the insider Building a Building Disease Control and Prevention to collect this kind of gun control- pushed by the NRA made it exceedingly diffi cult for the Centers for identifi ed over the last 30 years (it’s worth noting that legislation deeper. Our coverage shed light on the 62 mass shootings we Colorado movie theater and Wisconsin Sikh temple shootings—even Trayvon Martin shooting in early 2012, and this summer’s Aurora, gun violence in America—a project begun in the aftermath of the Led by senior editor Mark Follman, politicians to take a stand against the powerful influences of the NRA? galvanize public support in favor of gun regulation and persuade fundamental question on the table: Would this tragedy fi nally national dialogue about gun violence in America and put a The Sandy Hook shooting in Newtown, Connecticut sparked a for offriends the Mother Jones Jones Mother Mother Jones Mother took its coverage of Gun Desk Gun Times Times hearing on the proposed assault weapons ban, in several and media spectrum, including by Sen. Dianne Feinstein at a Senate It’s no surprise that our reporting was widely used across the political off. From what we can tell, this is only just beginning. lobbyist Bob Welch, that the “Connecticut effect” would soon wear our editorial agenda, despite comments by some, including NRA Sandy Hook shooting, but this is a story that will stay at the center of Coalition to Stop Gun Violence. It’s been more than 100 days since the and advocacy groups such as Mayors Against Illegal Guns and the Considered in this issue interested in using it, we shared it all on our website. elsewhere. To help make this data readily available to anyone and closely followed how the gun debate played out in Congress and industry, explored the link between mental health and gun violence, directors, and the organization’s broad and deep ties to the gun perpetuated gun myths, exposed the NRA’s inner circle, board of We did the baseline investigative reporting that refutes commonly- most cases, yes). weapons of choice), and whether they were legally obtained or not (in more on this), the types of weapons used (semi-automatics are the status (see Mac McClelland’s story in the May/June 2013 issue for killers’ gender and race (in almost all cases, white men) mental health basic facts behind these increasingly frequent tragic events: the related data). Our report, “America Under the Gun” looked at the opinion pieces, on 7 6 5 4 2 1

, on Help us Hellraise and More The Stork Visits the Development Team Upcoming Events MoJo Q&A With James West Establishing a Fox News Fox Praised Far and Wide Piers Morgan Live Morgan Piers , and across hundreds of other news outlets Mother Jones Mother , on NPR’s Gun Desk All Things Things All New York York New have: video, multimedia...visual stories are hip, pocket bread-and-butter envi- that help break down complicated topics ronmental topics dear to peoples’ hearts. and introduce real characters to a scarily Sometimes I find the label itself brings wonk-filled field dominated by old white too much baggage to the conversation. dudes. Journalists at the partner publica- Peel away the label, and fascinating con- tions love seeing their bylines pop up tradictions exist. A classic example is the Q+ across the partnership; editors, well, they ongoing fracking debate. Unlikely, often like having content! disruptive alliances between old-school farmers and old-school greenies are crop- The New York Times recently an- ping up all around the country. Those A nounced that it would shut down its who never saw themselves as greenies be- With James West environmental blog, and other media fore are now seeing themselves as caretak- shops are scaling back their coverage ers of the land. The perception of worthy In January, the New York Times announced it would shut down its popular of climate change. How is the Climate enviro-journalism is one of the things we environmentally-focused Green blog after previously shutting down its stand-alone Desk trying to shine a larger spotlight are trying to resist. environment “pod” and redistributing its reporters and editors to other desks. In on the critical issues surrounding cli- a year dominated by extreme weather events—drought and fire in the mountain mate change? You’ve covered stories ranging from west, a swarm of tornados through the Midwest and South, and Superstorm Morning coffee helps with well-timed the impact of Hurricane Sandy on New refills throughout the day. Seriously: I’m York’s coastline to the effects of record Sandy along the east coast —it’s fair to say that journalism has so far failed to in the lucky and rather unique position of drought on Western ranchers. When meet the challenge that climate change represents. That’s where media projects working with a team completely bloody- you’re in the field engaging with peo- like the Climate Desk can make a big difference. The Climate Desk is a journalistic minded about this topic. I wake up think- ple directly affected by these events, collaboration featuring Mother Jones, the Guardian, The Atlantic, Slate, Wired, ing about it. I dream about it. I talk about do you notice an increased awareness Grist, and others. Organized and managed by Mother Jones, each week Climate it way too much at bars (sorry, friends). that the things they’re experiencing Having it as my “beat,” as it’s called in the Desk producer James West delivers fresh, relevant coverage on how we’re responding are the effects of a changing climate? biz, helps train the mind, Samurai-like, The short answer is no. But that’s okay! to the most fundamental threat we face these days with a mix of realism and hope. on digging into stories. The other rule we That’s our job: to connect the dots, as To discuss why it’s so crucial to cover the environment and how Mother Jones have: Don’t be boring. Please, for good- much as is possible, between big, life- continues to lead on these issues through its reporting and role in the Climate Desk ness’ sake, don’t be boring. changing events like Sandy and the latest collaboration, we spoke with James for some input on these and other topics: science. I love finding characters reacting How do you think the media, includ- to the effects of climate change: econom- How did you arrive at the Climate Can you provide a bit of context ing Climate Desk, can do a better job of ic upheaval, changes in their landscapes, Desk? around how this collaboration works keeping the environment and climate personal loss, putting their house on On a plane! Literally. I’m an Aussie import and what the response has been from change at the forefront of public con- the market after a storm. Not to wax too (none of us really ever stay in Australia Climate Desk partners? sciousness? idealistic, but their stories, in their own for long, you will have noticed.) I peeled I love our partners: Giant brains doing I don’t know what you’re asking. Climate words, inspire me, and remind me that myself off the ceiling when I heard about beefy journalism. The idea is simple. Desk is perfect! I actually think envi- putting a human face to this topic is one Climate Desk. Who wouldn’t leap at Together, we have a bigger megaphone. ronmental issues are at the forefront of of the most powerful things we can do. this opportunity to work with the stellar Partners have access to climate stories people’s thoughts. They just might not Mother Jones team on a first-of-its-kind from each other. They also pick from a call them that. (“I’m not a tree-hugger!”) In his second term, President Obama partnership? Plus, America is really weird, menu of Climate Desk stories. We try to Transport, urban living, infrastructure, seems to have a renewed commitment and I thought it would be cool to live here. give partners stuff they might not already air quality, the food system…all of these to making progress on [continued on page 3]

