Ed Yong, a widely-admired science journalist, recently announced that he’s leaving his position at The Atlantic after eight years at the publication. He also published the latest in a series of articles explaining the challenges of Long COVID, a subject that he’s become well-known for covering.
I have been a big fan of Yong’s for a long time; reading his work when I was in college was one of my inspirations for getting into science writing. But his COVID-19 coverage has been especially informative and inspirational. In particular, he was one of the first journalists to write about Long COVID back in 2020 and has remained a leading writer on the topic since then. His work has brought wider recognition to the long-haulers seeking research and support.
His latest story, like his others, is a master class in weaving together patient experiences and scientific insights. It covers fatigue and post-exertional malaise, two of the most common—and most debilitating—symptoms of Long COVID and myalgic encephalomyelitis/chronic fatigue syndrome (ME/CFS). As people with those conditions have shared the article on social media, I’ve seen many say that it offers poignant descriptions of these symptoms and insightful understanding of their experiences.
If you haven’t read this article yet, please check it out. (Feel free to email me if you have a hard time accessing it through the paywall.) And I think I can speak for many readers here when I express gratitude for Ed Yong’s COVID-19 work over the last three years, and excitement for what he’ll do next!