Jen Christensen: A Career Defined by Investigative Rigor and Human-Centered Storytelling
Jen Christensen has established herself as one of CNN's most versatile journalists, blending investigative depth with a compassionate approach to health, climate, and social justice reporting. With multiple Peabody and DuPont awards to her name, her work consistently bridges data-driven analysis and human narratives.
Career Evolution: From Documentaries to Public Health
- Investigative Foundations (2000s): Produced groundbreaking documentaries like God’s (Jewish) Warriors with Christiane Amanpour, exposing global religious extremism
- Health Unit Leadership (2013-Present): Transitioned to CNN’s health desk, spearheading coverage of COVID-19, opioid epidemics, and healthcare disparities
- Climate Intersections (2020-Present): Developed beat focusing on climate change’s health impacts, particularly in vulnerable communities
Defining Works: Three Pillars of Impact
- Wildfires are a threat to mental health that can linger even years later Christensen’s 2024 investigation into California wildfire survivors revealed how 63% exhibited PTSD symptoms years post-disaster. Through longitudinal interviews and psychiatric evaluations, she demonstrated the hidden healthcare costs of climate disasters. The piece influenced FEMA policy changes for mental health funding in disaster relief.
- Methodologically notable for combining: - CDC climate vulnerability maps - EHR data from 12 hospitals - First-person accounts from 47 survivors
- After years on transplant wait list, Alabama grandmother receives kidney from gene-edited pig This 2025 exclusive followed the first successful xenotransplant patient through 18 months of recovery. Christensen secured unprecedented access to: - Surgical team meetings - FDA approval documents - Patient’s personal journals Her reporting explained CRISPR modifications while addressing ethical concerns about animal testing, becoming required reading in bioethics courses.
- Suicide attempts increased among transgender teens when states passed anti-trans laws, study says Analyzing data from 23 states, Christensen revealed a 89% spike in ER visits among trans youth following legislation bans. She paired this with intimate portraits of families navigating care, influencing the White House’s 2025 LGBTQ+ health initiative. The story’s impact metrics show: - 28K social shares - 14 legislative staffers cited it in hearings - AMA endorsement of findings
Strategic Pitching Guide
1. Lead with Intersectional Data
Christensen prioritizes stories demonstrating how health issues disproportionately affect marginalized communities. Successful pitches connect clinical data to social determinants - her 2024 series on dialysis deserts combined USDA food access maps with kidney failure rates.
2. Propose Solutions-Focused Angles
While exposing systemic failures, she seeks examples of effective interventions. The gene-edited pig kidney story emphasized how university-hospital partnerships accelerated FDA approvals.
3. Localize Climate Health Impacts
Her award-winning wildfire coverage began with county-level ER data. Pitches should identify hyperlocal climate-health connections, particularly in Gulf Coast and Appalachian regions.
4. Highlight Underreported Populations
Christensen maintains a focus on rural healthcare and LGBTQ+ seniors. A 2023 series on PrEP access in Mississippi used secret shopper methodology to expose pharmacy deserts.
5. Leverage Visual Storytelling Opportunities
With her Scientific American graphics background, she favors pitches including: - Data visualization prototypes - Photo essay concepts - Interactive mapping proposals
Awards and Recognition
“Christensen’s work redefines health journalism as both microscope and mirror - scrutinizing systems while reflecting human resilience.” - Peabody Awards Committee, 2024
- DuPont-Columbia Award (2023): For America’s Invisible Health Crisis series exposing psychiatric boarding in ERs Recognized for innovative use of hidden camera footage paired with hospital billing records, prompting 17 states to increase mental health funding.
- National Academies Communication Award (2022): For explaining complex immunology during COVID-19 Her vaccine efficacy explainers were adopted by CDC as public education materials, reaching 89M viewers through CNN’s digital platforms.
