Top Environment Journalists in USA (2025)

Chris Clarke (he/him) is a California-based environmental journalist specializing in desert ecosystems, climate policy, and biodiversity conservation. His current work, published via Letters From the Desert, blends scientific rigor with narrative storytelling to spotlight issues like renewable energy’s ecological impacts and Indigenous land stewardship.

Pitching Insights

• Focus on arid landscapes: Clarke prioritizes stories about Mojave and Sonoran Desert species, climate adaptation, and water politics.
• Avoid urban sustainability: He rarely covers city-centric topics like electric vehicle infrastructure or green building design.

Awards

• 2016 SEJ Award for Outstanding Beat Reporting
• Mojave Desert Land Trust Media Recognition Award (2021)

As founding editor of gb&d magazine, Chris Howe occupies a unique position at the intersection of architectural design and environmental stewardship. His work primarily focuses on:

• Material innovation: Novel applications of sustainable building materials with third-party certification
• Climate-responsive design: Architecture adapting to changing environmental conditions
• Circular construction: Projects demonstrating closed-loop material lifecycle management

Pitching Recommendations

Successful outreach should emphasize quantifiable environmental metrics and include:

• EPD (Environmental Product Declarations) for materials
• Energy modeling data for buildings
• Before/after biodiversity assessments for site developments

"The most compelling stories show design solving multiple environmental challenges simultaneously."

This award-nominated journalist specializes in unpacking how environmental, developmental, and health pressures intersect in the Pacific Northwest. Her work at Axios Seattle combines data journalism with community narratives, particularly focused on:

• Climate Adaptation: Tracks micro-impacts of global trends on local ecosystems
• Growth Management: Analyzes housing needs against environmental preservation
• Health Access: Investigates policy implementation gaps in healthcare delivery

Pitching Priorities

Successful story ideas typically feature:

• Washington-specific datasets with clear human angles
• Underreported consequences of development projects
• Innovative local solutions to regional challenges

Currently writing for Outside Magazine with frequent contributions to The New York Times, Solomon specializes in stories where human ambition collides with natural forces. His 25-year career combines investigative rigor with literary sensibility, earning recognition in prestigious anthologies and a 2019 Alicia Patterson Fellowship.

Key Coverage Areas

• Environmental Policy in Action: Prefers ground-level perspectives over legislative process (e.g., wolf management conflicts)
• Outdoor Sports Evolution: Focuses on cultural shifts rather than gear reviews (e.g., mental health in extreme athletics)
• Climate Change Adaptation: Seeks innovative responses over disaster narratives (e.g., AI-assisted wildfire prediction)

Avoid

• Urban sustainability initiatives
• Celebrity environmental activism
• Traditional "gear guide" content

“Great outdoor writing should make readers feel the ice forming in their beard and the existential weight of their choices.”

Craig Welch is a Pulitzer Center-supported investigative journalist specializing in environmental and climate reporting, currently contributing to The Examination. With a career spanning The Seattle Times and National Geographic, his work dissects the intersection of science, policy, and human impact.

Pitching Insights

• Focus on systemic environmental trade-offs: Welch’s recent investigation into EV battery chemicals exemplifies his interest in unintended consequences of green technologies.
• Prioritize underreported ecological crises: Propose stories on issues like ocean deoxygenation or permafrost melt, backed by emerging research.

Awards Snapshot

“Welch’s reporting doesn’t just inform—it galvanizes.”

• Rachel Carson Environment Book Award (2011) for Shell Games
• Emmy-nominated multimedia storytelling for Sea Change

David Hasemyer has shaped climate reporting through four decades of investigative rigor. Currently a senior correspondent at Inside Climate News, his work bridges scientific complexity and human impact.

Core Coverage Areas

• Climate-Impacted Infrastructure: Tracks how extreme weather tests energy systems and waste management (e.g., Superfund site vulnerabilities).
• Corporate Accountability: Exposes gaps between fossil fuel pledges and actions, as seen in ExxonMobil coverage.
• Indigenous Climate Adaptation: Highlights traditional knowledge in ecosystem management, like Arctic beaver migration studies.

Pitching Insights

• Data-Driven Localization: Pair regional climate impacts with policy analysis (e.g., state-level pipeline regulations).
• Document-Based Investigations: Prioritize FOIA-obtained materials or leaked corporate communications.

