Herald

Results for “Artificial turf

Found 11 journalists

Barbara Laker
University of Missouri School of Journalism
30 years experienceThe Philadelphia Inquirer

Pulitzer-winning investigative reporter at The Philadelphia Inquirer; has reported on artificial turf, PFAS, disposal of used turf, and broader environmental-health consequences in multi-article investigations.

Coverage Areas

InvestigationsEnvironmentPublic HealthLocal Government Accountability

Specializations

Artificial Turf Environmental ImpactsPfas And Chemical ContaminationWaste And Recycling Concerns Related To Turf

Additional Notes

Verified via The Philadelphia Inquirer author page and Muck Rack; has multiple published pieces specifically about artificial turf and PFAS. Years of experience derived from career history (approximate); see sources. Primary verification: ([inquirer.com](https://www.inquirer.com/archive/barbara_laker/))

Carolyn Gusoff
Master of Science in Journalism; Bachelor of Arts in Government and English
35 years experienceCBS New York (WCBS-TV)

Investigative broadcast reporter (CBS New York) who has produced investigations into crumb rubber and artificial turf health concerns for regional television and online audiences.

Coverage Areas

Investigative ReportingLocal Long Island IssuesEnvironmental And Health Reporting

Specializations

Investigations Of Local Environmental Health RisksCrumb Rubber And Artificial Turf Reporting

Additional Notes

Produced CBS2 investigation 'Concerns Mount That Crumb Rubber Soccer Fields May Pose Danger.' Verification sources: CBS New York team page and reporter's personal website. Years of experience approximate (public bios indicate multi-decade career).

David Gambacorta
Temple University (undergraduate studies)
15 years experienceThe Philadelphia Inquirer

Investigative reporter and writer at The Philadelphia Inquirer’s investigations team; has led and co-authored multi-piece reporting on PFAS, artificial turf, sports and public-health accountability issues in the Philadelphia region.

Coverage Areas

InvestigationsEnvironmentPublic HealthSports Safety

Specializations

Pfas And Chemical Exposure ReportingArtificial Turf InvestigationsSports-related Health Investigations

Additional Notes

Verified via The Philadelphia Inquirer author page and Muck Rack profile. Years of experience is an estimate based on biography and résumé information; see verification sources. Primary verification: ([inquirer.com](https://www.inquirer.com/author/gambacorta_david))

Marissa Payne
MA in journalism and international relations
11 years experienceThe Washington Post

Sports reporter with bylines at The Washington Post who has written about player safety, field conditions, and artificial turf (including turf surface temperature and related safety coverage).

Coverage Areas

Sports SafetySportsFeature Reporting On Sports Venues

Specializations

Athlete Safety And Field ConditionsSports Features

Additional Notes

Bylined Washington Post story: coverage of turf surface heat at Women’s World Cup (example byline). Verification sources: Washington Post people/byline pages and Muck Rack. Years of experience approximate (based on WP staff announcement and byline history).

Melody Gutierrez
12 years experienceSan Francisco Chronicle

State/politics reporter who has covered policy and regulatory responses to artificial turf and crumb-rubber health studies in California; published coverage of state-funded studies and legislative responses related to turf infill.

Coverage Areas

State GovernmentCalifornia PoliticsPublic Health Implications Of Policy

Specializations

Coverage Of State-funded StudiesPolicy Responses To Environmental/health Concerns

Additional Notes

Authored: 'California to study health effects of ‘crumb rubber’ in artificial turf' (SF Chronicle). Verification sources: SFChronicle article and author page; Muck Rack profile. Employment may have changed over time (public profiles show SF Chronicle and later listings on broader media databases) — last verified from publication pages.

Paige Bennett
Ohio University (Journalism)
6 years experienceEcoWatch

Freelance environment and sustainability writer (EcoWatch, Better Homes & Gardens, others) who has covered PFAS studies related to artificial turf and broader environmental impacts of synthetic grass.

