Dear fellow members of SEJ,
When I was about three years old, a wasp landed on my hand and stung me. Instead of running away or killing it, I cupped it in my palms so it couldn't get to my face or other more sensitive body parts. Sure, it stung me a couple more times (and I yelled in pain), but I think it says something about my personality: I am persistent, focused on finding solutions (even if they are unconventional) and I don’t like to kill arthropods. (Yes, I leave spiders in my home alone: They are friends, and kill things that could actually hurt you, like mosquitos and other flies.)
My love of the natural world has led me to a career in environmental journalism, a field I've loved having the privilege of being in since 2011, when I graduated from NYU's SHERP program. Now, as a senior writer and editor at National Geographic, where I've been for three years, I cover wildlife and environmental issues — some recent topics I've covered in-depth included under-reported impacts of the U.S.-Mexico border wall, the many threats faced by insects and the importance of wildlife corridors.
I care deeply about our field and its future and that's why I intend to run for the SEJ board. I learn things quickly, get things right and love to collaborate and work together to accomplish goals. I'm also genuinely interested in and focused on positivity and problem-solving, which I think is necessary for mental health these days, but also makes me a pretty good teammate.
For example, since 2019 I worked with a large group of sources with competing and diverse interests to write a series of stories about Florida panthers and the importance of wildlife corridors in the Sunshine State and beyond, including a feature in the April print issue of National Geographic. Though my mission was to cover the issue well and not advance a specific agenda, many people (other than my mom and dad) told me that my work was instrumental in the unanimous (!) bipartisan passage of the Florida Wildlife Corridor Act, the most sweeping legislation of its kind, which recognizes the state's wildlife corridors and secured $400 million toward its protection.
If elected I promise to help ensure that the SEJ moves forward in the best possible way. I would enjoy helping to fundraise and achieve a sound financial future for the organization, and I have some ideas about how to better promote SEJ on social media and broaden its appeal and reach… I think there's no reason why SEJ couldn't have a much wider following and influence on Twitter/Facebook and beyond.
To this point in my career I've pretty much exclusively focused on being a good writer, editor and journalist, but I want to give back and lend my skills, time and energy to an organization that I care about.
Thanks for your time and consideration! All best,
Douglas Main
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