Headline Headwinds:
A Climate Journalism Forum for IJNR Alumni
October 5-7, 2026
Western Montana
You probably already know the stats: Every human and every habitat on the planet is experiencing the consequences of a warming world in some way, yet U.S. climate journalism makes up barely half of 1 percent of all news media reporting. Even more alarming, it’s on the decline.
Across our industry, from The Washington Post to CBS News to NPR, climate teams are being dismantled. Right when information about the causes of our current reality and the consequences of policies and mitigation efforts are most crucial, the news industry is dropping the ball.
So, what’s to be done? We thought we’d ask you!
IJNR’s Climate Journalism Forum will bring 40 IJNR alumni to the University of Montana's Flathead Lake Biological Station from October 5-7, to tap the collective wit and wisdom of our accomplished alums and explore ways to get climate change back in the news. Like all our programming, we won’t just focus on the problems. We’re equally interested in solutions. We want to hear from intrepid reporters and innovative news outlets that prioritize climate coverage. We’ll explore successful approaches, new platforms and metrics for measuring impact. Because this is IJNR, we will of course hear from researchers and get out into the field to learn how warming is impacting the irreplaceable Flathead Lake.
With the ranks of IJNR alumni now approaching 1,500, we hope the Forum can be more than a thought exercise. By convening a few dozen of our past Fellows for two days of robust conversation, collaborative brainstorming, and a healthy dose of camaraderie, we truly believe we can move the needle on climate coverage.
Participating Alumni
Ali Van Fleet
Climate Science Communicator/Meteorologist
Ashley Braun
Freelance Science and Environmental Journalist
Breanna Draxler
Editor, The Climate Blueprint; Interim Climate and Science Editor, High Country News
Brett Walton
Reporter, Circle of Blue
Bryce Gray
Energy and Environment Reporter, St. Louis Post-Dispatch
Caroline Gutman
Freelance Photographer and Producer
Cheryl Katz
Independent Science and Environmental Journalist
Christian von Preysing Barry
Knight Science Journalism Fellow
Christopher Preston
Author; Professor of Philosophy, University of Montana
Courtney Flatt
Senior Environmental Correspondent, Northwest Public Broadcasting
Daniel Wolfe
Freelance Data and Visual Journalist
Ed Jahn
Managing Editor for Story and Content, PGE; Past Executive Producer, Oregon Public Broadcasting
Grace Van Deelen
Science and Environmental Reporter, Eos
Gulnaz Khan
Climate Editor, TED Talks
Izzy Ross
Senior Digital News Manager, KNKX
Jake Bolster
Multimedia Journalist, Inside Climate News
Jeniffer Solis
Energy and Environment Reporter, Nevada Current
Jennifer Stratton
Director, Catchlight Local; Multimedia Journalist
Joan Meiners
Climate News and Storytelling Reporter, The Arizona Republic
Jordan Gass-Pooré
Investigative Journalist & Podcast Producer
Kendra Pierre-Louis
Independent Climate Reporter
Kirk Siegler
National Correspondent, NPR
Kylie Mohr
Correspondent, High Country News; National Parks Editor, SFGATE
Laura Paskus
Freelance Journalist and Author
Lauren Sommer
Correspondent, NPR Climate Desk
Lois Parshley
Independent Investigative Journalist
Luke Runyon
Co-Director, The Water Desk, University of Colorado’s Center for Environmental Journalism
Mary Catherine O'Connor
Independent Journalist, Editor, and Audio Producer
Mary Hoff
Freelance Writer and Editor; Co-Founder, Ensia
Max Levy
Freelance Science Journalist
Melba Newsome
Independent Journalist
Michael Hawthorne
Investigative Journalist, Chicago Tribune
Michael Kodas
Senior Editor, Inside Climate News; Author
Nadia White
Director, Master's Program in Environmental Science and Natural Resource Journalism, University of Montana (retired 2026); IJNR Truste
Neel Dhanesha
Staff Writer, Nieman Journalism Lab; Independent Writer and Audio Producer
Sara Peach
Editor-in-Chief, Yale Climate Connections
Seth Borenstein
National Science Writer, The Associated Press
Susan Phillips
Senior Reporter and Editor, WHYY Climate News Desk
Virginia Gewin
Independent Science Journalist
Warren Cornwall
Freelance Science Journalist; Correspondent, Science
Non-Alumni Participants
Frank Allen
Co-founder of IJNR and first Executive Director
Maggie Allen
IJNR Director of Operations (retired)
Chris Siegler
Past IJNR Trustee
Angela Evans
Director of Communities of Practice, Solutions Journalism Network
All four members of the IJNR Staff
This program is supported by the Llewellyn Foundation, the Outrider Foundation, and past IJNR trustee Chris Siegler.