Awards Snapshot

• Pulitzer Prize for National Reporting (2013)
• Robert F. Kennedy Journalism Award (2016)
• Edward J. Meeman Award for Environmental Journalism

For story inquiries, reference his recent work on Inside Climate News and High Country News.

#VALUE!

Elisa Murray blends family-focused journalism with environmental solutions reporting, primarily covering:

• Sustainable Family Lifestyles: Innovative programs reducing household carbon footprints while maintaining quality of life
• Education Innovation: Hands-on learning models connecting youth to nature and community history
• Equitable Urban Design: Infrastructure supporting multigenerational communities

Pitching Preferences

• Data-Driven Solutions: Prefers initiatives with measurable outcomes over theoretical proposals
• Cross-Generational Impact: Seeks stories demonstrating benefits for both children and seniors
• Pacific Northwest Focus: Prioritizes local/regional angles with national applicability

Recent recognitions include the 2024 Solutions Journalism Network Fellowship for her work on community-based climate adaptation models. Connect via ParentMap author profile or Twitter @seattleplaylist for pitches aligning with her interdisciplinary approach to family and environmental reporting.

We track Emma Marris as one of environmental journalism's most original voices, blending rigorous science reporting with philosophical inquiry. Currently contributing to The New York Times, Nature, and The Atlantic, her work redefines humanity's relationship with nature in an era of climate disruption.

Core Coverage Areas

• Conservation ethics: Examines the moral dimensions of wildlife management and species preservation
• Urban ecology: Documents nature's resilience in human-dominated landscapes
• Climate psychology: Investigates mental health impacts and behavioral solutions to ecological crisis

Achievement Highlights

• 2022 Rachel Carson Award winner for paradigm-shifting book Wild Souls
• Regular commentator for PBS NewsHour and NPR's On Point
• Cited in 17 amicus briefs for wildlife protection cases since 2020

Pitching Insights

Marris seeks stories that:

• Challenge conservation orthodoxy with peer-reviewed evidence
• Highlight community-led environmental solutions
• Expose unintended consequences of climate technologies

Avoid pitches focused solely on policy debates or technical innovations without ethical analysis. Her recent work shows particular interest in arctic urbanization patterns and AI-assisted biodiversity monitoring.

Gary White is a Pulitzer-nominated journalist and co-founder of Water.org, currently writing for The Ledger and The Wildlife Society Bulletin. His work spans environmental conservation, historical preservation, and philanthropic innovation, with a focus on actionable solutions to ecological crises.

Pitching Insights

• Seek Localized Angles: Prioritize stories with clear ties to community impact, such as grassroots conservation projects.
• Highlight Historical Context: Proposals that link past policies to present challenges resonate strongly.

Based in Lakeland, Florida, White has earned accolades for his investigative rigor and commitment to amplifying underrepresented voices in environmental discourse.

Heidi Wachter is a senior contributor at REI Co-op’s Uncommon Path, where she investigates the symbiotic relationship between ecological preservation and human health. With 20+ years covering environmental science and outdoor culture, her work informs policymakers and empowers recreationalists to advocate for wilderness protection.

Current Focus Areas

• Forest Therapy Research: Documents clinical studies on nature immersion’s impact on chronic illness
• Conservation Policy: Analyzes legislation affecting public lands, with recent coverage of the National Old-Growth Amendment
• Ethical Gear Manufacturing: Profiles brands achieving Climate Neutral certification while maintaining performance standards

Pitching Guidelines

• Do: Include access to field researchers or Indigenous knowledge keepers
• Avoid: Urban sustainability initiatives unrelated to wilderness ecosystems

Wachter’s 2024 ASJA award underscores her influence in reshaping outdoor media’s climate coverage. Pitches should align with REI’s cooperative values, emphasizing community-driven conservation solutions.

As president of The Heartland Institute, James Taylor specializes in environmental and energy policy analysis with a focus on market-driven solutions. His work critiques regulatory overreach while advocating for energy accessibility, particularly in developing economies.

