Mongabay

Mongabay's Year in Review. In 2024, Mongabay marked its 25th anniversary with a year of growth, innovation, and recognition, affirming our position as a leader in delivering news and inspiration from Nature’s frontlines via a global network of local reporters. Some numbers: 📈 Our websites attracted over 36 million visitors 📰 We published over 5,600 stories & 1,500 videos 🎓 We worked with 22 paid fellows in more than a dozen countries ✒️ Our stories carried more than 1,000 different bylines One of the year’s most consequential achievements was the expansion of Mongabay Africa. Our team doubled in size, dramatically increasing our capacity to spotlight underreported stories from a continent disproportionately affected by environmental change. The impact was immediate: traffic to the bureau’s reporting doubled, attracting readers from across Africa and beyond. Innovation was another hallmark of 2024. The launch of Mongabay Data Studio added a powerful, data-driven dimension to our storytelling, helping readers better grasp complex issues. The redesign of our news site increased accessibility through improved search, thematic Special Issues, and multimedia features. Meanwhile, a new short-form news program bridged a gap in breaking environmental coverage, offering timely updates while maintaining our trademark depth. Our stronger embrace of multimedia accelerated with the appointment of a Creative Director to lead video, podcast, and visual storytelling efforts. New initiatives also underscored our commitment to inclusivity: a French-language fellowship for Francophone Africa and a pilot program for Indigenous journalists in the Ecuadorian Amazon gave underrepresented voices a global platform. Recognition grew. The Biophilia Award honored our success in connecting conservation science to public awareness, while a Columbia Journalism Review profile noted our global presence and our ability to uncover stories others overlook. Notably, 73% of contributors reported that their work would not have been published without Mongabay. Our investigative reporting remained a powerful force for change. Revelations about Mennonite-driven deforestation in Suriname halted a 535,000-ha agricultural project. Stories on exploitative agreements in Peru ended an operation targeting Indigenous communities, while exposés on timber laundering in Brazil triggered federal investigations and disrupted a dubious carbon credit scheme. As Jane Goodall, guest of honor at Mongabay’s anniversary celebration, proclaimed, “If you really want to know the truth about an issue, go to Mongabay.” Her words resonated with the year’s achievements. In an era of mounting challenges for nonprofit journalism, our resilience, innovation, and impact chart a bold course for Mongabay’s next quarter-century: delivering transformative journalism that informs, inspires, and drives tangible change.

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 at: https://lnkd.in/e7sr-MXd

Fishing activity on the high seas, beyond the jurisdiction of states, is controlled by many regional fisheries management organizations (RFMOs), which manage fishing in roughly 91% of the world's oceans. But who holds them accountable? How do they set rules? How can journalists cover these organizations' work and increase transparency? Find out on the latest Mongabay webinar for journalists. Joining the panel is Mongabay staff writer Malavika Vyawahare, Grantly Galland, project director of international fisheries at the Pew Charitable Trust, and Darius Campbell, executive secretary of the NEAFC, an RMFO that manages fishing activity in the Northeast Atlantic Ocean.

As we await results from tomorrow's election, one of the most important in recent U.S. history, the implications for the planet and its future feel more pressing than ever. No matter who prevails, our work at Mongabay remains profoundly significant. The outcome will undoubtedly influence policy shifts impacting ecosystems, climate action, and biodiversity, potentially altering the course of environmental stewardship in the United States and around the globe. Yet, regardless of the result, we stand at a pivotal juncture where our team's collective efforts in reporting on the planet’s most vulnerable ecosystems, species, and communities remain vital. Each story we tell, each issue we uncover, and every audience we reach becomes an act of preservation in the face of immense pressures. We’re at Mongabay because we understand that the threats to biodiversity and climate stability are not abstract—they are urgent, interwoven realities. The ecosystems that support life are fragile, and the choices society makes in the coming years will echo for generations. As we press onward, the world will continue to need transparent, courageous reporting on environmental issues to drive accountability and inspire action. At Mongabay, our role in shaping an informed, engaged public has never been more essential. Together, we have an opportunity—and a responsibility—to contribute to the understanding of our world, to shine a light on those working to protect our shared natural heritage, and to document the stories of resilience that remind us what’s still possible. I thank our staff, our contributors, and the broader network of environmental reporters for your commitment, focus, and dedication. The stakes are high, but so is our potential impact.