Fenit Nirappil

Fenit Nirappil is a health reporter for The Washington Post, specializing in public health topics such as coronavirus, cannabis, and vaccination since August 2015. Nirappil joined the national health and science team in late 2020 after five years with the local politics team. Additionally, Nirappil serves as an adjunct instructor at Northwestern University Medill School, designing courses on government watchdog reporting. Prior experience includes working as a statehouse reporter for the Associated Press, where Nirappil covered legislative sessions and led reporting on California's drought crisis. Nirappil's reporting career began at The Oregonian and as a staff intern at The Star in South Africa, focusing on investigative journalism related to public health issues. Educational credentials include a Master of Arts in Journalism and Public Affairs from American University and a Bachelor of Science in Journalism and Political Science from Northwestern University.