The Columbia Journalism Review (CJR), one of the most authoritative and respected voices in journalism, recently profiled Mongabay.
The piece, written by Lauren Watson, provides an in-depth look at how our nonprofit newsroom navigates the challenges of reporting on conservation and environmental issues globally, often in high-risk areas.
Key points from the article include:
🌍 International presence: We operate in six languages, with more than 100 staff in 30 countries and over 1,000 freelance journalists across 80 countries.
⚡ Focus on impact: Our decentralized structure enables us to cover critical underreported stories. According to a funder’s review, “73% of the articles Mongabay published in the past year were stories that had otherwise gone unreported.”
🛟 Emphasis on safety: Reporting in high-risk regions requires extensive preparation. As highlighted in the piece, “The greatest concerns among Mongabay’s leadership are the safety of local reporters, especially freelancers, and the impact of their coverage on sources.”
💡 Innovative storytelling: We pair investigative reporting with visual tools like satellite imagery and interactive maps, while using multimedia formats such as videos and explainers to enhance reach and understanding.
💲 Financial independence: With a diverse range of funders—none contributing more than 9% of our revenue—we maintain editorial integrity and avoid overreliance on any single donor. “It gives me the power to walk away from any grant or say ‘no’ to any funder,” I told Watson.
🌈 Solutions-oriented journalism: We’ve recently expanded coverage that goes beyond solely identifying problems, offering actionable solutions for policymakers and stakeholders.
CJR’s recognition underscores the vital role of independent, nonprofit journalism in fostering accountability and driving meaningful change.
For funders looking to support impactful journalism, this profile highlights why investing in Mongabay’s mission matters.
The full article is available here: Not if, but how