Coverage Areas

EnvironmentHealthSustainability

Specializations

Pfas Reporting For General AudienceEnvironmental Health SummariesConsumer-facing Sustainability Coverage

Additional Notes

Verified via EcoWatch author page and personal portfolio. Freelance writer with multiple outlets; years of experience taken from public bio and portfolio (approximate). Primary verification: ([ecowatch.com](https://www.ecowatch.com/artificial-turf-pfas-exposure-athletes-health.html?utm_source=openai))

Rachel Massey
ScD
6 years experienceHealth and Environment

Science and health writer and researcher who authors reporting and explainers about PFAS, tire chemicals, and artificial turf for health-and-environment outlets. Publishes analyses of testing methods and chemical risks associated with synthetic turf materials.

Coverage Areas

PfasArtificial TurfTire- And Crumb-rubber ChemicalsEnvironmental Health

Specializations

Pfas Testing And InterpretationChemical Contaminants In Artificial Turf6ppd And Tire-derived Chemicals

Additional Notes

Authored 'Forever Chemicals in Artificial Turf: Understanding PFAS testing' (Health & Environment). Verification sources: Muck Rack profile and Health & Environment article. Years of experience listed as approximate (estimated from public bylines and author pages).

Samantha Maldonado
Wesleyan University; Craig Newmark Graduate School of Journalism at CUNY

Senior reporter at THE CITY covering climate, resiliency, housing and development; has reported on local disputes over artificial turf installations, PFAS concerns, and city parks policy impacts.

Coverage Areas

ClimateResiliencyHousingLocal Parks And Development

Specializations

Local Coverage Of Artificial Turf InstallationsPfas In Urban SettingsParks And Municipal Policy

Additional Notes

Verified via THE CITY article and author page and Muck Rack / personal site. Email is published on THE CITY author page. Years of experience is approximate based on CV and prior roles. Primary verification: ([thecity.nyc](https://www.thecity.nyc/2024/04/04/artificial-turf-war-washington-heights-pfas/))

Sharon Lerner
Brown University; Columbia University Mailman School of Public Health
15 years experienceProPublica

Investigative environmental and health reporter (The Intercept; ProPublica) who has reported extensively on PFAS, including original reporting that found PFAS in artificial turf materials; widely-cited authority on 'forever chemicals'.

Coverage Areas

EnvironmentPublic HealthChemical Regulation

Specializations

Pfas Investigative ReportingArtificial Turf Chemical AnalysisPlastics And Toxic Exposures

Additional Notes

Verified via ProPublica reporter page and multiple re-uses/citations of her Intercept reporting that identified PFAS in turf samples. Years of experience is approximate (based on career timeline). Primary verification: ([propublica.org](https://www.propublica.org/people/sharon-lerner/p4))

Teddy Amenabar

Reporter for The Washington Post’s Well+Being section who covers health, science and environmental exposures; authored a deep-dive piece on PFAS and artificial turf examining preliminary studies about athlete exposure.

Coverage Areas

HealthScience ReportingEnvironmental Exposures

Specializations

Pfas And ‘Forever Chemicals’ ReportingHuman Exposure StudiesPublic-health Implications Of Environmental Contaminants

Additional Notes

Verified via The Washington Post feature on turf/PFAS and a Muck Rack profile. Years of experience is an estimate. Primary verification: ([washingtonpost.com](https://www.washingtonpost.com/wellness/2024/03/12/artificial-turf-pfas-chemicals/))

Tom Perkins

Freelance journalist and environment reporter for The Guardian and other outlets; has written about PFAS, municipal bans on artificial turf, and environmental health implications of synthetic grass.

Coverage Areas

EnvironmentPublic HealthLocal Government And Policy

Specializations

Pfas CoverageArtificial Turf Policy ReportingEnvironmental Justice

Additional Notes

Verified via The Guardian article on municipal turf bans and Muck Rack profile. Years of experience is approximate. Primary verification: ([theguardian.com](https://www.theguardian.com/environment/2022/sep/30/boston-bans-artificial-turf-toxic-forever-chemicals-pfas))