The Environment Report

The Environment Report is a show produced and syndicated by Michigan Radio (WUOM) in Ann Arbor, Michigan.
Show.
Mission.
"The Environment Report's" (TER) mission is to be a news service committed to revealing the relationship between the natural world and the everyday lives of people.
History.
1993-2006: Great Lakes Radio Consortium.
"The Environment Report" was established to increase environmental coverage by public radio stations. In 1993, a group of public radio outlets began planning a regional environmental news service that would redefine environmental reporting in the Upper Midwest. National Public Radio's Living on Earth, Michigan Public Radio, and the Superior Radio Network partnered together to develop the structure for a weekly news service. The goal was to establish a news feed of high-quality environmental features that could be inserted into the local news programming of public radio stations.
In September 1995, "The Environment Report's" predecessor, "the Great Lakes Radio Consortium" (GLRC), produced its first environmental news feed for public radio stations. At that time the news service was based at the studios of Michigan Public Radio in East Lansing, MI and was carried by 23 stations.
In April, 1996, the news service moved to the studios of Michigan Radio in Ann Arbor. By the end of 1996, 50 stations were carrying the service.
Since 1996, "The Environment Report's" producers have also improved public radio reporting systemwide by providing training to more than 100 mid-career public radio producers. This training has been led by Canadian Broadcasting Corporation veteran, David Candow.
In 1997, the GLRC began to be noticed around the country after winning 8 national awards. These awards led to greater station carriage as well as more participation from station-based producers.
2006-Present: "The Environment Report".
In the summer of 2006, the GLRC became known as "The Environment Report". The name change reflected the organization's expanding list of participating stations as well as its expanded coverage of environmental issues.
Two years later, "The Environment Report's" producers embarked on a new effort - transitioning
the weekly news service into a daily news service. As part of that effort, a daily four-minute show was developed with assistance from Jim Russell (creator of Marketplace) and public radio program directors and news directors around the country.
Structure.
"The Environment Report" is a syndicated public radio show hosted by Lester Graham. In addition to the daily show, "The Environment Report" produces a stand-alone feature and spot news reports every weekday. The service is carried by public stations across country.
Staff.
Lester Graham.
Lester Graham is Host and Senior Editor of The Environment Report. He has been a board member of the Public Radio News Directors Incorporated, a member of the Radio-Television News Directors, President of the Illinois News Broadcasters Association and Vice-President of the Saint Louis Chapter of the Society of Professional Journalists. He is also a member of the Society of Environmental Journalists.
Mark Brush.
Mark Brush is The Environment Report's Senior Producer. He oversees the overall editorial direction and day-to-day operations of the daily environmental news service along with Senior Editor, Lester Graham. He's won several national awards for his environmental reporting and editing. Brush is a graduate of the University of Michigan ('00 MS in Environmental Policy and Planning & '91 BA in Political Science). He has worked in public radio since 1998.
Rebecca Williams.
Rebecca Williams is a reporter and producer for The Environment Report. She also fills in as host whenever Lester Graham is unable to host the show. Rebecca has a natural science degree from the University of Michigan's School of Natural Resources & Environment. She has won several national awards for her work including a first place National Headliner Award at the network level for her stories on the emerald ash borer.
Contributors.
Matthew Grocoff.
Lester Graham has been working with Greenovation.TV host Matt Grocoff on an ongoing series as Matt has worked to make his own home the oldest net zero energy home in America and Michigan's first net zero house. Matt takes Lester to retail stores, visits with other homeowners and shares the story of his 110-year-old Ann Arbor home and shares tips on how to make homes more comfortable, healthy and energy efficient.
Stations That Play The Environment Report.
"The Environment Report" is played on over 100 stations nationwide. To see a complete list of stations that carry the show, please refer to: http://www.environmentreport.org/stations/
Awards.
1996.
Northwest Broadcast News Association, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, MN, Best Series:
Michigan Associated Press, Best Investigative News Story:
Sierra Club Environmental Journalism Awards:
1997.
Gabriel Awards, UNDA-USA:
Heart of America Award, American Legion Auxiliary, Honorable Mention:
Prindi Awards (Public Radio News Directors, Inc.), Best Commentary – Editorial:
National Headliner Awards, Press Club of Atlantic City, Best Feature or Human Interest Story – Second Place:
Unity Awards in Media, Lincoln University of Missouri, Best Reporting of Economics:
Unity Awards in Media, Lincoln University of Missouri, Best Reporting of Politics:
American Women in Radio and Television, Gracie Allen Awards, Best News Feature:
American Women in Radio and Television, Gracie Allen Awards, Best Work Produced by Women:
American Women in Radio and Television, Gracie Allen Awards, Best Editorial:
Northwest Broadcast News Association Awards, First Place, Best Audio, All Markets:
Northwest Broadcast News Association Awards, First Place, General Reporting, Large Market:
Northwest Broadcast News Association Awards, Merit Award, Spot News, Large Market:
Wisconsin Associated Press, First Place, best Audio, Large Market:
Wisconsin Associated Press, First Place, General Reporting, Large Market:
Wisconsin Associated Press, First Place, Spot News, Large Market:
Wisconsin Broadcasters Association, First Place, Best Audio, Large Market:
Michigan Association of Broadcasters, Broadcasting Excellence Awards, Best Use of Medium:
Michigan Association of Broadcasters, Broadcasting Excellence Awards, Best Public Affairs Programming:
Michigan Association of Broadcasters, Broadcasting Excellence Awards, Merit Award for Feature:
Michigan Associated Press, Best Individual Reporting:
Michigan Associated Press, Best Natural Sound:
Michigan Associated Press, Honorable Mention:
Illinois Associated Press Broadcaster's Association Journalistic Excellence, Best Reporter:
Michigan Sportsmen Association, Environmental Journalism Award:
1998.
