Joseph Contreras became Newsweek's Latin America Regional Editor in July 2002, moving from his previous position as Miami bureau chief, where he'd been since August 1999, and has been based in Mexico City since June 2006. Before then, Contreras served as Newsweek's Jerusalem bureau chief from April 1996 to July 1999. Prior posts include Johannesburg bureau chief from May 1990 to April 1996, Buenos Aires bureau chief between 1988 to 1990, and Mexico City bureau chief between 1984 and 1988.

As Latin America Regional Editor, Contreras has covered Mexico's disputed 2006 presidential election, Fidel Castro's extended illness and the provisional transfer of power to his brother Raul and the rise of left-of-center governments in several South American countries.

As Miami bureau chief, Contreras covered the Elian Gonzalez custody battle saga, the 2000 Florida presidential election recount story and the U.S.-backed war on drugs in South America.
As Jerusalem bureau chief, Contreras covered the U.S. air strikes against Baghdad in early 1999 as well as the 1996 Israeli election campaign that brought Benjamin Netanyahu to power and the subsequent decline of the Middle East peace process.

While Johannesburg bureau chief, Contreras reported on political unrest in South Africa's black townships, the negotiations over a new democratic constitution, and the election of Nelson Mandela as president. Contreras's May 9, 1994 cover story, "Black Power," was an extensive account of South Africa's transition from apartheid to majority rule.

Prior to his work in South Africa, Contreras helped coordinate Newsweek's coverage of South and Central America. In 1989, he contributed several articles on the Colombian drug wars and the revolution in Peru. Also that year, Contreras received a citation from the Overseas Press Club for his coverage of the international adoption market ("Adoption from Abroad," 6/6/88).

He joined Newsweek in October 1980 as a correspondent in the magazine's Los Angeles bureau. He was the co-winner of the Robert Bell Award for excellence in the coverage of aerospace stories from the Aviation/Space Writers Association for a November 1980 cover story, "Saturn's Rings." A native Californian, Contreras worked as an intern in the Los Angeles bureau in the summer of 1978. The following year, he was a summer intern for The Washington Post, and later was a stringer for Newsweek in London in 1979 and 1980.

Contreras graduated from Harvard University in 1979 with a B.A. in social studies. While at school, he was associate editorial chairman of The Crimson, the campus' daily newspaper. In 1980, he received an M.S. in International Relations from the London School of Economics.
Contreras has two daughters and a son and divides his time between Mexico City and Miami.