Renowned Environmental Journalist, Author Julia Whitty Joins Mother Jones as Staff Environmental Correspondent: Leading Independent News Organization Continues to Build Reporting Strength

About: Julia Whitty joins Mother Jones

Contact: Eddie Scher, 202-256-2635

Julia Whitty, award winning author and environmental journalist, has joined independent news magazine Mother Jones and Motherjones.com as staff environmental correspondent. Whitty has a long-term relationship with Mother Jones, including articles such as Gone in the May/June 2007 issue (winner of the National Magazine Award for General Excellence) and as lead contributor to the Blue Marble Blog at www.motherjones.com.

"At a time when other news organizations are shrinking, Mother Jones is expanding our commitment to original, hard-hitting reporting," says co-editor Monika Bauerlein. "Julia is an extraordinary addition to our growing team of nationally recognized and respected journalists."

"Our goal is to break important stories that inform readers and decision makers about sustainability and the environment," says co-editor Clara Jeffery. "With Julia's deep expertise and insight into global warming, water, resource use, and the human side of the equation, Mother Jones remains the first, best place to come for coverage of environmental issues."

Whitty has published feature articles in Mother Jones, Harper's and other national magazines. Her latest book, The Fragile Edge: Diving & Other Adventures in the South Pacific, was published by Houghton Mifflin in 2007 and has won three major awards including the 2008 Kiriyama Prize for nonfiction. Her first book, A Tortoise for the Queen of Tonga, is an award-winning collection of short stories published by Houghton Mifflin in 2002. A former filmmaker, she has produced more than 70 nature documentaries that have aired on PBS, Nature, The Discovery Channel, National Geographic, Outdoor Life Channel, Arts & Entertainment, and on many other networks worldwide.

Mother Jones offers readers smart, fearless journalism and thought-provoking analysis of politics and social issues. Mother Jones magazine is on newsstands and online at www.motherjones.com