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MSU Knight Center, CLACS to host International Symposium on Democracy and Environmental Communication in Colombia

BY ANNA BARNES & SHEALYN PAULIS

The Knight Center for Environmental Journalism and the Center for Latin American and Caribbean Studies at Michigan State University (MSU) will co-organize an international symposium on environmental communication and democracy on May 4, 2026, in Chía, Colombia.

Official poster of the symposium

The event, Democracy and Environmental Communication in Latin America, hosted at the Universidad de La Sabana, is the second symposium of the Red Latinoamericana de Estudios en Comunicación Ambiental (Red LECA). The event follows the network’s inaugural symposium held last year in East Lansing, Michigan.

The symposium will examine counter-hegemonic perspectives in research at the intersection of democratic processes and environmental communication, with particular attention to the underrepresentation of Latin American perspectives in international academic spaces. Systematic barriers, such as language and emphasis on work produced in the Global North, prevent researchers from being included in global conversations. Additionally, the availability of funding is a stark contrast for academics in the Global South compared to their counterparts.

The meeting will also mark the official launch of RedLECA, an international network connecting Latin American environmental communication scholars to develop research projects, share teaching innovations, facilitate the relationship between academics and practitioners and contribute to societal change.

Through collaboration and the uplifting of these perspectives, the RedLECA network aims to build a more inclusive space for environmental communication research, said founding member and professor of environmental journalism at MSU, Dr. Bruno Takahashi. Continue reading →

Film festival showcases Journalism School water documentary

By Anna Barnes

An incomplete, 10-minute version of the documentary I’m co-directing, WealthWashed, was accepted into Skyfire Film Festival’s inaugural environmental film fest in Arizona.

The project received financial support from the Knight Center for Environmental Journalism.

WealthWashed is a documentary that traces Michigan’s complex relationship with its greatest asset: water. What begins as a story of recreation on the lakes shifts into a deeper look at access, equity and the pressures of climate migration.

Through voices from across the state, the film uncovers how climate gentrification is already taking shape in Michigan and why protecting our water is key to becoming a true model for climate resilience.

After the screening of WealthWashed, Anna Barnes, one of the documentary’s directors, participated in a Q&A session with the audience.

I was invited by the organizers of the Skyfire Film Festival in Arizona to participate in a March Q&A session about the film.

In addition to myself, the WealthWashed team consists of co-director Meg Vandermark, videographer Milo Lucas, videographer Yixuan Li and Lindsay Tague, the editor and producer.

WealthWashed was made possible by Professor of Practice Troy Hale’s Advanced Documentary Filmmaking course at Michigan State University.

You can check out our documentary website here and our instagram here. We will be announcing screenings in the East Lansing area on these platforms soon. Continue reading →

High schools receive environmental journalism grants

By Isabella Figueroa Nogueira

The Knight Center has awarded grants to four Michigan high schools to support collaboration between their journalism and environmental science classes. Their projects bring together scientific research and student storytelling while also connecting schools with professional mentors who guide the work.

The grants go to:

  • Manchester Junior/Senior High School in Manchester for a project centered on its long- running greenhouse program. Environmental science students grow and care for plants while learning sustainable practices, and journalism students document the process through stories, photo essays and video reports. The content will be shared through school publications, social media and local outlets, providing information to the community about sustainable agriculture and student work.

The teachers are Randy Smith and Carla Zygner.

  • The School at Marygrove in Detroit for a project focused on studying a natural area known as The Grove. Environmental science students research the health of the ecosystem and track environmental changes over time, while journalism students create multimedia stories to make those findings accessible to a broader audience. The project aims to raise awareness and encourage better environmental decision-making in the community

The teachers are Kerry Williams and Alistair Bomphray. Continue reading →

From MSU student to media leader: Susan Goldberg returns to inspire future journalists

By Isabella Figueroa Nogueira

Award-winning journalist Susan Goldberg, the president and CEO of GBH and former editor-in-chief of National Geographic, returned to the MSU campus to speak with students, faculty and community members at the Neal Shine Ethics Lecture.

Susan Goldberg speaking on March 10th at MSU’s WKAR

Goldberg’s visit was part of the Knight Center for Environmental Journalism’s commemoration of the 30th anniversary of environmental journalism at MSU.

Her talk at the WKAR TV studio focused on the power of storytelling and the responsibility journalists have to deliver accurate, meaningful information to the public.

“There is nothing more important than telling accurate, important, timely stories that shine a light into dark corners so problems can be fixed,” Goldberg told the audience.

The annual lecture honors the legacy of Neal Shine, a former publisher and editor of the Detroit Free Press who championed ethical journalism and public service reporting.

Goldberg’s talk, “Storytelling that Matters,” centered on how journalists can better communicate complicated issues such as science and climate change. She outlined principles for effective storytelling, including finding ways to make audiences care, sparking curiosity and focusing on solutions instead of only highlighting problems. Continue reading →