Marla Broadfoot
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marlabroadfoot.bsky.social
Marla Broadfoot
@marlabroadfoot.bsky.social
6.8K followers 410 following 56 posts
Freelance Science Journalist, PhD Geneticist, Contributing Editor at American Scientist, Adjunct Faculty at UNC, Board Member at NASW, Past President at SCONC, 2022-23 Rosalynn Carter Mental Health Journalism Fellow.
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marlabroadfoot.bsky.social
When I got this assignment, I was shocked to learn that suicide was one of the leading causes of death among new mothers. But there's hope, with the approval of the first pill for postpartum depression. @sciam.bsky.social
Postpartum Depression Gets a New, Fast-Acting Fix in a Pill
Deep emotional distress after birth kills many mothers. A new kind of drug offers better, faster treatment
www.scientificamerican.com
November 21, 2025 at 10:02 PM
marlabroadfoot.bsky.social
Have you registered for #SciWri25? SCONC's in the mix: @reunify.bsky.social on "Reporting Mistakes and Failures in Science" (Oct 23 online) and @shiplives.bsky.social moderating the plenary w/ @michellejewell.bsky.social (Nov 9 in Chicago). Registration closes Oct 22.

sciencewriters2025.o...
October 21, 2025 at 11:25 PM
Reposted by Marla Broadfoot
jackiantonovich.bsky.social
As a historian, I can certify that we are in the bad times. But bad times eventually end.
In the meantime:
• Figure out a small way to help someone
• Figure out a small way to fight back
• Figure out a small place to find joy
• Figure out a small way to grow and thrive

And do it often.
October 15, 2025 at 9:40 PM
Reposted by Marla Broadfoot
knowablemag.bsky.social
Profile or Q&A > Consumer
🎶 “Of genes, chromosomes and oratorios” | @marlabroadfoot.bsky.social
Of genes, chromosomes and oratorios
Jenny Graves has spent her life mapping genes and comparing genomes. Now she’s created a musical opus about evolution of life on this planet — bringing the same drive and experimentalism she brought t...
knowablemagazine.org
August 29, 2025 at 4:42 PM
Reposted by Marla Broadfoot
whysharksmatter.bsky.social
My latest for American Scientist Magazine helps give scientists the tools to fight back against politicized charges that our research is silly or pointless- tools that will work whether you’re asked “why are we funding this” from your asshole uncle at Thanksgiving or an asshole US Senator.
🧪🌎
“Why Are We Funding This?”
Long-standing myths about “silly science” have contributed to the reckless slashing of government-supported research.
www.americanscientist.org
June 17, 2025 at 9:47 PM
Reposted by Marla Broadfoot
maggieastor.bsky.social
Breaking: The Trevor Project received a stop-work order last night on its contract with the national 988 suicide prevention hotline. The Trump administration is eliminating the option for LGBTQ callers to the hotline to press 3 and connect with someone who specializes in LGBTQ mental health.
June 18, 2025 at 1:59 PM
marlabroadfoot.bsky.social
Join us at 1 pm!
sciencewriters.org National Association of Science Writers (NASW) @sciencewriters.org · Jun 17
TODAY AT 1PM ET: Join us for the final Science Writers Roundtable: Covering Trans Health. In support of accurate and sensitive reporting, a panel of science journalists will share tips from their experience covering trans health issues.