Key Coverage Areas

• Climate Policy Economics: Cost-benefit analyses of emissions regulations
• Energy Market Trends: Impact of subsidies on electricity pricing
• State-Level Legislation: Model bills addressing EPA overreach

Pitching Priorities

• 💡 Seek: State AG lawsuits against federal climate rules
• ⚠️ Avoid: Renewable energy tech case studies
• 📅 Timeliness: Quarterly energy affordability reports

Notable recognition includes the 2017 State Policy Network Communicator Award and repeated CPAC speaking roles. His commentaries have shaped legislative debates in 20+ states through partnerships with ALEC and Americans for Prosperity.

This award-winning environmental photojournalist specializes in:

• Long-term ecological documentation – Minimum 12-month field studies preferred
• Interdisciplinary research visualization – Particularly geology/biology intersections
• Community-based monitoring systems – Indigenous knowledge integration methods

Pitching Preferences

• Accepts 3% unsolicited pitches annually
• Requires pre-existing relationship with research institutions
• Prefers projects with publication partnerships

“The most compelling stories emerge where science and survival intersect.”

We find in Joshua Rapp Learn a rare hybrid of rigorous scientist and poetic storyteller. Based in Washington D.C. with reporting spanning six continents, his work for Hakai Magazine and Smithsonian Institution publications has redefined nature writing through:

• Interdisciplinary Depth: Merging ecology with materials science in pieces like his analysis of Franklin’s anti-counterfeiting techniques
• Conservation Impact: Driving policy changes through investigations into species displacement and habitat fragmentation
• Cultural Sensitivity: Centering Indigenous perspectives in climate reporting, notably in Panamanian road development coverage

Pitching Priorities

Successful story proposals should:

• Integrate ≥2 scientific disciplines with clear real-world applications
• Highlight underreported conservation successes or innovative mitigation strategies
• Incorporate multimedia elements like geospatial mapping or archival material analysis

“The most compelling pitches help me see connections - between past and present, between lab research and field observations, between human communities and ecological systems.”

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.

Key Coverage Areas

• Ecological Investigations: Documents invasive species impacts through longitudinal studies, most recently tracking round goby expansion patterns
• Policy Analysis: Examines transboundary water management agreements between U.S. and Canadian authorities
• Cultural Preservation: Highlights Indigenous conservation practices in Anishinaabe communities

Pitching Insights

• Geographic Focus: Prioritizes stories within the Great Lakes watershed (87% of recent bylines)
• Data Preferences: Requires access to raw environmental datasets or FOIA-obtained documents
• Avoid: Marine fisheries, saltwater ecosystems, or coastal tourism angles

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.

As Spectrum Bay News 9's lead meteorologist, Hanson specializes in translating complex atmospheric data into actionable community guidance. His 8-year career spans:

• Disaster Communication: Developed award-winning formats for hurricane preparedness messaging
• Climate Education: Partners with local schools on weather station network projects
• Technical Innovation: Early adopter of AI-assisted forecasting models

Pitching Priorities

• Seek: Hyperlocal climate impact studies, evacuation route innovations, historical weather pattern analysis
• Avoid: National political angles, purely academic research without implementation pathways

Maya Kapoor is an award-winning environmental journalist covering climate policy, biodiversity, and Indigenous rights for High Country News and Undark Magazine. Her decade of reporting has illuminated the human dimensions of ecological crises, from lithium mining’s impact on tribal lands to the mental health toll of wildfire fighting.

Pitching Insights

• Focus Areas: Climate justice frameworks, Indigenous land stewardship, biodiversity conservation policy
• Avoid: Tech-centric climate solutions without equity analysis, corporate ESG initiatives

“Grounding my work in community experiences isn’t optional—it’s how we build narratives that endure beyond news cycles.”

Kapoor’s recent accolades include facilitating science communication workshops with the National Association of Science Writers and contributing to award-winning collaborative investigations on border wall environmental impacts.

Michael Smith is an award-winning investigative journalist at Spotlight Delaware, where he covers land use policy, environmental impact, and climate resilience. With a career spanning global business reporting and community-focused journalism, he combines data-driven analysis with narratives that center marginalized voices.

Current Focus

• Land Use: Examines zoning laws, urban sprawl, and coastal development’s ecological consequences.
• Environmental Health: Investigates pollution, infrastructure gaps, and policy responses to climate threats.

