The Big Story

Contributing Writer

Melanie D.G. Kaplan is a regular contributor to The Washington Post and WebMD and has written for The New York Times, National Geographic Traveler and People. She holds degrees from Syracuse University and Columbia University's Graduate School of Journalism. She is based in Washington, D.C.

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In addition to working as a journalist, Melanie keeps the dog food fund flush with occasional consulting jobs. In the unusual event that her writing mentions a company or organization for which she has provided editorial services, she will disclose that fact. She will do the same should she cover any companies in which she holds investments.

She writes for SmartPlanet and is not an employee of CBS.

Contributing Writer

Jason Dearen covers the environmental beat for the Associated Press. He is based in San Francisco.

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In the unlikely event that Jason has a professional or financial relationship with a company he writes about, it will be prominently disclosed.

He writes for SmartPlanet and is not an employee of CBS.

Contributing Writer

Amy Serafin has written for The New York Times, Associated Press, Wallpaper, National Public Radio and the International Committee of the Red Cross. Formerly, she was editor-in-chief of Where Paris magazine. She is based in Paris, France.

In the unlikely event that Amy has a professional or financial relationship with a company she writes about, it will be prominently disclosed.

She writes for SmartPlanet and is not an employee of CBS.

Contributing Writer

Kevin Gray is a freelance writer based in New York. His work has appeared in The New York Times Magazine, New York, The Washington Post, Newsweek, Details and Men's Journal.

In the unlikely event that Kevin has a professional or financial relationship with a company he writes about, it will be prominently disclosed.

He writes for SmartPlanet and is not an employee of CBS.