South Jersey Climate News (SJCN), a student-led journalism initiative at Rowan University, has earned the 2025 Excellence in New Jersey Local News Award for its contributions to climate reporting. Since its launch in 2019, the online publication has provided Rowan students with hands-on experience producing in-depth coverage of pressing environmental issues across the state. 

The recent recognition of the website was one of 11 local N.J. news organizations to win the award given out by The Center for Cooperative Media at Montclair State University. The award honors local news outlets for their contributions to informing communities, holding political leaders and power accountable, as well as driving positive changes. 

“This year, we received 80 outstanding submissions, a testament to the continued vitality and impact of local journalism across New Jersey,” read the statement issued to award winners. “The breadth and depth of the submissions — from innovative student journalism to groundbreaking investigative work — showcase the creative ways news organizations are serving their communities despite industry challenges.”

Each student who wrote for SJCN was responsible for generating story ideas, conducting research, writing and revising articles. Each story underwent a rigorous two-stage revision process, ensuring it was its highest quality content to match and meet professional journalistic standards before it was published on the SJCN website. 

“Our students have done an excellent job of reporting on climate change in South Jersey since we launched the website in 2019,” said Dianne Garyantes, co-founder of SJCN, who guides the initiative alongside her colleague Mark Berkey-Gerard.

“With this award, our students’ work is being recognized alongside some of the best local news outlets in New Jersey,” said Berkey-Gerard. “It shows that student journalists can contribute to the news and information in their communities at the highest level. I’m very proud of them.” 

For many of the students, the experience of reporting for SJCN isn’t just about learning journalism— it is about making a difference in their own backyards.

“I’m so excited and happy to hear about the award South Jersey Climate News received,” said Abigail Twiford, a Rowan journalism alum who worked for SJCN. “Having worked on several pieces for the site over the last year, I know that this is an incredibly valuable experiential learning resource for journalism students.”

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