South Jersey Climate News has received a 2025 Excellence in NJ Local News Award, which recognizes outstanding local journalism efforts across New Jersey.
The website was one of 11 state news organizations to win the 2025 Excellence in New Jersey Local News Award, which is given out by The Center for Cooperative Media at Montclair State University. The award honors local news outlets for their contributions to informing communities, holding power accountable, and driving positive change.
“This year, we received 80 outstanding submissions, a testament to the continued vitality and impact of local journalism across New Jersey,” the statement announcing the award winners said. “The breadth and depth of the submissions — from innovative student journalism to groundbreaking investigative work — showcase the creative ways news organizations are serving their communities despite industry challenges.”
Professors and SJCN advisors Mark Berkey-Gerard and Dianne Garyantes, and the South Jersey Climate News team were honored for their climate reporting and support of student journalists.
“Our students have done an excellent job of reporting on climate change in South Jersey since the website was started in 2019,” Garyantes said. “We’re proud of the interesting, informative, and expansive coverage of climate change they’ve produced over the years.”
The project, a collaborative journalism news site that publishes student-driven reporting about climate change in South Jersey, created 50 stories in 2024 on topics like organic farming, wind energy, and urban sustainability. Nearly a third of the articles were picked up by local news outlets, significantly expanding their impact. The website’s content is shared through partnerships with local news organizations, including Press of Atlantic City, Follow South Jersey, NJ Spotlight News, Delaware Currents and Green Philly, that republish the students’ stories to a broad audience.
“With this award, our students’ work is being recognized alongside some of the best local news outlets in New Jersey,” said Berkey-Gerard. “It shows that student journalists can contribute to the news and information in their communities at the highest level. I’m very proud of them.”
