Did you know South Jersey students just won the 2025 Excellence in NJ Local News Award for climate reporting?

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Guess what just made my day? South Jersey Climate News (SJCN)—that student-led journalism project out of Rowan University—is officially a statewide journalism awardee! It's like your favorite local site just grabbed the spotlight, and I'm here to tell you exactly why that matters.

Why this is such big news
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SJCN, a collaborative journalism initiative involving Rowan University and Atlantic Cape Community College, earned the 2025 Excellence in NJ Local News Award from the Center for Cooperative Media at Montclair State University. This award honors outlets that inform communities, hold power accountable, and spark real change—especially through local storytelling.

Since its launch in 2019, SJCN's student reporters have produced 50 powerful stories in 2024 alone—on topics ranging from organic farming and wind energy to urban sustainability. That’s impressive, but what’s even cooler? Nearly a third of those stories were picked up by outlets like NJ Spotlight News, Press of Atlantic City, Follow South Jersey, Delaware Currents, and Green Philly. It shows how impactful and far-reaching student journalism can be.

Co-founders Dianne Garyantes and Mark Berkey-Gerard gave credit to the students’ dedication. Garyantes said, “Our students have done an excellent job of reporting on climate change in South Jersey…” Berkey-Gerard added, “It shows that student journalists can contribute to the news and information in their communities at the highest level.”

SJCN Receives 2025 Excellence in NJ Local News Award
Student climate journalists at Rowan University win one of only 11 statewide awards for driving accountability and real change through local coverage.

50 Stories Published in 2024
From urban sustainability to coastal defenses—SJCN students delivered compelling climate stories, with many reprinted by top regional outlets.

Outlets That Shared SJCN Work
NJ Spotlight News, Press of Atlantic City, Follow South Jersey, Delaware Currents, and Green Philly spotlighted student stories, amplifying their reach across the region.

So… aren’t you curious what issues SJCN covered? From how coastal towns are adapting to sea-level rise to the future of sustainable farming—these students didn’t just report stories, they captured change in action.

Want to explore their storytelling yourself? Dive into their site right here and be inspired.