private signal number

• Linktree: MikeIsaac