Sometimes people forget that journalism is a public service. Amid the demands of daily news, even journalists can lose sight of that mission.
But we are here to serve you.
In my new role as the environment and climate change reporter for the Savannah Morning News, I’m working for you. My job is to help you understand the environmental impacts shaping Savannah and coastal Georgia. Mosquitoes worse than normal this year? That’s an environment story. Roads on your way to work flooded again? That’s environment. Your favorite beach eroding before your eyes? Environment.
I want to know how the environment is affecting your daily life. And it doesn’t have to be only in negative ways either. Maybe you’re in awe of Georgia’s beautiful saltwater marshes
and want to know more about the wildlife that calls them home. Maybe you love salty, briny oysters and want to know more about the Georgia watermen and women bringing them to your plate.
Savannah is facing many environmental challenges: inland flooding associated with more extreme weather; hotter summers and warmer winters; a growing population that demands more land, more energy and more water. Beyond the city, traditional rural industries like timber and farming are in decline. Rural landscapes are increasingly hosting massive data centers, distribution centers and manufacturing facilities. Those projects bring jobs and tax revenue but also raise environmental questions that deserve scrutiny.
I’m here to report on these issues and more. But I’m also here to report on things that are going right. Journalism has a reputation for spreading “doom and gloom”—but I believe that problems are only half the story. There are plenty of smart, dedicated Savannahians working to advance solutions around sustainability, conservation and resilience to climate change. I want to tell those stories too, and perhaps help spread those good ideas beyond Savannah and the Coastal Empire.
A little about me: I’m a Florida native and newly transplanted to Savannah. I didn’t go to journalism school, but I did study English and ecology; a unique combination that made me want to tell stories about our natural world. As a freelance journalist, I’ve reported on issues including hurricane recovery efforts, the Florida aquaculture industry, threats to native species like the gopher tortoise, and more.
“Climate change” (which happens to be in my job title) is still a polarizing and even alienating phrase. But my goal is not to polarize and alienate my readers. I’m here to listen—no judgment, no angle—to your questions and concerns. Tell me what you want and need to know, and I will do my best to bring you objective, fact-based reporting that helps you better understand and navigate your world.
I look forward to hearing from you.
Stephanie Castellano covers climate change and the environment in coastal Georgia. You can reach her at scastellano@usatodayco.com. This reporting content is supported by a partnership with Journalism Funding Partners.
This article originally appeared on Savannah Morning News: Meet Stephanie Castellano, Savannah Morning News' new environment reporter