Pitching Insights

• Localize National Trends: Smith seeks stories linking Delaware’s challenges to broader patterns, such as rising sea levels affecting Mid-Atlantic states.
• Data Transparency: Provide access to municipal records, environmental impact assessments, or health metrics to support pitches.

Achievements

• 2021 Gerald Loeb Award for corporate accountability reporting
• Five Maryland-Delaware-D.C. Press Association awards

Nathanael Johnson is a senior staff writer at Grist, where he investigates the intersection of climate policy, corporate influence, and community impacts. Based in the United States, his reporting combines document-driven exposés with vivid narratives about how environmental decisions shape everyday lives.

Key Coverage Areas

• Energy Sector Corruption: Specializes in tracing utility company lobbying efforts to state legislation, as seen in his award-winning work on Ohio’s nuclear subsidy scandal.
• Climate Adaptation Challenges: Explores systemic responses to warming trends, from school heat closures to agricultural pest migrations.
• Ecological Health Connections: Reports on issues like pollinator decline and pesticide regulation with a focus on regulatory accountability.

Pitching Insights

• Avoid Greenwashing Angles: Johnson prioritizes stories that scrutinize sustainability claims rather than amplify corporate PR.
• Localize Global Trends: Successful pitches ground climate data in specific communities, such as port towns facing rising sea levels.

Awards Snapshot

• AAAS Kavli Science Journalism Award (2021)
• Nieman Foundation Fellowship (2018)
• Peabody Nomination (2020)

Oliver Milman is The Guardian's US environment correspondent specializing in biodiversity collapse and climate policy impacts. His award-winning book The Insect Crisis established him as a leading voice in anthropogenic extinction discourse.

Pitching Insights

• Policy-Driven Ecology: Prioritize stories linking legislation to species vulnerability

Milman's recent High Country News piece demonstrates his focus on administrative pressures on scientific integrity, making FOIA-revealed documents particularly compelling.

Paul Brown is a leading environmental journalist at The Guardian, specializing in climate policy, renewable energy transitions, and global equity issues. With a career spanning NPR and authorship of eight books, his work dissects the intersection of economics, politics, and ecology.

Pitching Tips

• Policy Over Platitudes: Focus on legislative or regulatory angles, such as state-level renewable portfolio standards or international carbon markets.
• Data-Driven Narratives: Pair human stories with datasets from institutions like the World Bank or NOAA to underscore systemic challenges.

Awards Spotlight

• Peabody Award for Radio Documentaries (2005): Honored for NPR series on Arctic warming’s cultural impacts.

As National Geographic's editor-at-large and podcast host, Peter Gwin specializes in environmental conservation, historical exploration, and outdoor adventure journalism. His career-spanning focus on human-nature interactions makes him particularly receptive to stories that:

• Bridge Past and Present: Projects connecting archaeological discoveries to contemporary ecological challenges
• Showcase Field Innovation: Cutting-edge conservation techniques being implemented in remote regions
• Highlight Cultural Preservation: Indigenous knowledge systems informing modern environmental policy

Pitching Priorities

Gwin seeks narratives with strong visual components and opportunities for immersive reporting. Successful pitches often involve:

• Multi-disciplinary research teams open to journalist participation
• Underdocumented ecosystems facing imminent change
• Historical patterns repeating in modern environmental conflicts

Recent accolades including the Overseas Press Club Award and Fulbright Scholarship underscore his commitment to stories that reshape understanding of humanity's relationship with natural systems. Avoid pitches focused on urban environmentalism or celebrity-driven conservation campaigns.

Rachel Becker is CalMatters’ lead water and environmental justice reporter, focusing on how policy decisions impact California’s ecosystems and vulnerable communities. With awards from the Society of Environmental Journalists and Water Education Foundation, her work bridges scientific rigor and human narratives.

Current Focus Areas

• Water Infrastructure: Tracking $7B in drought response spending and desalination debates
• Regulatory Enforcement: Investigating gaps in air/water quality monitoring systems
• Climate Adaptation: Analyzing wildfire/flood prevention tradeoffs

Pitching Guidance

• Do:
  • Localize statewide policies through community case studies
  • Highlight environmental health disparities with medical data
  • Explain technical regulations through visual storytelling
• Avoid:
  • Purely political angles without scientific grounding
  • Speculative climate modeling without current impacts
  • Press-release driven industry innovation stories

Becker’s reporting has prompted three legislative reforms since 2023, including stricter pesticide runoff monitoring requirements. She prioritizes stories exposing systemic inequities in resource allocation.

