Zabarenko, ex-Reuters reporter, joins World Resources Institute

Debby Zabarenko, a reporter who worked for Reuters for 27 years before leaving as part of some buyouts, has joined the World Resources Institute as editorial manager.

Zabarenko has covered the environment and climate change for Reuters for the past seven years. She left in December.

“I know it’s customary for new hires to say they’re thrilled to start a fresh gig, but in my case this is literally true,” said Zabarenko in an email to Talking Biz News. “I relied on WRI’s expertise as an environment correspondent, so it felt like a natural step to join their staff after I left Reuters. I was ready to leave daily journalism and WRI seems a really good fit, since it’s the premier environmental think tank. I’m so happy to join this team.”

The Institute, which is based in Washington, says its goal is to move human society to live in ways that protect Earth’s environment and its capacity to provide for the needs and aspirations of current and future generations.

Until last year, Zabarenko was also the Newspaper Guild’s Unit Chair at Thomson Reuters, representing more than 400 colleagues across the United States, helping to negotiate a labor contract and working to defend them in disputes with the company.

She is a graduate of Cal-Berkeley and Barnard.