Inadequate regulations, infrastructure failures and developments, water quality and quantity, and climate migration were just some of the many pressing Great Lakes issues covered collectively by the Great Lakes News Collaborative over the past year.
With timely stories set to a backdrop of visually compelling photos and video, the goal for the Great Lakes News Collaborative was to give voice to what residents all over the region are already seeing at their doorsteps.
And now the Michigan Chapter of the Sierra Club is acknowledging that work with their 2021 environmental journalism award.
The Great Lakes News Collaborative is a joint project between Bridge Michigan, Circle of Blue, Great Lakes Now and Michigan Radio. It is funded by the Charles Stewart Mott Foundation.
“At a time when independent journalism is increasingly challenged by limited reporting staff and funding, the Collaborative is providing in-depth, multi-outlet coverage of critical issues, including lead in the drinking water of Benton Harbor residents, issues around the Enbridge Line 5 pipeline and Great Lakes water diversion threats,” said Gail Philbin, director of the Sierra Club Michigan Chapter.
Great Lakes Now stories produced as part of the collaborative include Green Infrastructure: Cities around the Great Lakes plan for a changing future, Water Access: As moratoria on shutoffs end, old problems return to the forefront and The Battle Over Line 5 Goes International. Check out all the stories on Great Lakes Now’s Great Lakes News Collaborative page.
“DPTV is honored to receive this recognition as part of the journalism collaborative covering urgent Great Lakes and drinking water issues,” said Rich Homberg, DPTV president and CEO. “We previously earned this award for our reporting on one of Detroit’s most polluted neighborhoods. We’re proud that our expanding and impactful work, with great media partners, is being honored this year as well.”
Other people acknowledged by the Sierra Club Michigan Chapter in their awards this year include Larry Bell – their Environmentalist of the Year – and Stephanie Cepak, who is also being awarded for environmental journalism.
The official ceremony for the award is set to take place virtually at 1 p.m. on Saturday, Feb. 5.
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