Have you ever been at a party where a friend said, “I just don’t understand the Clean Power Plan,” or “I don’t see what’s so bad about Forever 21,” and someone swooped in with a perfect analogy, a few scrappy props, and a whole lotta pizzazz? Well, the Grist Explainers team is the journalism equivalent of that helpful stranger. And our can-do attitude just made us finalists for the 2016 Online Journalism Awards. (We also wouldn’t say no if you wanted to refill our keg cup.)
The Online News Association gave us the nod in the Explanatory News, Small category for videos on topics such as how the Paris climate talks were like a high-stakes dinner party and what “environmental justice” means.
We’re in great company: A Climate Central investigation into Europe’s problematic burning of wood pellets for energy; the Center for Public Integrity’s look at dangerous substances toxins in the workplace; and a Retro Report exploration of overpopulation worries in the ’60s are also finalists.
The winner will be announced on Sept. 17 at the ONA awards banquet in Denver. Now, who wants an (underwater) Manhattan?