Register for the free, virtual event: www.nasw.org/sciwrir...
Register now for the free June 17 SciWriRoundtable: Covering Trans Health
All interested professionals and students are invited to register for the upcoming, free #SciWriRoundtable webinar “Covering Trans Health” scheduled for Tuesday, June 17, at 1 p.m. Eastern.
www.nasw.org
June 17, 2025 at 3:29 PM
Reposted by Marla Broadfoot
virginiagewin.bsky.social
"I've sat on this bench now for 40 years. I've never seen government racial discrimination like this."
June 16, 2025 at 7:48 PM
Reposted by Marla Broadfoot
robinlloyd.bsky.social
Applications are open for CASW'S (@sciencewriting.bsky.social) annual award to an outstanding under-31 science journalist. Deadline June 30. Winner gets $1,000 & expenses to attend ScienceWriters2025. I'm excited to organize judging this year. DM if interested in judging: casw.org/awards-fello...
Evert Clark/Seth Payne Award for a young science journalist - CASW
casw.org
June 12, 2025 at 1:37 PM
Reposted by Marla Broadfoot
pressfreedomtracker.us
The Journalist Assistance Network — a collaboration between @freedom.press, @pressfreedom.bsky.social, @rcfp.org, @penamerica.bsky.social and IWMF — provides legal and safety resources and providers.
US Journalist Assistance Network - Committee to Protect Journalists
In collaboration with U.S.-based press freedom organizations specializing in digital safety, physical safety, and legal rights, the Committee to Protect Journalists has compiled a list of resources to...
cpj.org
June 9, 2025 at 9:55 PM
Reposted by Marla Broadfoot
leahshaffer.bsky.social
Support the NIH! 🧪
ehaswell.bsky.social Liz Haswell @ehaswell.bsky.social · Jun 9
*URGENT* please support NIH research and the NIH employees who are standing up for science at the risk of losing their jobs! Sign *TODAY* in support of the Bethesda Declaration. The senate appropriations committee is reviewing the NIH budget Tuesday at 10 am. SHARE widely! 🧪
ADD YOUR NAME: Sign the Open Letter in Support of NIH Staff
Join the courageous and committed National Institutes of Health (NIH) public servants by adding your name now.
actionnetwork.org
June 9, 2025 at 2:12 PM
marlabroadfoot.bsky.social
Excited to be headed to New York today for this new journalism workshop on aging.
Newmark J-School Announces Inaugural “How to Cover Aging” Awardees - Newmark J-School
The Craig Newmark Graduate School of Journalism at CUNY has selected 10 working journalists from across North America to participate in its first “How to
https://www.journalism.cuny.edu/2025/05/newmark-j-school-announces-inaugural-how-to-cover-aging-awardees/#:~:text=Newmark%20J%2DSchool%20Announces%20Inaugural%20“How%20to%20Cover%20Aging”%20Awardees,-By%20Newmark%20J&text=The%20Craig%20Newmark%20Graduate%20School,be%20held%20in%20June%202025
June 4, 2025 at 2:46 PM
marlabroadfoot.bsky.social
Happening today!
May 8, 2025 at 11:56 AM
Reposted by Marla Broadfoot
newsobserver.com
🧵 The News & Observer + The Charlotte Observer were honored as a Pulitzer Prize finalist for their joint coverage of Hurricane Helene + the aftermath in NC. The Associated Press + The Washington Post were also finalists.

www.newsobserver.com/news/local/a...
N&O, Charlotte Observer named Pulitzer Prize finalists for Helene coverage
The Associated Press and The Washington Post were also finalists in the category.
www.newsobserver.com
May 5, 2025 at 8:59 PM
Reposted by Marla Broadfoot
scchak.bsky.social
Experts share scathing reviews of last week's HHS report on gender-affirming care for youth: "...a rejection of decades of science, evidence, and direct experiences by young people, their doctors, and their families.”

@phiejacobs.bsky.social's story for @science.org www.science.org/content/arti...
Researchers slam HHS report on gender-affirming care for youth
Critics say the report, which declines to disclose its authors, contradicts decades of scientific research
www.science.org
May 5, 2025 at 1:50 PM
Reposted by Marla Broadfoot
veenadubal.bsky.social
The President’s entire budget proposal destroys the state as we know it, and not in any kind of liberatory way. Here are the proposed NIH & NSF cuts. There will be no coming back from this.
May 2, 2025 at 4:02 PM
Reposted by Marla Broadfoot
luckytran.com
The Human Genome Project cost taxpayers $3 Billion.

Two decades on, it has generated a staggering return on investment of $1 Trillion, with benefits in medicine, agriculture, energy, the environment, & more.

If you want to boost the economy, funding science is one of the best things you could do.
May 2, 2025 at 7:00 PM
Reposted by Marla Broadfoot
sciencewriters.org
BIG NEWS: #SciWri25 has a new location and dates! Get ready to gather in Chicago Nov 7-9. The virtual portion will take place Oct 22-24. Thank you to everyone for your support during this journey.

Details: www.nasw.org/article...

