The AGU Newsroom is a small but mighty team dedicated to sharing neat and newsworthy science. We are passionate about helping AGU scientists and anyone who publishes in one of our 24 peer-reviewed journals spread the word about their research. For information about working with the Newsroom to publicize work published in AGU journals, see our Publicity FAQ. Don’t hesitate to email the newsroom with any inquiries.
Samson Reiny
Media and Public Relations Assistant Director
Samson (he/him) joined the AGU Newsroom in 2022. After graduating with a master’s degree in journalism from the University of California, Berkeley, he toiled as a freelance reporter before spending a decade communicating NASA science and missions in a number of roles.
Liza Lester, Ph.D.
Media Relations Manager
Liza (she/her) joined the AGU Newsroom in 2018. She holds a Ph.D. in cellular and molecular biology from the University of Washington and previously worked as a press officer for the Ecological Society of America. Liza is based in Washington, D.C.
Rebecca Dzombak, Ph.D.
Senior Media Relations Specialist
Rebecca (she/her) has been with the AGU Newsroom since 2021. Prior to that, she received her Ph.D. in Earth and Environmental Sciences from the University of Michigan. She is based in Olympia, Washington, and does not miss the humidity of the Midwest. She has an affinity for stories about agriculture, environmental injustice, and straight-up nerdy geology.
We will open the application for our full-time, paid 2025 internship (June-December 2025) later this spring. Email Liza at [email protected] with any questions about our intern program and eligibility.
Previous Media Relations interns
If you’re interested in our internship, please email [email protected] with “Media relations internship” in the subject. We invite folks who have completed at least their undergraduate degree and have some science writing experience to get in touch! Students actively pursuing their degrees will likely not be able to meet the full-time, six-month schedule.
Madeline Reinsel, Summer-Fall 2024. Science writer at Virginia Commonwealth University. | LinkedIn @madelinereinsel
Shannon Banks, Fall 2023. Freelance science journalist | Shannon’s LinkedIn
Gabriella Lewis, Summer-Fall 2023. Proposal specialist with Global Science and Technology, Inc. |LinkedIn
Kirsten Steinke, Winter 2022. A 2023-2024 Sea Grant Knauss Fellow in marine science policy | @Kirsten_Steinke
Derek J. Smith, Fall 2022. Science writer for Univ. of Michigan Engineering |@djsmitty156
Aara’L Yarber, Summer 2022. Postdoc at Howard Univ. after completing her AAAS Mass Media Fellowship| @yarber79
Emily Cerf, Fall 2021. Science writer at UCSC
Jack Lee, Fall 2020. On the weather data beat for the San Francisco Chronicle | @jackjlee
Jerald Pinson, Fall 2020. Freelance science journalist | @jerald_pinson
Rachel Fritts, Summer 2020. Tangled Bank Studios as HHMI | @rachel_fritts
Newsroom consultants
Beezus and Ramone
Beezus cat and Ramone live in D.C. with Liza.
Angelo and Audrey
Angelo and Audrey live in Olympia, WA with Becca. They love helping by sitting on her keyboard.