For immediate release:
Media Contact: media@greentwopointzero.org
Environmental journalists of color experience burnout, safety concerns, and underrepresentation in newsrooms
WASHINGTON, April 16, 2025 – Journalists of color are experiencing safety concerns and underrepresentation in newsrooms. The report by Green 2.0 and the Society of Environmental Journalists (SEJ) also found that 80% of environmental journalists of color are struggling with burnout or have in the course of their careers.
Behind the Byline: Voices from Environmental Journalism sheds new light on the increasingly vital field of environmental journalism. It combines a survey of newsroom demographics with a qualitative survey of the experiences of journalists of color.
“We need culturally competent reporting to build trust and bridge information gaps, especially in the frontline communities most impacted by environmental issues,” said Aparna Mukherjee, Executive Director of SEJ.
Communities of color are disproportionately exposed to environmental pollution and the effects of climate change. Yet the report found that 19.5% of environmental journalists are people of color, compared with 40% of the U.S. population.
The report also found the following among environmental journalists of color:
- Burnout is common: 80% of environmental journalists of color are currently experiencing or have experienced burnout in their career.
- Safety is an issue: 29% of respondents said they did not feel safe as a journalist of color in the environmental field, which could be for a variety of reasons.
- Wages matter: There is an even split between environmental journalists of color who believe they do and do not make a liveable wage, both at 42%, while 14% remain neutral.
- Lack of representation impacts reporting: 74% of environmental journalists of color strongly agreed that a lack of diversity in journalism impacts coverage of environmental issues.
“This report provides a window into understanding the challenges the field is facing and how newsrooms can listen to the experiences of underrepresented journalists to address gaps in reporting and retain environmental journalists,” said Adriane Alicea, Executive Director of Green 2.0.
“It’s imperative for newsrooms to support journalists from all backgrounds to report stories accurately from traditionally underrepresented communities to rebuild trust in the media,” said Lucia Priselac, Director of the Uproot Project, a network of environmental journalists of color. “So many journalists, especially journalists of color, are facing burnout because of the lack of support from newsrooms, yet carrying the pressure from their communities to ensure that their voices are heard as part of the climate crisis.”
To view the full report please click HERE.
###
ABOUT GREEN 2.0: Green 2.0 is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization. We serve as an accountability partner championing the environmental sector’s commitment to an effective and equitable movement. Through actionable research and resources, we drive best practices so that all communities can thrive and lead on environmental issues. To learn more about Green 2.0, please visit greentwopointzero.org.
ABOUT SEJ: The Society of Environmental Journalists (SEJ) is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit educational organization whose mission is to strengthen the quality, reach and viability of journalism that advances public understanding of environmental issues. Today, SEJ’s membership includes more than 1,400 journalists and academics working in every type of news media in the United States, Canada, Mexico and 46 other countries. Please visit SEJ’s website to learn more.