Pacific Standard staff writer Francie Diep has opened a new PS bureau in the heart of Washington, D.C. Below, she takes you behind-the-scenes on the reasoning behind the move, and what she hopes to accomplish by moving closer to the levers of power in the U.S.
I moved to Washington, D.C., a few weeks ago, to cover science policy for Pacific Standard. Over the past year, I’d found myself writing more stories about the intersections of research, policy, and justice—like whether the Center for Disease Control and Prevention’s anti-opioid mass media campaign is expected to work, or how proposed budget cuts to databases might hurt poor communities. I thought it was time to start working out of D.C., where I could more easily access the agencies and lawmakers that make these decisions, learn about policy changes when they happen, and ask questions. I’m now based out of the Watergate building. (Yes, that one.) I’m just a few train stops away from the Capitol Building, White House, and various other agencies.
In the future, expect more stories from me about the fate of ongoing scientific research projects, especially those that study inequality in the U.S.; whether certain public-health initiatives are evidence-based; and efforts to increase diversity and reduce harassment in the sciences. Basically, from our new outpost in the capitol, I’ll be seeking out overlooked stories that could potentially have lasting consequences in American science and health.
This dispatch originally appeared in The Lede, the weekly Pacific Standard email newsletter for premium members. The Lede gives premium members greater access to Pacific Standard stories, staff, and contributors in their inbox every week. While helping to support journalism in the public interest, members also receive a print magazine subscription, early access to feature stories, and access to an ad-free version of PSmag.com.
