Francisco Avilés Pino is a Mexican writer, editor, producer, and narrative strategist based in Los Angeles. His work spans film, investigative journalism, documentary filmmaking, audio, and cultural criticism, examining the ways power, identity, institutions, and belonging shape immigrant and Latino life in the United States.

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His reporting and essays have appeared in The Nation, Vogue, The Intercept, NPR, HarperCollins, and other national publications. As both a journalist and editor, Francisco specializes in transforming complex policy, politics, and culture into deeply reported stories that are accessible, character-driven, and grounded in lived experience. Francisco is the creator, host, and executive producer of PRESENTE, CALO News' interview and narrative podcast exploring the people and ideas shaping Latino California. His investigative work has been recognized with nominations from the International Documentary Association (IDA) Awards and The Ambies for Best News Podcast.

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His documentary work includes an upcoming feature on immigration, family separation, and return migration, supported by Fractured Atlas. In 2023, he wrote and produced Up To Us, an educational film series now used throughout California's juvenile justice system, inspired by years of storytelling workshops with formerly incarcerated youth.

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Beyond reporting and producing, Francisco has led editorial initiatives, launched newrooms, developed narrative strategy for nonprofit and civic organizations, and even served as a creative writing and theater lecturer at UCLA. He currently serves as the inaugural writer of Informed IE, a regional newsroom dedicated to accountability reporting across Riverside and San Bernardino counties.