Trans Reporter Quits Capitol Beat

Jael Holzman vows to cover climate, but off the Hill.

Jael Holzman recently announced her departure from Axios, where she co-wrote an energy policy newsletter. Known for her insightful coverage of climate and the energy industry, with a particular focus on the mining sector, Holzman has been a Hill reporter since 2017.

"It would be a grave mistake to believe that my departure is due to being offended by news coverage," Holzman wrote on Medium. "No, this is about the cognitive dissonance of working around individuals who should be questioning decision-makers about the tug-of-war over trans people, and they know it, but aren't doing so."

Holzman was the only out-trans reporter on the Capitol beat, posing questions to lawmakers as a policy reporter for CQ, then E&E News, and most recently Axios. She shared a series of incidents that highlighted the inadequacies of reporting when covering trans people, effectively pushing her off the Hill. She writes,

None of these journalistic errors would occur if more news outlets deliberately assigned beat reporters to cover the fate of LGBTQ+ lives and hired from within the community, with a specific focus on expertise in covering healthcare.

Strong beat reporters can develop the sourcing needed to know when they're missing something. Even transition issues labeled as "culture war," such as using the correct pronouns, have a very clear medical necessity.

I also believe that reporters in Congress should be tracking anti-trans bills through committee and questioning policymakers about their goals.

The details of Holzman's next move remain elusive, except for her confirmation that she will continue in the news. "I'm staying in climate journalism," she writes. "The stakes are too dire and the work is way too much fun. But I'm done with the horserace and the Hill."