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.

Follow her on Twitter.

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

Christina Hernandez Sherwood has written for the Los Angeles Times, Newsday, the Philadelphia Inquirer, Diverse: Issues in Higher Education and Columbia Journalism Review. She holds degrees from the University of Delaware and Columbia University's Graduate School of Journalism. She is based in New Jersey.

Follow her on Twitter.

In the unlikely event that Christina 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

Matthew Malone is the editor-at-large of Aspen Magazine. Formerly, he was a staff reporter at Conde Nast Portfolio. He has written for The New York Times, Cosmopolitan, Smartmoney.com, Fortune.com and Forbes.com. He holds degrees from Columbia University's Graduate School of Journalism. He is based in Connecticut.

Follow him on Twitter.

In the unlikely event that Matt 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

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

Follow him on Twitter.

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.