Roger Payne (1935-2023) redefined marine science communication through groundbreaking cetacean research and advocacy. As principal science contributor to Time and architect of the "Save the Whales" movement, his work blended rigorous bioacoustic studies with compelling narrative storytelling.

Key Coverage Areas

• Marine Behavioral Ecology: 56 years documenting whale communication patterns across 14 species
• Conservation Technology: Pioneered non-invasive tracking methods adopted by 89 nations
• Environmental Policy: Key architect of 1986 International Whaling Commission moratorium

Pitching Insights

"Effective marine storytelling must bridge spectral analysis and human empathy – the math should make hearts beat faster."

Career Highlights

• Founded Ocean Alliance (1971), training 1,200+ marine researchers
• Produced "Songs of the Humpback Whale" (1970), the best-selling nature audio recording in history
• Advised NASA's Voyager Golden Record team on extraterrestrial communication paradigms

As lead environmental reporter for the Los Angeles Times, Rosanna Xia has become the foremost chronicler of California’s climate challenges. Her work sits at the critical intersection of marine science, land use policy, and community resilience.

Core Coverage Areas

• Sea level rise adaptation: Tracking managed retreat strategies from Del Mar to Arcata
• Coastal pollution: Exposing DDT dumping legacy and microplastic infiltration
• Fire-ocean nexus: Documenting wildfire impacts on marine ecosystems

Achievement Highlights

• 2024 PEN/E.O. Wilson Award for science writing
• 2020 Pulitzer Prize finalist for explanatory reporting
• Documentary Out of Plain Sight screened in Congress

Pitching Priorities

• Localized climate impact studies with 10+ year datasets
• Indigenous coastal management practices
• Emerging monitoring technologies (e.g., environmental DNA sampling)

Avoid pitches about international climate accords or speculative geoengineering proposals. Xia’s reporting remains grounded in measurable California impacts and actionable policy solutions.

As a National Geographic staff writer and digital editor, Gibbens specializes in human-nature conflict stories with global implications. Her decade-long career has established her as a leading voice in:

• Wildlife Conservation: Tracking species adaptation to climate shifts
• Disaster Ecology: Analyzing wildfire and extreme weather patterns
• Plastic Pollution: Investigating waste management innovations

Pitching Priorities

• Seeking: Cross-disciplinary environmental solutions, Indigenous ecological knowledge, climate policy analysis
• Avoid: Incremental corporate sustainability updates, speculative climate tech without field testing

“The most compelling pitches combine scientific evidence with human stakes – show me who’s affected and why it matters.”

Zack Budryk is a Washington, D.C.-based journalist currently reporting for MLex, where he analyzes trade regulations and their environmental implications. His work bridges climate science, policy debates, and legal frameworks, offering readers clarity on complex regulatory landscapes.

Key Coverage Areas

• Environmental Law: Track record of dissecting lawsuits and policies affecting sustainability goals.
• Climate Mitigation: Explores nuclear energy, emissions reduction, and international climate agreements.
• Trade Disputes: Examines how antidumping cases and tariffs intersect with green manufacturing.

Pitching Tips

• Data-Driven Stories: Prioritize pitches with peer-reviewed research or exclusive datasets related to decarbonization.
• Policy Nuance: Avoid broad-strokes climate narratives; focus on specific legislation or regulatory changes.

Zoe Loftus-Farren is the managing editor of Earth Island Journal, where she spearheads coverage of environmental justice, climate resilience, and global conservation efforts. With a legal background from UC Berkeley, her work bridges policy analysis and human-centered storytelling, often highlighting marginalized communities’ struggles against ecological degradation.

Pitching Tips

• Focus on Intersectionality: She prioritizes stories that connect environmental issues to race, class, or gender inequities. Example: Her profile of Black Girl Environmentalist founder Wawa Gatheru.
• Global Conservation Contexts: Pitch narratives about biodiversity efforts in conflict zones, akin to her reporting on Ukraine’s national parks.

Achievements

• Elevated Earth Island Journal’s profile through award-winning investigative series.
• Recognized for amplifying grassroots environmental movements in California’s Central Valley.