Tatiana Celia Kennedy Schlossberg, born May 5, 1990, is a rising voice in climate journalism and a direct descendant of one of America’s most iconic political families. Her life blends a private upbringing with public legacy, shaped by a unique cultural intersection, academic excellence, and a growing dedication to environmental reporting.
Early Life and Education: A New York Upbringing
Raised in New York City, Schlossberg navigated a childhood steeped in both Catholic and Jewish traditions – a reflection of her parents, Caroline Kennedy and Edwin Schlossberg. The family notably incorporated Hanukkah celebrations alongside other holidays, demonstrating a commitment to cultural inclusivity.
She attended the prestigious Brearley School and Trinity School, graduating in 2008. Childhood summers were spent at the Kennedy family estate in Martha’s Vineyard, offering glimpses into a privileged yet relatively private upbringing. A notable early public appearance was as a flower girl at her uncle John F. Kennedy Jr.’s wedding, a moment capturing the era’s fascination with the Kennedy dynasty.
From Yale to Oxford: Academic Pursuits
Schlossberg’s academic path led her to Yale University, where she earned a bachelor’s degree in History while serving as editor-in-chief of the Yale Herald. Continuing her studies, she pursued a master’s in American History at the University of Oxford, demonstrating a clear passion for historical scholarship.
This academic foundation would later inform her unique approach to connecting with her family’s legacy, as she described in a 2019 Vanity Fair interview. Rather than engaging directly in politics, she engages with her grandparents’ era through study and reflection.
Journalism and Climate Change: A Career Takes Shape
Schlossberg’s career in journalism began with an internship at The New York Times in 2014, quickly leading to a reporting position in the Metro section. A notable early assignment involved reporting on a dead bear cub found in Central Park, which was later revealed to be a prank orchestrated by her mother’s cousin, Robert F. Kennedy Jr. – a revelation she acknowledged with transparency in a 2024 interview.
Since 2017, Schlossberg has established herself as a freelance climate and science writer, contributing to publications like The Washington Post, Vanity Fair, and Bloomberg. She is most prominently known for her Substack newsletter, News From a Changing Planet, where she explores environmental issues with depth and urgency.
The Weight of the Future: Climate Anxiety
In a candid 2020 essay for Vanity Fair, Schlossberg openly discussed the emotional toll of reporting on climate change, acknowledging the internal conflict between despair and denial. Her work reflects a broader trend among young journalists grappling with existential questions about the future of the planet.
“While reporting on climate change and the environment, I have wavered between grief and delusion and anger and willful ignorance about the state of our planet and its future and how we got here,” she wrote.
This honesty positions her as a voice for a generation burdened by the consequences of inaction.
Connecting with Legacy Through Study
Instead of seeking political prominence, Schlossberg connects with her grandparents’ legacy through intellectual exploration. She sees studying their era and the patterns that captivated them as a deeply personal way to engage with her family’s history. Her approach suggests a desire to understand the past rather than simply replicate it.
Tatiana Schlossberg embodies a new kind of Kennedy: one who honors her heritage not through power or politics, but through scholarship, journalism, and a fierce commitment to confronting the defining crisis of our time.