2 the mother jones insider › SPRING 2013 › motherjones.com [continued from page 2] has been the most rewarding story climate change. Given the current situa- that you’ve covered since and why? tion in Washington, what expectations do You’re asking me to pick my favorite you have for what progress can be made kid! Ack. Okay, okay. Hurricane Sandy and how might it take shape? was amazing to cover. Climate Desk as- Honestly, I don’t know what’s possible. sociate producer Tim McDonnell and I People I respect can’t see an economy- snagged the last rental car from the lot just wide cap-and-trade scheme coming in, for before Sandy hit. We hammered that car example. But with the right leadership and for seven days straight, editing like crazy political maneuvering, we might see the En- people from the passenger seat, calling in vironmental Protection Agency take control stories from Breezy Point, Staten Island, of existing carbon emissions. Environmen- and the Jersey shore, and throwing every talists are hoping that by setting the goal waking hour at telling this enormous story. posts, President Obama is planning to kick Meeting elderly residents trapped in high a ball through them. How the ball is jostled rises was heartbreaking. But seeing the re- and dribbled and punted before then will be silience of my adopted city was beautiful, Wild F*ing West Out There.” What Where to fascinating to cover. and something I’ll never forget. I’m really was it like being in the center of the proud of those stories. madness there? Follow Us: Since joining the Climate Desk, Holy hell, it was insane. Twenty-year-olds you’ve traveled all over, covering cli- You reported on how fracking has making over $100,000 driving trucks. I’ve Website: mate and other critical issues. What changed North Dakota in “It’s the never seen such haphazard housing develop- climatedesk.org ment…and so few women. Like some kind of Lord of the Flies on the prairie. Lesson Twitter: @ClimateDesk, for life? Leave my skinny jeans in New York @JamesWest2010, City. @TimMcDonnell

2012 was a huge year for the Climate Desk Facebook: facebook. as you reported in your “2012: The Year com/theclimatedesk in Climate Insanity” video. What can we expect going forward for the Climate YouTube: youtube.com/ Desk and how would you like to see the climatedesk collaboration further evolve? What story would you love to cover? Climate Desk Live: Attend A: Are my editors reading this? If they are, our monthly live brief- I’m going to list all the stories that involve ing series in DC. To fi nd very expensive travel: China’s fracking out more, visit play is going to be a huge story in the next http://climatedesk.org/ few years; the Arctic melting and the geo- category/climate-desk- political tussle for energy up there; Pacifi c live/ Islands are going under. Let’s talk about that travel budget.

