Reflections on 20 years of Mongabay News

This month marks 20 years since I started the Mongabay news service.

At the time, it was just me—writing, editing, and publishing from a desk with more ambition than resources. The idea was simple: provide consistent, fact-based environmental reporting that filled a gap I saw between advocacy groups and mainstream media. Coverage of tropical forests and biodiversity was rare, especially in Western outlets. Advocacy publications often told people what to think, while mainstream media—when it covered these issues—did so sporadically. I wanted to offer something different: journalism that informed, without prescribing, guided by evidence rather than ideology.

One of my first articles was about the beauty and importance of tropical forests—a theme that still runs through much of our reporting today. In the early days, I toiled to produce several hundred articles a year. Today, thanks to an extraordinary global team of journalists, editors, and collaborators, we’re on track to publish more than 7,000 stories this year across six languages—and soon, even more. Our work now covers everything from ocean science to Indigenous rights to conservation solutions, but the core idea remains unchanged.

While the media landscape has shifted dramatically over the years—new platforms, changing algorithms, different ways of reaching people—our commitment to high-quality, original reporting has stayed steady. Trends come and go. Trust is what endures.

Over the past two decades, here are a few lessons I’ve learned:

Think first about your audience.

Focus where you can add the most value.

Stay adaptable, but don’t chase trends blindly.

Own your mistakes—credibility depends on it.

Lead with empathy, not instruction.

Embrace nuance; environmental issues are rarely black and white.

Share solutions, not just problems—hope has power.

Understand that progress is seldom linear.

Listen more than you speak.

Keep going—perseverance often outpaces perfection.

Be resourceful. Scarcity can drive innovation.

Stay active. Movement often sparks fresh thinking and unexpected ideas.

Iterate constantly. Success grows from learning.

Consistency matters.

Let impact guide your decisions, not vanity metrics.

Recognize that timing and kindness often play outsized roles.

Mongabay’s growth has been anything but solitary. It’s been shaped by so many—brave reporters risking their safety to tell important stories, editors refining every detail, partners who believed in our vision, and readers like you who care deeply about the planet. I’m deeply grateful for all of it.

Two decades in, Two decades later, I’m still learning, still believing, and still hopeful.

There’s so much more to do, and the need for trusted, independent environmental journalism has never been greater. Thank you for being part of this journey—and for helping Mongabay continue to grow, evolve, and make a difference.