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Dear ,
Every year at this time, the Desk looks back over what it’s accomplished in the past 12 months. That, of course, includes the projects and stories we edit and distribute to news outlets across the country. But we also take a look at whether we’re supporting local journalism as well.
This past year, the 15 reporters who worked with the Desk produced at least 978 stories for their local news outlets. That averages out to more than one story per week per reporter on a topic with local resonance.
Some recent examples show why this work matters:
In Louisiana, Elise Plunk has been covering this year’s state legislative session, focusing on environmental measures. Her coverage has included news about a new ban on mylar balloon releases, efforts to remove fluoride from drinking water, and bills that would have given local governments more say over carbon dioxide sequestration projects.
In Wisconsin, Madeline Heim has been reporting on an increase in ER visits from tick bites and how manure runoff caused a major fish kill.
And in Tennessee, Cassandra Stephenson has reported on an independent study that found South Memphis neighborhoods are being exposed to dangerous levels of air pollution despite the federal government’s claims to the contrary.
Local stories are the backbone of journalism. By talking to people in their communities, reporters can spot trends, check whether policies are working and see if claims are true. They gather the facts.
These facts will feed into future Desk stories. But that’s not the primary reason we support local journalism. We see the Desk’s role as growing agricultural and environmental journalism throughout the basin, and that includes helping newsrooms do the “shoe leather” reporting that local communities need.
Every story those efforts turn into — whether it’s read by millions across the basin or just those in one community — is a success.
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