3 the mother jones insider › SPRING 2013 › motherjones.com MoJo Praised Far and Wide award recognition 2012 was an amazing year for Mother Jones, and while we blush at the kudos, it’s also no surprise that our reporters, editors, and staff received over 20 award wins and nominations, including:

David Corn Wins the George Polk Award: Izzy, normally given to one specific journalist, David Corn won the was instead awarded in recognition of our 2012 George Polk Award general excellence in reporting, referencing our for Political Reporting coverage on the 47 Percent, mass shootings, for his coverage of and dark money. The American Society of media buzz the 47 percent story, Magazine Editors nominated Mother Jones The media continues to buzz joining the ranks of for four National Magazine Awards for about Mother Jones and our journo greats like general excellence, print; multimedia; video reporting. Edward R. Murrow, (which we won for the 47 percent video); and Walter Cronkite, Christiane Amanpour, Carl feature writing for Mac McClelland’s “I Was Our role in breaking the 47 percent story received renewed coverage as Top: Scott Prouty, Bernstein, and I.F. Stone. The Polk Award a Warehouse Wage Slave.” The Society for numerous outlets from the Los Angeles Times to GQ cited the video as the 47 Percent vidoegrapher, judges recognized David for “persistent Professional Journalists awarded “America having a decisive impact on the election’s outcome. reveals himself as digging and careful negotiation” and “years Under the Gun” the Sigma Delta Chi award. At the end of the year, the Yale Book of Quotations chose Mitt Romney’s the source on “The of high-impact journalism that helped lead For the second year in a row, Mother Jones comments as the quote of the year, and many outlets—fromColumbia Ed Show”. Bottom: DC Bureau Chief him to the source of the recording”. was awarded the John Jay College/ H.F. Journalism Review to the Onion—cited it as a highlight of the year. More David Corn Guggenheim Prize for Excellence in Criminal recently, Scott Prouty—the 47 percent videographer—revealed himself makes a regular Justice Reporting for Shane Bauer’s “No Way on MSNBC’s The Ed Show, crediting David Corn’s previous reporting for appearance as an MSNBC Out” cover story about solitary confinement. Mother Jones as the reason he decided David was the guy “to take it contributor. Shane also received both the Hillman Prize national.” Kevin Drum’s cover story “Criminal Element” on the potential for Magazine Journalism and the Aronson correlation between lead and crime rates generated a huge response Award for the article. Mother Jones articles from outlets ranging from Wired to the Sydney Morning Herald. Kevin also and art have also been named as finalists for made appearances on MSNBC’s Melissa Harris-Perry Show and WNYC’s 10 Maggie awards (winning four), the Society Leonard Lopate Show to promote it. of Publication Designers awards, and the Other places where MoJo-ers have appeared recently: Al Jazeera American Photography 29 competition. English World News, Al Jazeera’s The Stream, AWF Radio, C-SPAN, CBC We’re off to a great start this awards season Radio, CTV News, Current TV’s The War Room, Current TV’s The Young and will keep you posted on any additional Turks, Fox News, Huffington Post Live, KALW, KOGO-AM, KCRW-FM, Additional Praise: The Park Center for wins (fingers crossed)! KCRW’s To the Point, MSNBC’s Politics Nation, MSNBC’s Martin Bashir, Independent Media also awarded Mother Left: Steve Katz, Kate MSNBC’s Hardball, MSNBC’s Now with Alex Wagner, MSNBC’s Rachel Jones with the 2013 “Izzy” Award citing its Sheppard, David Corn Maddow Show, MSNBC’s NewsNation with Tamron Hall, MSNBC’s “persistence in bringing clarity to complex receive the “Izzy” The Last Word with Lawrence O’Donnell, NPR’s All Things Considered, award. Right: The subjects and in shining light into the dark National Magazine Randi Rhodes Show, Sirius XM Left channel’s Make it Plain, Sirius corners of American politics and society.” Award won by XM’s Michelangelo Signorile Show, WEAA Marc Steiner Show, WMNF, Named after famed journalist I.F. Stone, the Mother Jones for the WMUZ, WNPR’s Where We Live, WNYC’s The Takeaway, WORT FM, 47 Percent video. WTAQ.