ScienceWriters2025 to be held in Chicago November 7-9
The National Association of Science Writers and the Council for the Advancement of Science Writing are excited to announce that ScienceWriters2025 will take place in Chicago, November 7–9, at the Marriott Chicago O’Hare.
www.nasw.org
April 30, 2025 at 6:45 PM
Reposted by Marla Broadfoot
sciencewriters.org
RESOURCE ALERT: Our colleagues at @pressfreedom.bsky.social have issued travel advice and detailed checklists for journalists traveling to or from the U.S.

cpj.org/2025/04/cpj-...
CPJ Safety Advisory: Traveling to the US - Committee to Protect Journalists
A stated policy goal of the Trump administration is to significantly change U.S. travel and immigration policies. Foreign nationals whose countries do not meet U.S. vetting standards may be barred entry. Journalists will not be exempt and should anticipate potential restrictions or questioning when traveling to or from the United States. Under a draft Trump...
cpj.org
April 22, 2025 at 5:39 PM
Reposted by Marla Broadfoot
juddlegum.bsky.social
1. The North Carolina Supreme Court just TOSSED 260 BALLOTS in a razor close election for a seat on the same court

The ballots were invalidated based on a claim by the Republican candidate that all of voters were "never residents" of North Carolina

But that claim is false

We have receipts
North Carolina Supreme Court throws out hundreds of ballots based on flawed data
This is a special collaboration between Popular Information and Anderson Alerts, a newsletter about North Carolina politics.
popular.info
April 15, 2025 at 12:41 PM
Reposted by Marla Broadfoot
newsobserver.com
NC could change the rules after the election is over, and throw out enough ballots to change the outcome. There are several ways that’s unprecedented. #ncpol

✍️ A special report by @kyleingram.bsky.social

www.newsobserver.com/news/politic...
In contested Supreme Court race, NC Republicans test their ability to overturn an election
NC could change the rules after the election is over, and throw out enough ballots to change the outcome. There are several ways that’s unprecedented.
www.newsobserver.com
April 11, 2025 at 4:38 PM
Reposted by Marla Broadfoot
jaspar.bsky.social
I'll be presenting a session this year at SRCCON on how I backed up data.cdc.gov and tracked changes to it. I also hope for this to be an interactive session where we can collaboratively think about what else we can all be doing to save data.

2025.srccon.org/program/ @opennews.bsky.social
Fighting censorship of government data: How STAT archived data.cdc.gov Facilitated by Emory Parker As rumors began swirling near the end of January that federal websites would be taken down entirely if they had not yet fully complied with Trump's executive orders, STAT downloaded and archived all available files from data.cdc.gov. We made that archive publicly available shortly after that along with a comprehensive analysis of what datasets had been deleted and which had been censored. This session will cover the methods STAT used to archive this data, analyze changes between snapshots, and automate monitoring and logging of changes using Github actions and the CDC's API. We'll discuss trends STAT identified and also what else media outlets in general can be doing to preserve access to government datasets and other records.
April 3, 2025 at 4:38 PM
Reposted by Marla Broadfoot
jasonkoebler.bsky.social
Petabytes of critical government research that is marked for possible deletion cannot be archived because of technical and legal restrictions, meaning it is very likely to be lost forever:

www.404media.co/nih-archives...
Massive, Unarchivable Datasets of Cancer, Covid, and Alzheimer's Research Could Be Lost Forever
Days before Robert F. Kennedy Jr. announced that 10,000 HHS staffers would lose their jobs, a message appeared on NIH research repository sites saying they were "under review."
www.404media.co
April 4, 2025 at 3:50 PM
Reposted by Marla Broadfoot
thadogburn.bsky.social
North Carolina's never-ending Supreme Court dispute is still going on. Now, those whose votes were challenged must prove their eligibility within 15 days. The latest from @kyleingram.bsky.social. #ncpol
NC Court of Appeals gives over 60,000 challenged voters 15 days to prove eligibility
The majority wrote that, even though they have the authority to completely throw out the contested ballots, they decided to instead mandate a cure period for most of the challenged voters.
www.newsobserver.com
April 4, 2025 at 5:07 PM
Reposted by Marla Broadfoot
mattderienzo.bsky.social
Pleased to share that SciLine will hold a special briefing for journalists on Monday with scientists who can explain what's at stake with the sweeping changes underway at the National Institutes for Health. www.sciline.org/public-healt... @realsciline.bsky.social
NIH’s impact on research, public health, and innovation - SciLine
Discover how the NIH shapes global health research funding and its impact on drug development. Join SciLine's briefing for insights from leading experts.
www.sciline.org
April 3, 2025 at 1:37 PM