This year, the environment section has seen a big shift in leadership and content organization. As the new section editor this year, Reese Lile supported writers through the whirlwind of environmental news these past two semesters.
The environment section also recently introduced a new assistant editor, Ella Jennings, who has brought her own unique creativity and enthusiasm to the paper. Jennings will be taking over for Lile as she goes abroad in the Fall 2026 semester.
This section is proud to share stories that reflect the state of environmental news on campus and around the globe. We are in a time when the future of sustainability and environmentalism is uncertain, which is why it is more important than ever that we continue to share positive stories and stay informed.
The Environment section has covered a variety of topics this year. We created a list of the “Top 10 Nature Spots in Winston-Salem,” analyzed environmental policy failings at the federal level and remembered Hurricane Helene. We also covered issues including environmental justice, fast-fashion, the impacts of AI on rural communities, the health benefits of getting outside and the planting of an Isaac Newton apple tree clone on campus.
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Writers also met with people involved in different areas of sustainability, including a dining intern from the Wake Forest Office of Sustainability, two Outdoor Pursuits student employees, the CEO of National Geographic, Jill Tiefenthaler and former EPA administrator Michael S. Regan.
Our section has had the opportunity to cover an even wider range of topics this year thanks to our new weekly “Happy Climate News” column. These provide brief summaries of inspiring stories in sustainability around the world. This addition has been important to this section and our readers because it serves as a reminder that there are good things happening in the world of environmentalism.
We want to thank our writers, who have done incredible work this year. It is inspiring to see student journalists put so much effort into covering the topics they feel passionate about. Lile and Jennings thank the editors who have refined these writers’ work, as well as all of the readers who supported the environment section this year.
As we look towards the coming semesters, the Environment section is excited to see what future coverage will include as technological advances, grassroots movements and political shifts keep the world of environmental journalism dynamic.
