In Crisis: The Climate and Local News

The editorial and natural landscapes in the United States will never look the same; reaching readers is in steep decline, and the environment is being redefined in ways never witnessed in recordable human history.

Local news deserts are leaving informational shortfalls on American doorsteps, with almost 1,800 newspapers closed in the last 15 years. Our backyards, meanwhile, are on fire and underwater, as living with the effects of climate change has become common. 

Remaining newsrooms have an immense task of reporting on climate threats within communities as cost-cutting measures reduce storytelling resources and leave audiences less informed. Visual departments have been disproportionally slashed compared to other newsroom departments during these cutbacks – all at a time when audiences engages with visually driven content across digital platforms by sharing, commenting and liking. 

Packaging photographs with stories remains the predominant editorial method of delivering news to readers – now, the practice is in jeopardy when it is needed most as the climate crisis worsens.

Under these circumstances, the launch of Deep Indigo creates a visual storytelling resource for newsrooms and their audiences. The nonprofit ensures that visual context to complex environmental issues is available where and when it is needed.