Hello, I'm Molly Peterson.
I'm a climate and environment journalist with experience in reporting, editing, and managing projects and people.Based in Los Angeles, I’ve investigated urban toxic pollution, the impacts of climate change and disasters on health, and other environmental and criminal issues.
MY WORK
I explore how and why public systems fail to protect people from deadly and emerging problems.
Recent work uncovered a secret deal the state cut to roll back refinery safety regulations, California's failures to oversee hazardous waste and toxic facilities at the DTSC, and how "clean" hydrogen leaders have ignored community concerns for safety.My Murrow award-winning KQED investigation found thousands of care facilities are at risk for wildfire, and that enforcement is lax. Over several years, I built and borrowed sensors to measure dangerous heat index exposures for vulnerable people, including for workers indoors; that reporting informed the state's passage of first-in-the-nation rules.Explanatory work has appeared in The Guardian, Grist, Public Health Watch, Inside Climate News, NPR and member stations including WWNO, KQED, and LAist.I’m proud to serve as a board member for the Society of Environmental Journalists.
GET IN TOUCH
I love collaboration.
Beyond reporting, I've edited radio and digital work and managed projects, including an award-winning multi-station audio special about rural climate issues and investigations into police misconduct, both for the California Newsroom.I am an experienced moderator and public speaker. I also executive produced and hosted a true crime podcast that went to #1 on the Apple charts.Fun facts: I’m a non-practicing lawyer. I built a kayak out of wood and fiberglass from a kit. Everybody else in my family is a poet, artist or multi-instrumentalist.
