Jeff Young
Journalist, Author, Editor, Environmental Communicator
For a quarter century I've produced award-winning journalism in audio, print, video, and digital formats and led successful teams in news and communications. Recent work includes the book, "Appalachian Fall" (Simon & Schuster, Aug. 2020), and podcast, "Welcome to AppalachAmerica," which explore how coal country's fate matters to the rest of America.
I founded and led the journalism collaborative Ohio Valley ReSource, which includes seven public media outlets in three states.
Earlier, I hosted and reported for the nationally-distributed radio program "Living on Earth." I also managed communications for ocean conservation for The Pew Charitable Trusts in New England and the Mid-Atlantic, work which helped to win important conservation victories.
Podcast Producer and Host
"Welcome to AppalachAmerica" explores what a clean energy transition might mean for coal country, and why Appalachia's fate matters for America. Interview subjects include Energy Sec. Jennifer Granholm, White House Climate Advisor Gina McCarthy, and Appalachian leaders and activists.
It Can Happen Here: We Must Cover Trump As The Authoritarian He Is
In this piece for Nieman Reports I correctly predicted the damage to democracy that would come when Trump refused to accept the outcome of the election. I laid out arguments for news outlets to reorient their White House coverage to center Trump's authoritarianism. Later I led my news team in holding regional members of Congress accountable for their support of Trump's assault on election integrity.
Black Lung Investigation in partnership with NPR
My team and I joined NPR in an in-depth investigation of the epidemic resurgence of black lung disease in Appalachia and the failure of industry and regulators to address it. In total my team and I produced more than 20 stories. The work resulted in a PBS Frontline film, several awards, a federal inspector general's report, a National Academies report, and pending legislation to better protect miners.
"Blunt, essential reading on today's Appalachia that is less elegiac and more forward-thinking than most."