New York Festivals, Radio Production Awards, Finalist – Business/Consumer Issues:
Michigan Association of Broadcasters, Broadcast Excellence Awards, Merit Award for Environmental Reporting:
Michigan Education Association, School Bell Awards, Best Radio Feature:
Michigan Associated Press Awards, Best use of Natural Sound:
Michigan Associated Press Awards, Best Individual Reporting:
Minnesota Chapter of the Society of Professional Journalists, Page One Awards, First Place, Feature Category:
Minnesota Chapter of the Society of Professional Journalists, Page One Awards, Third Place, In-Depth Reporting:
1999.
The New York Festivals, Radio Production Awards, Silver Medalist – Environmental Program:
Michigan Associated Press Awards, Best News Documentary:
Michigan Associated Press Awards, Excellence in Individual Reporting:
Michigan Associated Press Awards, best Sports Feature:
Michigan Associated Press Awards, Best Feature Story, Honorable Mention:
Michigan Education Association, School Bell Awards, Best Radio Feature:
Michigan Association of Broadcasters, Broadcast Excellence Awards, Merit Award for Environmental Reporting:
2000.
The Clarion Awards, Best Radio Feature Story – Public Radio:
The New York Festivals, Radio Production, Silver Medalist – Environmental Issues:
Association for Women Journalists, Finalist:
The New York Festivals, Radio Production Awards, Finalist – Education Issues:
American Legion Auxiliary “Heart of America” Awards, Finalist:
National Headliner Award, First Place, Investigative Reporting:
Michigan Associated Press Awards, Best Feature Story:
Michigan Associated Press Awards, Best Enterprise/Investigative Reporting:
Michigan Associated Press Awards, Best Sports Feature Story:
Minnesota Chapter of the Society of Journalists, Page One Awards, First Place, Investigative Reporting:
Minnesota Associated Press Broadcaster's Achievement Awards, Best Feature – Honorable Mention:
Ottawa County Farm Bureau, Ag Communicatory of the Year Award:
2001.
American Legion Auxiliary's Heart of American Awards, First Place:
American Legion Auxiliary's Heart of America Awards, Finalist:
Michigan Association of Broadcasters, Best Mini-Documentary/Series:
Michigan Association of Broadcasters, Best Special Interest Programming:
Michigan Associated Press, Best Feature Story:
Michigan Associated Press, Best Sports Feature Story:
Michigan Associated Press, Best Enterprise/Investigative Reporting:
Michigan Education Association, School Bell Awards, Best Radio Features:
2002.
RTNDA Edward R. Murrow Award, Best Use of Sound:
New York Festivals, Finalist: Best New Analysis or Commentary:
New York Festivals, Bronze Medalist: Best Sound:
Public Radio News Directors, Inc (PRNDI), First Place, Commentary:
Public Radio News Directors, Inc (PRNDI), Second Place, Hard Feature:
Michigan Associated Press, Best Enterprise/Investigative Story:
Michigan Associated Press:
2003.
American Institute of biological Sciences, Honorable Mention:
Wisconsin Broadcasters Association, best Use of Audio:
Society of Environmental Journalists, Third Place, Outstanding Beat Reporting – Radio:
2004.
Michigan Association of Broadcaster Broadcast Excellence Awards Merit Award Feature/Use of Sound:
2005.
National Headliner Awards:
Society of Environmental Journalists, Second Place – Outstanding Radio Reporting, Large Market:
2006.
National Headliner Awards, Breaking News or Continuing Coverage of a Single News Event:
National Headliner Awards, Feature, Human Interest Story or News Service:
PRNDI (Public Radio News Directors Inc) Division A:
2007.
National Headliner Award, First Place, Continuing Coverage:
Michigan Association of Broadcasters, Feature/Use of Medium:
2008.
Society of Environmental Journalists, Outstanding Story, Radio – Third Place:
Public Radio News Directors, Enterprise/Investigative – First Place:
2009.
National Headliner Awards, News Series – Third Place:
Society of Environmental Journalists Awards, Outstanding Beat, In-Depth Radio – Third Place: