Exploring Environmental Justice through Journalism

This workshop will serve as an introduction to environmental justice through the lens of contemporary journalism (both narrative and photo journalism), exploring ways that marginalized communities and communities of color have been disproportionately burdened with environmental risks, and afforded unequal access to environmental benefits. We will look at events playing out across the country and around the world where quality of life has been negatively impacted by a lack of access to clean air, water, land, healthy food, open space, and public transit. We’ll also look at efforts to remedy such inequities. Magazine articles and multimedia will serve as a roadmap to exploring these issues and their impacts. Along the way, we’ll discuss the components of good journalism, looking at how stories can raise awareness and foster cross-cultural understanding and empathy. Through considering journalistic treatments of environmental justice, students will learn communication strategies for breaking down bias and translating differing points of view. They’ll gain insight into how to communicate effectively with diverse audiences, while honing their own communication skills.