To SEJ's Members,
I've never dreamed of joining a board, but I have, like many reporters, believed strongly in the possibility of change. I began freelancing while pursuing a degree in mass communications in college. From the start, social justice and human rights issues have fueled my passion for journalism. I look to elevate voices from historically and intentionally marginalized communities. It only took my first full-time journalism job to quickly recognize how human rights are inextricably linked to the environment.
To me, the Society of Environmental Journalists represents many reporters covering what I view as the most consequential problem of my own generation — and every generation that follows. I'm sure it comes as no surprise that I'm referring to climate change. At 27, I've been a full-time journalist for about 5 years, telling stories primarily about the environment in Louisiana. I bounced around from newsroom to newsroom, starting in print and traditional newspapers, before most recently entering the welcoming world of public radio at WWNO and WRKF, the NPR member stations in New Orleans and Baton Rouge.
While I was aware of SEJ in my earliest years, my first real interaction came when I was selected to take part in the inaugural class of the Science, Environment and Health Reporting Fellowship — or SHERF — in 2021. Even though much of the fellowship turned virtual for safety during the pandemic, the experience was transformative. Connecting with other early-career journalists, especially those of color, was particularly powerful. At times, the field of journalism, let alone environmental journalism, can feel intimidating to navigate alone, especially as a young person and a Black woman. I remember Googling for other environmental journalists of color, feeling isolated in a white male-dominated newsroom. That’s when I joined Uproot as it was just getting started.
I regard community as one of SEJ’s greatest strengths. I’ve attended two SEJ conferences so far, and experienced nothing but warmth and a sincere dedication to our collective mission to cover our planet as best we can. Nevertheless, a distinct lack of diverse faces in the room remains. I intend to run for the Board of Directors to take part in growing SEJ’s membership to include more people that look like me and more people that don’t. I want to volunteer to give back to an organization that has afforded me numerous opportunities within just a few years, and help guide the future for a growing generation of environment reporters. I believe that the future of SEJ revolves around collaboration and intentionality. After spending almost three years volunteering for Lede, a local journalism nonprofit in New Orleans, my dream would be to see a similar program created to help diversify the storytelling for high schoolers or college students without a clear path into environmental journalism.
I stumbled into the beat. I want to see others sprint to it.
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