The Association of Environmental Journalists has honored numerous projects from Inside Climate News, from investigative to feature writing. The awards were announced last week in what SEJ describes as the world’s largest environmental journalism competition.
“We are thrilled that our staff members were recognized for their investigative reporting, insightful reporting, explanatory reporting and feature writing,” said Vernon Loeb, executive editor of Inside Climate News. “Of all the journalism awards, none are more important to us than those given by the Association of Environmental Journalists.”
The recognition included each of SEJ’s four categories for professional journalism from small newsrooms. No other newsroom, large or small, was recognized for so many projects this year.
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“Inside Climate News does an outstanding job of connecting the dots on the devastating effects of climate change that we are all experiencing right now,” noted the judges for one. FoRewoRd. “It’s a subject we all know about, but this ambitious global series breaks down this massive issue into surprising connections between events in different parts of the world that create a butterfly effect that connects and affects us all.”
This year’s honored work:
- Lee Hedgepeth’s reporting on Alabama environmental issueswith graphics by Paul Horn. The short story won second place in the Outstanding Beat Reporting Category for small newsrooms. “The judges were particularly impressed by the breadth of this coverage, which revealed truly shocking threats, from infrastructure racism to the dangers of mining in surrounding areas,” the judges wrote.
- “Gathering of cougars,” with reporting by Liza Gross and photography by Michael Kodas. The piece won second place in the small newsroom Outstanding feature history category. The judges wrote: “Journalist Liza Gross and photographer Michael Kodas provide a sympathetic overview of the challenges and benefits of conserving cougars in self-sustaining populations living near previously uninhabited human lands.”
- “Facing the Risks of Extreme Climate Shocks” by Bob Berwyn. The project won first honorable mention in the small newsroom Outstanding explanatory reporting category. The judges wrote: “Wide-ranging and in-depth reporting spanning Australia’s wildfires to the Greenland ice sheet, the series stands out for its clear and accessible writing.”
- “Essential, Exploited, Endangered” by Liza Gross and Peter Aldhous. The project was recognized as the third honorable mention in Outstanding Beat Reporting Category for small newsrooms. The judges wrote that the series, which includes stories about heat deaths AND flood affecting farm workers, “combines deep compassion for marginalized communities with cutting-edge science journalism.”
About this story
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