Accuracy, accuracy, and accuracy.

It is true that the golden rule of journalism lies in accurate and factual information. Environmental journalism, like any other form of journalism, is investigative work at its core. It involves looking into and verifying stories, gathering sources, and presenting an unbiased perspective on the subject in question.

To be specific, environmental journalism is defined as “the collection, verification, production, distribution, and exhibition of information regarding current events, trends, and issues associated with the non-human world.” Environmental journalists are the voice of the planet, helping to inform and raise awareness among people in society. To be an environmental journalist, one must understand scientific language. Additionally, one must utilize knowledge of historical environmental events and have the ability to follow environmental policy decisions and environmental organizations. They must also be able to communicate information to the public in a way that is easily understood.

Since environmental journalism is still journalism, it adheres to its essence as a discipline of verification. However, a key factor that sets it apart from other forms of journalism is its focus. The primary difference is the emphasis on issues that impact the environment and society as a whole. Next is ethics and objectivity. Arguably, environmental journalism must contain more integrity than other forms of journalism. Misinformation or false information can have disastrous consequences, so the burden of remaining both ethical and highly objective weighs heavily on environmental journalists. Additionally, environmental journalists must possess a unique skill set. They must be adept at taking dense, complex subjects and making them understandable to people without a scientific background. They must also use specific tools depending on the environmental subject they are reporting on.

The role of an environmental journalist is a serious pursuit, dealing with critical issues that affect people, wildlife, and the world. Environmental journalism has always represented an important part of people's perceptions of the world. Over time, people have become more interested in and concerned about the things happening around them. This increased awareness has directly translated into a greater need for environmental studies, programs, and news. As more information about how various factors impact people and the globe comes to light, the interest in and importance of environmental journalism increases accordingly. It will also cultivate advocates for changes to improve the quality of the planet.