Ten journalists have been selected to attend Metcalf Institute’s 2019 Annual Science Immersion Workshop for Journalists. The Fellows serve U.S. and international audiences and were selected from a competitive pool of applicants representing 34 nations around the globe.
The workshop, held at the University of Rhode Island Graduate School of Oceanography, June 2 – 7, will explore ways in which climate change and other human activities affect global water supplies.
Local news has a significant influence on a community’s ability to make informed decisions about environmental issues, from planning for flood hazards to the adoption of policies to curb water pollution. In spite of the important role for local news, small to medium-sized news outlets have limited resources to support their journalists’ professional development. With that in mind, Metcalf Institute prioritized the selection of Fellows from local and regional news organizations for the 2019 Annual Workshop. These selections are intended to emphasize the importance of consistent, high-quality reporting on local environmental issues.
Fund a Fellow Huge Success
Metcalf Institute extends a special thanks to all the donors who supported Metcalf’s Fund a Fellow initiative this year. The initiative was a huge success, exceeding our expectations! Their generous donations will more than cover the entire $8000 cost for one Fellow to attend the 21st Annual Science Immersion Workshop. Learn more.
The 2019 Metcalf Annual Workshop Fellows are:
- Clifton Adcock, senior investigative reporter/editor, The Frontier in Tulsa, OK
- Robert M. Anthes, assistant managing editor, Community News Service in Lawrence, NJ
- Mohammed El-Said, editor, Daily News Egypt in Giza, Egypt
- Chloe A. Johnson, coastal environment reporter, Post and Courier, Charleston, SC
- Debra Utacia Krol, freelance journalist in Phoenix, AZ
- Josephine Okojie, environment reporter, BusinessDay Newspaper in Lagos, Nigeria
- Ezra David Romero, environment reporter, Capital Public Radio in Sacramento, CA
- Molly Samuel, environment reporter, WABE in Atlanta, GA
- Christian von Preysing-Barry, reporter, KRGV-TV in Weslaco, TX
- Kate Yoder, editor, Grist in Seattle, WA
Focus on Climate Change and Water Resources
The Fellows will gain hands-on experience and insights from leading scientists, natural resource managers, and private and non-profit sector practitioners who are working to understand and project the interactions of climate change and water resources and investigating effective ways to communicate these challenges. They’ll discuss links between water and climate systems, discover the value of long-term data collection, and explore techniques for measuring and addressing water quality and quantity problems that affect communities and aquatic ecosystems.
The Fellows will also:
- Gain a deeper understanding of how scientists conduct research and handle scientific uncertainty
- Develop the skills and confidence to interpret and translate the language of scientific journals for news audiences
- Build confidence in their abilities to discern the credibility of scientific sources
- Board a research vessel to study the impacts of rising water temperatures on ecosystems and fish populations
- Discover new ways to write about global change to build audience understanding and engagement
- Cultivate new sources by interacting with leading researchers and policy experts in an informal, off-deadline atmosphere
- Network and develop lasting relationships with journalists from around the globe