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Rebecca Renner on Muck Rack

Rebecca Renner

Verified
Florida
As seen in: National Geographic, Forge, Medium, MSN, OneZero, The New York Times, Yahoo Life, Bloomberg CityLab, Bloomberg News, Post Everything (The Washington Post), The Guardian and
Covers:  Science, environment, climate, politics, health, psychology, social justice, culture
Doesn't Cover: self-published books
Journalist, Novelist, Floridian 🐊 GATOR COUNTRY out 11/14 from @FlatironBooks 🐊 other words @NatGeo @OutsideMagazine @NYTimes; rep: Julia Eagleton

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Rebecca Renner’s Biography

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My name is Rebecca Renner, and I’m a journalist, novelist, and podcaster from Florida.

My writing has appeared in The Paris Review, The Atlantic, The Washington Post, Glamour, VICE, New York Magazine, The Guardian, National Geographic, Outside Magazine and more. I’m a recipient of a 2020 Fund for Investigative Journalism grant, and I’m working on an as-yet-unannounced podcast for a major network.

Rebecca Renner’s Journalist Portfolio

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The pandemic is giving people vivid, unusual dreams. Here's why.

The pandemic is giving people vivid, unusual dreams. Here's why.

Science has long suggested that dream content and emotions are connected to wellbeing while we’re awake. Biza…

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More than 430 manatees have perished in 2021. Why are they dying?

More than 430 manatees have perished in 2021. Why are they dying?

Early this past winter, Martine de Wit noticed a spike in the number of manatees that were dying. At first, t…

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In Florida, a River Gets Rights

In Florida, a River Gets Rights

In the summer of 2020, the Little Wekiva River appeared to die. In the span of less than two years, the creek…

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Why Toxic Algae Keeps Coming Back to Florida

Why Toxic Algae Keeps Coming Back to Florida

The algae blooms pose risks to humans and marine animals-and to Florida's tourism-dependent economy. Toxic bl…

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Perspective | The deadliest period of a hurricane? After it's over.

Perspective | The deadliest period of a hurricane? After it's over.

Warnings of Hurricane Irma's power blasted over cable and local news in Florida last week. The images during …

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Articles

This designer is giving thousands of dead Burmese pythons new life

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By Rebecca Renner Verified, Danielle Levitt
| National Geographic Verified
Just after midnight, Elle Barbeito drove her Dodge pickup deep into the shadows of the Florida Everglades. After hours navigating narrow marsh roads, past towering bald cypresses and raucous shoots of bromeliads, she suddenly pulled onto the shoulder and aimed a flashlight at a writhing patch of prehistoric-looking ferns. “Python!” Barbeito shouted, pointing to a metallic sheen of scales glistening like silken chain mail in the moonlight. The next part would require her gun.
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What do readers think of Gator Country?

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By Rebecca Renner Verified
| Book Browse Verified
“Our centuries of war with the swamp have shown that when we attack nature, nature will fight back, and both humans and nature will lose.” In this fascinating tale of an undercover sting operation to stop alligator poachers and protect the natural population in the Everglades, we meet Jeff Babauta, aka Curtis ‘Jeff’ Blackledge. Babauta is a Florida Fish and Wildlife employee who decides to accept an undercover operation at the end of his career.
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Want to know Armand Rosamilia's Top 3 Books of 2024?

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By Rebecca Renner Verified, Brian Panowich, Matthew Blake, Armand Rosamilia
| Shepherd
My favorite read in 2024 Loved Most 🥇 Immersion 🥈 Teach Writing style ❤️ Loved it Pace 🐇 I couldn't put it down Gator Country What is this book about? A New York Times Editors' Choice "Delivers everything its title promises and much more." - NPR "Remarkable... Every species, and every person who fights for its continued existence, deserves a book like this." ― The New York Times "This nail-biter account has the intensity of the best true crime...
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Interview

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What was your first job as a journalist?

I briefly worked at a trade magazine before setting out on my own. I haven't looked back since!

Have you ever used a typewriter?

Yes, but they're too loud and percussive. I prefer my MacBook.

How is social media changing news?

Social media is making it easier to get in touch with people experiencing the news. It's an equalizer and a connecter.

Awards

Fund for Investigative Journalism Grant

2020
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