Journalism

What is it?

The practice of communicating information to the public, with a focus on reporting news, telling stories, and analyzing events. Journalists use articles, videos, and more to inform, educate, and sometimes influence public opinion and keep people updated with what is going on in the world.

Median annual salary
$ 0
People employed U.S.
0
Job growth score (out of 100)
0

What would you do?

Investigate stories visiting locations and observing events firsthand
Conduct interviews with scientists, activists, and policymakers to gather information
Write articles, produce videos, and create multimedia content to communicate issues
Fact-checking data and edit articles to data to ensure accuracy
Collaborate with organizations to raise awareness about innovation

Relationship to climate change

Journalism is key to informing the public and policymakers about climate change and helping drive action toward sustainability and emission reductions.
To fight climate change, journalists…
Raise awareness of climate issues
• Report on extreme weather, wildfires, and rising sea levels to highlight climate impacts
• Cover renewable energy projects, electric vehicles, and sustainable practices
• Investigate corporate emissions and environmental violations
• Share stories of local and global climate activism to inspire change
Influence policy
• Explain the consequences of new laws or regulations on carbon emissions
• Highlight gaps in government or corporate environmental accountability
• Provide evidence-based reporting that supports climate legislation
Promote sustainable practices
• Advise advocacy groups on climate policy messaging
• Study why people resist behavior change or climate policies
• Assess the psychological effects of climate policies and public initiatives
Support climate science communication
• Translate complex research into clear writing for the public
• Collaborate with scientists to accurately report on climate data
• Produce multimedia content that emphasizes carbon reduction strategies and climate solutions
Use journalism for these climate change solutions…
More solutions

Get Started

Journalism is a great fit if you’re interested in writing, storytelling, data, problem-solving, and breaking down information. Explore classes and projects to get started.
Recommended classes
High school:
English (H, AP Language & Composition, AP Literature)
Journalism / Newspaper

Environmental Science (H, AP Environmental Science)

Biology (H, AP Biology)
Chemistry (H, AP Chemistry)
Computer Science / Digital Media (helpful for multimedia reporting)

AP Seminar
AP Research

College:
Journalism / Communications
Multimedia Reporting / Digital Storytelling
Data Journalism / Statistics
Science Writing

Environmental Science or Studies
Climate Policy or Sustainability courses
Write a series of articles or blog posts about local climate issues (flooding, pollution, or energy use).
Interview environmental scientists or activists and produce a podcast or video series.
Track and report on a local sustainability initiative, like a recycling program or solar project.
Analyze environmental data (temperature trends, air quality, water quality) and create an infographic or article.
Investigate a company’s carbon footprint and present findings in a newsletter or digital story.
BLS: Reporters, Correspondents, and Broadcast News Analysts
NYT Climate and Environment
Best Practices for Climate Journalism
Stanford Sustainability News
Good and bad climate journalism with Denise Hruby

Written by Ryan Saket
Palo Alto High School (2027)