DONOVAN QUINTERO
Hello,
My name is Donovan Quintero. I am currently a Reporter and a Photographer at the Navajo Times newspaper located in Window Rock, Arizona, the capital of the great Navajo Nation tribe. I am writing this letter to state my interest in becoming a member of the board for the Society of Environmental Journalists.
The Navajo Times newspaper covers a large area of land that spans into three states — Arizona, New Mexico and Utah. Coverage includes everything from high school and professional sports, to hard-hitting news and environmental impacts, to features on our local community fairs and rodeos.
In 2018, I wrote an article, titled Making It Rain, on drought. It was based on NASA’s 2010 study on dust from northeastern Arizona that was contributing to early snowmelt, which affected runoff. The research for the story took several months to investigate and photograph. This story awarded me with my first-ever Nina Mason Pulliam Environmental Journalism Award in 2018. At the time, I had no idea what kind of doors the award would open for me. The recognition provided a chance to become a member of the Society of Environmental Journalists, which I have been a member of for more than a year.
Upon becoming a member, I attended my first SEJ conference in Fort Collins, Colo., in October 2019. The experience was nothing short of amazing. The people and the atmosphere motivated me to continue covering environmental issues like the long term effects of droughts, management of forest fires using Navajo traditional methods, here on the Navajo Nation.
As a Navajo journalist, it is important to me that these environmental issues impacting Indigenous people and communities are thoroughly researched and covered by a local member who can communicate in the community’s respective language. Community and on-the-ground research is often lacking in environmental stories, especially in Indigenous communities where families are directly and heavily impacted by the lack of environmental protection.
Following the conference, I began realizing there were not many other Indigenous journalists in attendance. After many discussions with fellow SEJ member, Rico Moore, we agreed Indigenous country lacked coverage. This motivates me to vie for a chance to become more involved with SEJ as a board member.
Becoming a board member of SEJ presents an opportunity to encourage more Indigenous journalists, and journalists who cover environmental issues, to become honored members of the SEJ.
I thank you for the opportunity to “throw in my hat” as an SEJ board member candidate.
Sincerely,
Donovan Quintero
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