Jennifer Collins

Reporter, Marketplace

SHORT BIO

Jennifer Collins is a former reporter for the Marketplace portfolio of programs. Based in Los Angeles, she covered media, retail, the entertainment industry and the West Coast.

Collins joined Marketplace in 2007 as an assistant producer and spent an additional two-and-a-half years directing and producing Marketplace Morning Report.

Collins likes the challenge of preparing for an interview, the thrill of a good conversation and the pleasure of learning something new every day. Prior to Marketplace, Collins reported for newspapers in Oregon, Alabama and Cambodia.

Collins received her bachelor’s degree from Western Washington University and attended Columbia University’s Graduate School of Journalism, receiving honors in radio. She speaks some Spanish, French, Khmer and Arabic.

A native of Samish Island, Washington, (where Collins drove a farming combine for three summers in high school, harvesting peas) she currently lives in Los Angeles where she can be found scrambling up hillsides and running through the streets, as well as showing movies in her backyard for her neighbors in Hollywood.

Latest Stories (316)

Time Warner offers customer service with new plan

Nov 25, 2010
Time Warner is set to roll out new cable packages, aimed at both high-end customers and those on the budget. Strapped for cash? Don't bet on getting any great customer service from the cable guy, then. Jennifer Collins explains.

Netflix offers online-streaming-only plan

Nov 22, 2010
Netflix has been blowing its movie-rental competitors out of the water since offering its movies-by-mail service. But now, the company is looking to ditch those red envelopes, announcing its new cheaper plan for streaming online only -- no DVDs.

Cash-strapped California affecting muni bonds market

Nov 20, 2010
Municipal bonds are usually quite popular because they are tax-free. But now that such bonds are coming from risky borrowers like California -- who is billions of dollars in debt -- local governments are beginning to pull the bonds because they're isn't much demand.

Bernanke strikes back with bold statements

Nov 19, 2010
Ever since the Federal Reserve announced its plans to stimulate the U.S. economy with a $600 billion bond-buying spree, chairmen Ben Bernanke has come under fire from critics. Today in a speech in Germany, he fired back. Jennifer Collins reports.

Making cotton 'the fabric of our lives'

Nov 15, 2010
Cotton, perhaps, "The fabric of our lives"? The marketing campaign for the fabric turns 40. Marketplace's Jennifer Collins reports on the history of the campaign and how it influenced other commodities to do the same.

Save time and the USPS, use a pre-stamped envelope!

Nov 12, 2010
The United States Postal Service is really feeling the effects of people using e-mails to communicate rather than letters. But they're employing a new tactic to hopefully pull them out of the red.

Wendy's to join sea salt bandwagon

Nov 10, 2010
It seems like everyone's talking about salt these days, and not just any salt -- sea salt. The condiment is perceived to be healthier than your basic table salt, and Wendy's is about to add it to its new kind of fries. Jennifer Collins reports on what the craze is all about.

Cotton prices could affect holiday shopping

Nov 10, 2010
Just in time for the holidays, profit numbers are up for department stores. The price of cotton is also up, which could be a problem this holiday season. Jennifer Collins explains.

E-books, music... and diapers?

Nov 8, 2010
Along with super discounted books and the latest electronic widget, you can order diapers now at Amazon.com. Reporter Jennifer Collins takes a look at Amazon's latest move towards the everyday household products market.

Banks want to unload foreclosures as fast as possible

Nov 1, 2010
Banks want to shed its load of foreclosed properties -- now. Marketplace's Jennifer Collins asks why the rush?