4 the mother jones insider › SPRING 2013 › motherjones.com leading us in our live auction and fund-a-need. Rachel Maddow has also just agreed SAVE to lend herself to a live auction package where the winning THE bidder will have a chance to chat all things politics over DATE! a breakfast with Rachel and David Corn, followed by a backstage taping of Rachel’s show. It’s an evening not to be Last year’s Mother Jones missed. annual dinner attendees got This event does sell out, so the inside scoop on the 47 secure your reservations soon! percent directly from David If you would like to learn more Corn less than a month after about sponsoring a table or he broke the story. Do you purchasing tickets, please want to be part of the insider contact Allison Stelly, program conversation, too? It’s easy. coordinator, at astelly@ Join us for the fourth annual motherjones.com or 415.321.1762. Mother Jones dinner on We look forward to

October 24 in San Francisco! celebrating another year of Top: Co-editor Monika Bauerlein and David Corn discuss the backstory of Helping us celebrate another smart, fearless journalism with the 47 percent scoop to our over 350 dinner guests. Top right: Board member year of hellraising is emcee for you and the direct impact you and event co-chair Kim Keller, reporter Mac McClelland, and guest pose for the camera. Bottom: Attendees pay close attention to the vice-presidential the evening, comedian, and have made at Mother Jones. debate live stream. Bottom Right: One guest shows his 47 percent pride. author of the New York Times See you in October! bestseller How To Be Black, Baratunde Thurston. During the Thursday, October 24 program, you’ll get a chance to 6:30 to 9:30 p.m. dive into the stories through Tickets: $250 per person vivid presentations from several St. Regis Hotel of our feature reporters—think San Francisco, long-form magazine reporting, California but live—with Interactive www.motherjones. Editor Tasneem Raja and com/annualdinner Climate Desk Producer James West, among others. And, on deck to help us raise important funds so Mother Jones can land the next 47 percent-style scoop is the incomparable Mark Buell,

5 the mother jones insider › SPRING 2013 › motherjones.com development updates how to give

We Take the “Mother” in Mother Jones Literally Reinvest Your Stock Dividends in Smart, Big changes are on the horizon for Fearless Journalism the Mother Jones development This spring the Dow Jones rose to department. Development its highest level since 2007. If your director, Laurin Asdal, and portfolio has already produced development manager, Stephanie substantial dividends this year, Generation Next: A Green, are expecting their second donating appreciated stocks offers a Lasting Legacy children this summer. two-fold advantage: The Mary Harris Jones Legacy Society Laurin and Stephanie will 1. You avoid paying capital gains tax is a group of especially committed both go on maternity leave in on the increased value of the stock. supporters who share a simple June and return part-time late 2. You receive an income-tax mission: to ensure that Mother Jones this fall—just in time for the deduction for the full fair-market value brings smart, fearless journalism annual dinner!—resuming a of the stock at the time of the gift. to the world well into the future. full-time schedule in 2014. We’re More importantly, hard-hitting Members make provisions for delighted that during Stephanie journalism is always a smart Mother Jones through their wills or and Laurin’s maternity leaves, investment. Ask your broker to retirement accounts, through gifts of consultant Donna Fletcher will be transfer the shares to the Foundation securities, or through other planned- on hand to fill the gaps. for National Progress as follows: giving methods. This kind of forward- Since the early 1990s, Donna looking philanthropy enables them has helped more than 80 clients Charles Schwab to make contributions larger than raise over $300 million in annual Schwab One Account their current incomes may allow and capital campaigns. She’s Foundation for National Progress, and guarantees their impact on known as an environmental dba Mother Jones Magazine independent, progressive journalism and conservation fundraising Tax ID #: 94-2282759 decades into the future. specialist, and has worked extensively with organizations that Mothers-Jones-To-Be: Account #: 4176-1072 While we hope that it will be change the world for the better through public policy, citizen Development Director DTC Clearing 0164, Code 40 Laurin Asdal and an awfully long time until Mother engagement, and audacious fundraising campaigns. Development Manager To make sure that you are properly Jones benefits from your gift, your Laurin can testify that Donna is a hellraiser in her own right, so Stephanie Green show off credited and acknowledged for your foresight is critical to our long-term she should fit right in! their baby bumps and mad style outside the MoJo San gift, it is helpful if you or your broker financial strength. Help establish And, of course, Donna will be joining publisher Steve Katz, New Francisco office. contact program coordinator Allison a strong Mother Jones for future York-based regional director of major gifts Emily Cozart, and program Stelly at (415) 321-1762 to let us know generations of muckrakers and truth coordinator Allison Stelly to address all of your giving needs. a transfer is taking place. seekers by establishing a legacy that Should you have any questions about your giving and are makes a difference. To discuss the normally in contact with Stephanie, please email Allison at possibilities or for more information [email protected] or call her at 415.321.1762. If you have about planned giving, please contact previously been in contact with Laurin, Steve is happy to assist. You Steve Katz at (415) 321-1721 or skatz@ can reach him at [email protected] or 415.321.1721. motherjones.com.

6 the mother jones insider › SPRING 2013 › motherjones.com a day in the life/how to support mother jones:

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The Insider was written by Jacques Hebert and Stephanie Greene with design and layout by Carolyn Perot . 7 the mother jones insider › SPRING 2013 › motherjones.com