Michelle R. Smith has been appointed as a senior science investigative reporter for the Guardian’s U.S. investigations team. Based in Providence, Rhode Island, she will cover challenges facing science and scientific institutions, focusing on efforts to undermine and delegitimize science and public health. Smith has prominent experience, including reporting on the COVID-19 pandemic and the anti-vaccine movement, and has received multiple awards for her journalism, such as the Peabody and Scripps Howard awards.
She expressed gratitude to the Guardian for prioritizing this critical issue, noting the significant impact of the anti-science current in American politics. Michael Hudson, head of U.S. investigations, praised Smith for her relentless reporting, especially regarding attacks on science and scientific institutions. The Guardian, founded in 1821, is a global news organization committed to quality journalism, reaching over 40 million U.S. readers each month.
