I joined Salon in 1998 to become our first full-time news editor, and succeeded the irreplaceable David Talbot as editor in chief in February 2005.

Before that I spent many years as a freelancer -- including for Salon; Scott Rosenberg taught me how to use e-mail in 1995 so I could send in my stories -- and I also ran my own business, consulting to national foundations and nonprofits on education, community development and urban poverty issues.

I've written for everyone from the Los Angeles Times and Washington Post to Vogue and the Nation. I love baseball, Bruce Springsteen, Stephen Colbert and long walks on the beach. I live in San Francisco with my daughter, Nora, the best teenager ever.