Free Press partners with Narwhal on climate reporting

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This article was published 11/05/2022 (1420 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

The Free Press is part of a new partnership to deliver ground-breaking journalism on climate change and a growing array of environmental challenges facing our province and the planet.

Thanks to funding from the Winnipeg Foundation, the Free Press and The Narwhal have embarked on a three-year pilot project that could serve as a model for Canadian media outlets.

The two newsrooms — one a 150-year-old institution in Manitoba, the other a pioneer of non-profit journalism that’s growing its digital footprint — will share a reporter whose marching orders are to produce compelling journalism on a defining issue of our time. Julia-Simone Rutgers was selected as the reporter for this beat after an extensive national search for a journalist with the experience and the energy demanded by this new role.

“I’m delighted to be able to draw on the expertise The Narwhal has as its coverage of Canada’s natural environment has already earned a number of national awards,” Free Press editor Paul Samyn said. “I made a commitment last year to our readers that we would restart our climate change beat and this partnership with The Narwhal funded by the Winnipeg Foundation ensures we will be able to deliver stories that matter now more than ever.”

Under the partnership, all stories Rutgers produces will be published by both the Free Press and The Narwhal, leveraging the reach of both platforms so more Canadians can access the content.

“The Narwhal is thrilled to draw on the local expertise of the Winnipeg Free Press to bring in-depth coverage of Manitoba’s natural world to our audience across Canada,” said Emma Gilchrist, editor-in-chief of The Narwhal.

“This innovative partnership is one of the first of its kind in Canada and marks a new era of collaboration between digital and legacy news outlets.”