LA Times retail reporter shifting to environment beat

Abigail Goodman, the Los Angeles Times‘ retail reporter for the past eight years, is shifting beats and will now cover “the crossroads of corporate America and the environmental movement,” according to a memo from business editor Davan Maharaj posted on the LAObserved web site.

Maharaj wrote, “She’ll examine corporations that hold themselves out as good stewards of the environment, businesses that claim to make ‘green’ products and the companies that purport to help individuals and communities be more environmentally responsible. As part of this new assignment, Abbe will work with colleagues covering energy, politics and other topics.

“Abbe is a homegrown product of the Los Angeles Times, having started at the paper in 1993 as a summer intern in what was then called View. She later worked in the San Fernando Valley, San Gabriel Valley and several points in between.

“In 1998, she moved to business, where she shared a Polk Award and a Pulitzer Prize for the 2003 series, “The Wal-Mart Effect.” Her examination of toy maker Mattel Inc.’s attempts to be an ethical manufacturer overseas was a finalist for the 2004 Livingston Award for excellence by professionals under the age of 35.”

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