To commemorate the Prize and its place in public humanities, the Council is staging conversations across the state about the Essay– the nature, purpose and contours of the essay genre in the 21st century and within that, showcasing programming that pays special attention to questions of the environment. Historian and writer Jane Gerhard broadens the discussion to include all kinds of climates while reflecting on a lecture by Pulitzer Prize-winning critic and memoirist Margo Jefferson.

Explore the transformations in journalism, interactivity, and engagement that are all part of the 21st Century Essay as historian and writer Jane Gerhard reflects on her experience at the groundbreaking The Essay in Public: The Way We Work conference in March 2016. Part of the What is the 21st Century Essay? Pulitzer in RI series, the conference was hosted by the University of Rhode Island and organized by Brown University, URI, and The New School.

As part of the Pulitzer Prize-inspired commemorative series, “What is the 21st Century Essay?”, historian and writer Jane Gerhard will be blogging for the Council on the changing nature of journalism and the humanities in the digital age, with a focus on environmental issues and their relevance to our health, communities, and economy. You can read her inaugural post here.