Grist

Founded in 1999, Grist is a beacon in the smog — an independent, irreverent news outlet and network of innovators working toward a planet that doesn’t burn and a future that doesn’t suck.

Two people are shown next to a water-filled ditch with a grassy field on either side.

We’re not fixing this environmental crisis. Could one ditch show us the way?

January 30, 2020Growing Food, Sowing Trouble

Contaminants are winding their way from farm runoff into streams and rivers and into the Mississippi River that have created a dead zone in the Gulf of Mexico. But a conservation effort in Indiana may show a fix to this dilemma.

A shrimp boat is shown in a illustration that combines the boat with a map of the Mississippi Delta.

Gulf shrimpers fight for their livelihoods in a fertilizer-fueled dead zone

January 28, 2020Growing Food, Sowing Trouble

Founded in 1999, Grist is a beacon in the smog — an independent, irreverent news outlet and network of innovators working toward a planet that doesn’t burn and a future that doesn’t suck.Climate, sustainability, and social justice are the most important stories on the … well, on the planet right now. The stakes are high: just, you know, our entire frickin’ future. And it’s easy to despair when denial, delay, and doom dominate the headlines.But that’s not the whole story, and it never will be. At Grist, we find reasons for hope and optimism every day — while also irritating and shaming those who stand in the way of progress. Our independent, nonprofit newsroom pursues in-depth stories on under-covered topics like clean energy, sustainable food, livable cities, environmental justice, and a better economy. We elevate solutions, expose inequity, and give our readers the context, knowledge, and tools to make a difference.Our new venture, Fix, is taking the next step toward achieving a more just and sustainable future. Each year we feature the most promising green innovators and influencers in our annual Grist 50. Then we bring this unexpected network together to spur conversations and collaborations. Technologists, activists, artists, politicians, storytellers — their integrated skills and connected goals are what we need right now.Our mantra these days: Don’t freak out. Figure it out.Where, you might ask, do we find this boundless energy and enthusiasm? Turns out, with the right team and plenty of reader support, they are renewable resources! Grist was founded in 1999 as one of the nation’s first online-only publications, covering serious topics without taking ourselves too seriously. TIME magazine calls Grist “the Colbert Report of climate change … except with real reporting and analytical journalism.”Today our publication brings you incisive weekly features and a daily digest of news you shouldn’t miss, while providing a forum for green advocates, influencers, and diverse voices that need to be heard. Have you met our long-running advice columnist Ask Umbra? She’s had a makeover to highlight civic engagement and community action (important stuff in the age of Trump). We’re a founding member of the Climate Desk, sharing stories from some of America’s leading publications. And we produce award-worthy explainer videos that dig deep into important topics with wit and a wink.