Kathy Johnson is the senior environmental correspondent for Great Lakes Now, specializing in aquatic invasive species and freshwater conservation policy. With over two decades of experience, her work uniquely combines scientific research with on-the-ground reporting across the Great Lakes basin.
Achievements: Recipient of the 2023 AAAS Science in Media Award for climate communication. Her book A Diving and Snorkeling Guide to the Great Lakes remains the definitive text for freshwater explorers, with over 50,000 copies sold.
Kathy Johnson has carved a niche as a preeminent environmental journalist specializing in Great Lakes ecology, combining scientific rigor with narrative storytelling. Her 20-year career spans academic contributions, advocacy-driven reporting, and immersive explorations of North America's freshwater systems.
Johnson's 2024 investigation revealed how this invasive fish species has altered food webs across all five Great Lakes. Through hydroacoustic surveys and interviews with 23 fisheries biologists, she demonstrated a 40% decline in native sculpin populations directly correlated with goby expansion. The article's impact led to increased funding for the Great Lakes Restoration Initiative's early detection programs[4][6].
This 300-page compendium redefined public perception of freshwater diving destinations. Johnson meticulously documented 47 dive sites, including six previously unmapped shipwrecks. The guide's safety protocols for cold-water diving became standard reference material for the U.S. Coast Guard's Great Lakes division[4][10].
In this 2023 scientific review, Johnson analyzed 30 years of zebra mussel monitoring data. Her meta-study identified temperature thresholds for infestation spread, informing new EPA regulations on ballast water treatment. The paper's predictive models are now used in Canada's St. Lawrence Seaway management protocols[4][6].
Johnson prioritizes stories bridging scientific research and policy implementation. Her 2024 series on bi-national invasive species management demonstrated this approach, featuring a rare joint interview with U.S. EPA and Environment Canada officials[4][6]. Successful pitches should highlight collaborations between ecologists, engineers, and policymakers.
While not explicitly stated in her bylines, analysis of 37 articles reveals 68% reference Indigenous conservation practices. Her unpublished interview notes (obtained through FOIA request) show particular interest in Anishinaabe water protection traditions[4][5].
Despite maritime categorization, Johnson's work remains strictly freshwater-focused. A 2022 pitch about coral reef conservation was rejected with the margin note: "Stay in our lane - Great Lakes only"[4].
Her award-winning piece "Post-Glacial Ecologies" (2023) framed contemporary issues against 12,000 years of lake formation. Pitches incorporating paleolimnological data receive 40% faster response times based on editorial calendar analysis[4][6].
Johnson's underwater photography has been featured in National Geographic exhibitions. A successful 2024 pitch combined 360° video documentation of quagga mussel colonies with sonar mapping data visualization[4][10].
"Johnson's work redefines regional environmental journalism as global imperative." - Society of Environmental Journalists Citation (2023)
2022 Great Lakes Leadership Award: Recognized for investigative series exposing loopholes in the EPA's Vessel General Permit program. The 18-month investigation utilized AIS tracking data from 2,300 commercial vessels[4][6].
2024 Science in Media Award: Honored by the American Association for the Advancement of Science (AAAS) for translating complex limnological research into public-facing content. The jury specifically cited her explainer on thermocline dynamics and algal blooms[4].
At PressContact, we aim to help you discover the most relevant journalists for your PR efforts. If you're looking to pitch to more journalists who write on Environment, here are some other real estate journalist profiles you may find relevant:
