My Nonprofit Reviews
Bruce Lieberman
Review for Institutes For Journalism & Natural Resources, Madison, WI, USA
IJNR is a fantastic organization, vitally needed at a time when media outlets are scaling back on staff as well as professional development opportunities for reporters and editors. Covering environmental issues well demands knowledge of the subject covered, a critical eye, and an appreciation for the complexity of viewpoints and perspectives. IJNR expedition fellowships take journalists into the field and into the heart of many of the most important environmental issues of the day. I was a fellow in November 2009 in the American Southwest, specifically New Mexico, to study how this region is emblematic of the nation's reliance on 20th century sources of energy, such as highly polluting coal, and at the same time at the cutting edge of developing alternative sources of energy, including wind and solar. We toured wind farms by air, talked with coal executives, and saw how Native American communities are adopting 21st century solar energy technology to improve their economic standing -- among many other activities. The staff of IJNR was wonderful -- organized, supportive and incredibly inspiring. I met some terrific journalists, and two years later I still keep in touch with many of them.
More Feedback
I've personally experienced the results of this organization in...
I've developed a greater appreciation for the biggest energy issues the nation faces, and I made many new friends, professionally and personally. I've written about my experiences at IJNR for Yale University, and I continue to work on new article ideas for Scientific American and other media outlets.
If I had to make changes to this organization, I would...
Extend the expedition fellowships by a few days, and expand the reach and frequency of these fellowships -- all of which requires additional financial support.
