The Experience of Covering Climate Change at Ground Zero:

"It was never our intention to cover the range of human-induced impacts on the climate frontier during our four too-brief days in Alaska. We wanted to cover some of them. But more importantly we wanted to provide a diverse group of journalists with the tools and perhaps even the inspiration to go after yet more angles to what is simply the biggest story we all should be covering," - associate director of the Knight Center, Dave Poulson.

"I thought the Alaska trip was invaluable in understanding climate change, as far as seeing firsthand where the effects are most rapid and visible; and it also provided more examples of what to me is the most fascinating aspect of climate change -- the complicated
ripple effects and sometimes seemingly contradictory ways it plays out," - Kari Lydersen, reporter in the Chicago Bureau of the Washington Post and Knight Center Alaskan Fellow 2008.

"I have four phone numbers, all with voice mail, two email addresses, and a couple of online networks I use to communicate, but none of it can show me what it's like to stand on a rolling ship, sleet driving sideways, and watch puffins calmy bobbing on an icy sea, or hear a glacier "talk" to you. Aside from helping me understand the details of changes affecting Alaska, the trip reaffirmed things I've seen in reporting on climate change for a couple of years now:
-- the cascading effect of environmental change
-- the way in which very tiny things like plankton at the bottom of
the food chain matter
-- the value of observations from people on the ground, who can bring experience and perspective even if they don't hold a PhD
-- how cautious and unsure science can be -- which means reporters
need to be just as cautious about drawing conclusions," - David Funkhouser, Hartford Courant reporter and Knight Center Alaskan Fellow 2008.

"I enjoyed this trip, because it provided a concentrated look at a very timely science and environment topic, climate change. Having access to scientists studying climate change in a place where its affect is real and visible was invaluable. The experience provided knowledge and insight that I will use when covering climate change stories where I live and work," - Emily Corio, West Virginia Public Broadcasting and Knight Center Alaskan Fellow 2008.

Alaska:

The Report from the Climate Frontier

Snow peaked mountains pierce the sky at Kenai National Wildlife Refuge

Slideshow of Adventure

Michigan State University's Knight Center for Environmental Journalism sponsored fellowships for journalists to travel to the climate frontier of Alaska and explore the complexities and impacts of climate change.

From August 13 to 16, journalists from around the country ventured to Alaska to delve into the biggest story on the planet: climate change. The group visited Kenai National Wildlife Refuge to witness pine bark beetle infestation and drying wetlands, went on a boat tour to see the receding glaciers of Harding Ice Field and talked with scientists at the forefront of the climate change issue about ice melt and sea level rise.

Journalists interview U.S. Fish and Wildlife ecologist Ed Berg about the threats to forests from climate change

"The Alaskan workshop was an important training event that showed journalists first hand the impact that climate change is having on the United States," said Jim Detjen, director of the Knight Center for Environmental Journalism.

Journalists were able to see landscape and vegetation changes from the late 1800s to the present as they peered over rapidly retreating glaciers. They learned of the impacts climate change is having on the arctic environment from sea level rise to ice melt, which is impacting native populations, biodiversity and marine ecosystems.

Greater warming has occurred in Arctic environments like Alaska than anywhere else on the globe. The dramatic changes taking place in the northern most state of America could be a preview for the rest of the country and the world as global temperatures steadily increase.

The group descends down the mountain into the mist below at Kenai National Wildlife Refuge

Though climate change has become the biggest environmental story today, many do not understand the science behind it, the potential health impacts to ecosystems and humans or how people can reduce their own carbon footprint.

"The investment was made in these particular journalists because of their potential to affect public awareness in the long term," said Dave Poulson, associate director of the Knight Center. "We expect that pay off to continue in the years ahead."

Public understanding of this environmental phenomenon will be key in future policy decisions, business enterprises and overall adaptation to a warmer world with greater climatic variations around the globe.

"Our goal was to take journalists to the scene to witness first hand melting glaciers, meet with Native Americans who are already being affected and see the changing landscape of Alaska," said Detjen. "I believe the workshop was successful in providing journalists both with background on climate change and with actual stories they can write about"

A major part of the workshop was learning about the science of climate change from leading climate scientists in Alaska

Since returning from the workshop, several journalists have written articles on climate change and its impact on wildlife, ecosystems and the people of Alaska. Below are links to the articles written by the 2008 MSU Knight Center Fellows to Alaska:

Reuters

Warming climate threatens Alaska's vast forests - Chris Baltimore

Mountain Xpress

A Postcard From the Climate Frontier - Rebecca Bowe

West Virginia Public Broadcasting

Reporting on Climate Change from Alaska - Emily Corio

The Star Ledger

Alaska's Urban Jungle - Diego Copolo

On the front lines of climate change - Diego Copolo

National Journal

Alaska: On the Front Line of Climate Change - Margie Kriz

Swept Away - Margie Kriz