STUART LEAVENWORTH
Email: stuleavenworth@gmail.com
EXPERIENCE
Los Angeles Times, Sacramento – State Editor July 2025 – Jan. 2026
In a 6-month contract position, I supervised general assignment reporters while editing three of the LAT’s biggest investigative projects of 2025.
The Washington Post, D.C. – Climate policy editor Oct. 2022 – Sept. 2024
Edited climate reporters covering the White House, EPA and Interior. Shepherded our coverage of the Maui wildfires, the Ohio toxic train derailment and other catastrophes.
Los Angeles Times, L.A. & Berkeley — Enterprise editor March 2019 – Oct. 2022
Edited a mix of reporters and columnists. Also led several climate and environment reporting projects recognized with national honors.
McClatchy DC Bureau – National Correspondent Jan. 2017 – Feb. 2019
National correspondent. I covered Trump’s first term in office and his administration’s actions on climate change, energy, infrastructure, public lands and other stories of interest to the western United States.
Freelance reporter, Beijing Jan. 2016 – Oct. 2016
Covered stories in China and Korea for National Geographic, The New York Times, the Guardian, Christian Science Monitor and other outlets.
McClatchy Newspapers – Beijing Bureau Chief Jan. 2014 – Dec. 2015
Covered stories rarely told about the world’s most populous country and its society, government, economy and environment, while also reporting from other countries in Asia, including South Korea, Mongolia, Myanmar, the Philippines and Taiwan. Took a leave in 2016 to freelance in China after McClatchy, in a cost-saving move, closed all of its remaining foreign bureaus.
The Sacramento Bee, CA – Editorial Page Editor Sept. 2009 – Nov. 2013
Oversaw The Bee’s editorial board and supervised a staff of five people to write, edit and design our daily opinion pages, our six-page California Forum section on Sunday and our website, blog and social media. Reported directly to the newspaper’s publisher.
Oliveto restaurant – Chef apprentice April – Sept. 2009
Took a six-month leave to intern as a prep chef at this highly rated restaurant in the Bay Area. I chronicled my kitchen adventures in stories and blog posts for The Bee and KQED.
The Sacramento Bee, CA – Chef Associate Editor and columnist Nov. 2004 – August 2009
Served on the editorial board and wrote editorials and columns on the governor’s office, the Legislature and environment. Commentator on Capitol Public Radio.
The Sacramento Bee – Natural resources reporter August 1999 – Nov. 2004
Responsible for coverage of western water issues, forestry, wildfires and public lands.
Previously:
Editor and reporter, The News & Observer, 1992-99; Reporter, Macon Telegraph, 1988-92; editorial writer, Shreveport Journal, 1987-88; film and arts critic, Asahi Evening News, Tokyo, 1984-85.
EDUCATION
Columbia University, M.S., Journalism (Honors) June 1986
University of California, Santa Cruz, B.A., Politics (Honors) June 1983
AWARDS (as lead editor)
Rebuild | Reburn
2023: Scripps Howard Award, Excellence in Opinion Writing
2023: Covering Climate Now
Extreme Heat
2022: News Leaders Association, Batten Award for Climate Coverage
2022: Online Journalism Awards (ONA), Topical Reporting: Climate Change
2022: Covering Climate Now
2022: Scripps Howard Award, finalist; IRE Philip Meyer Award, 2nd Place.
When the Wells Run Dry (with the Center for Public Integrity)
2021: National Press Foundation, “Stokes” Award
2020: Reynolds Center, “Bartlett and Steele” Award
American Fallout: The Marshall Islands
2019: SPJ Sigma Chi Delta, Non-deadline reporting Award
AWARDS (as reporter)
2004: American Society of Civil Engineers, Excellence in Reporting, for “Rising Risk.”
2003: National Press Foundation, Thomas Stokes Award for energy writing; Assn. of Capitol Reporters and Editors; other awards for “Liquid Assets” with Dale Kasler.
2003: Wallace Stegner Award, Institutes for Journalism and Natural Resources, for sustained coverage of natural resources. (To the Sacramento Bee staff.)
2001: Best of the West; McClatchy President’s Award; American Planning Association Award and others for “Grappling with Growth.”
1998: North Carolina Press Association, 1st, News Enterprise for “Driving Forces.”
1997, 1996 and 1995: Various NCPA awards for “Fishing for Trouble,” “Sold Down the River” and other series.
FELLOWSHIPS
2017: East-West Center Korea exchange
2009: Poynter Institute Leadership Academy
1999, 2001: Institutes for Journalism and Natural Resources
1990: American Society for the Advancement of Science
Stuart Leavenworth 