For immediate release: Contact: Carey Gillam, managing editor of The New Lede, 913-526-6190 or [email protected]
WASHINGTON – The New Lede, a nonprofit environmental news site created as a journalism initiative of the Environmental Working Group, officially launches today with the goal of spotlighting underreported stories affecting the planet and public health.
The news outlet aims to provide investigative reporting, data-driven analyses, profiles, commentary and other articles on a range of topics often ignored or inadequately covered by existing media outlets.
The New Lede operates independently of EWG’s advocacy and communications units and pledges to “drive an evolution of the environmental news landscape with a strict adherence to objectivity, and an advocacy only for the truth.”
One of the driving forces behind the creation of The New Lede is a mainstream media landscape in which newsrooms are shrinking and a devotion to environmental reporting is scarce, particularly within regional and local newspapers.
“I saw a need to make sure important environmental stories are being covered,” said EWG President and co-founder Ken Cook. “We see disturbing trends in the world of local journalism and a severe lack of coverage of critical issues impacting communities across the country, which poses a threat to democracy, environmental law and science. With The New Lede, it is our goal to correct this growing imbalance.”
“There are too many people unaware of the serious pollution issues their communities are facing, whether it be the impacts of the climate crisis, air and water contamination, agriculture, or other serious challenges that put them at risk,” Cook said. “The New Lede will bring objectivity to its reporting and consider competing points of view but will never shy away from seeking the truth about threats to our natural resources and human health.”
The editorial team is led by longtime investigative journalist and author Carey Gillam, who spent 17 years as a senior correspondent for Reuters covering agriculture and its effect on the environment. More recently, Gillam has written for The Guardian, where she has developed a portfolio of work on a range of environmental issues.
Gillam, who is The New Lede’s managing editor, has penned two widely acclaimed books, including “The Monsanto Papers: Deadly Secrets, Corporate Corruption, and One Man’s Search for Justice,” which was released in March 2021. Her 2017 book, “Whitewash,” won the Rachel Carson Book Award from the Society of Environmental Journalists.
Freelance reporters welcome!
The New Lede welcomes pitches from experienced freelance journalists with knowledge of, and insight into important environmental matters and will also be hiring full-time reporters.
The New Lede is particularly interested in story pitches about issues and industries involving air and water quality, agriculture, food, climate change and energy.
Story sharing
Stories published by The New Lede site are licensed under Creative Commons and can be republished in original form by other news sites or nonprofits if they include attribution to The New Lede and link to the original article, and carry the author’s byline.
The New Lede will provide a free newsletter through Substack that will deliver weekly highlights from the news site.
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The Environmental Working Group is a nonprofit, non-partisan organization that empowers people to live healthier lives in a healthier environment. Through research, advocacy and unique education tools, EWG drives consumer choice and civic action.