August 28, 2018 — Elizabeth Grossman (pictured, right) was a prolific journalist and author, and a much beloved member of the Society of Environmental Journalists. Lizzie devoted her career to uncovering environmental health issues while tirelessly advocating for freelancers until her untimely death in July 2017. Thanks to generous donors, including Lizzie herself, SEJ’s Fund for Environmental Journalism is now awarding $16,595 to five freelance journalists to underwrite travel and other expenses for story projects covering a particular topic in environmental health.
SEJ celebrates the life and legacy of Elizabeth Grossman and congratulates winners of 2018 Lizzie Grossman Freelance Grants for Environmental Health Reporting:
Sarah Craig for "Underground Poison," on arsenic contamination in drinking water in California's Central Valley: A radio documentary, online stories and a photo essay for KALW-FM, San Francisco and other outlets nationally.
FEJ-funded project:
- "The Town That Refuses To Die," KALW Public Radio, July 10, 2019.
Lindsey Konkel for "A Family Affair," an inside and personal look at medical research and environmental health science through three generations of women and one of the nation’s longest-standing studies of endocrine disruptors: An article for Environmental Health Perspectives.
FEJ-funded project:
- "Insecticide linked to increased breast cancer risk — 40 years after exposure," Environmental Health News, February 25, 2019.
- "What three generations of California families can tell us about the links between our health and our environment," Ensia, May 16, 2019.
- "All in the Family: What Multigenerational Cohorts Are Revealing about Potential Environmental Impacts on Neurodevelopment," Environmental Health Perspectives, July 18, 2019.
- "Decades-long project is linking our health to the environment," Science News for Students, March 12, 2020.
Elizabeth McGowan for "Beyond Lip Service," reporting on efforts in Appalachian coal-mining communities to fund healthcare for compromised miners and also restore land, provide jobs and rejuvenate communities left behind by the energy transition: An article for Blue Ridge Outdoors.
FEJ-funded project:
- "Black Lung: Reclaiming Coal Country," Blue Ridge Outdoors Magazine, January 8, 2019.
- "Beyond Lip Service: Why Can’t Congress Fund an Rx for Appalachian Coal Country?" Renewal News, April 19, 2019.
- "Ingenuity + Money = Flourishing Enterprises on Central Appalachia Coalfields," Renewal News, April 24, 2019.
- "Black Lung Disease Strikes 1 in 5 Longtime Coal Miners in Central Appalachia," Renewal News, April 24, 2019.
Mc Nelly Torres for "Puerto Rico’s history with contaminated water and the environmental crisis after Hurricane Maria:" Stories, photos, videos and data visualizations published in English and Spanish for the Center for Investigative Journalism | Centro de Periodismo Investigativo de Puerto Rico and partners such as the Miami Herald, Latino USA and affiliates of the Investigative News Network, with more than 80 members in the U.S. and Canada.
FEJ-funded project:
- "A Deadly Bacteria Has Killed People in Puerto Rico and Health Officials Didn’t Detect it," Centro de Periodismo Investigativo, June 5, 2019. Spanish version.
This story was also published in Spanish by many media outlets in Puerto Rico including Caribbean Business, Metro newspaper, as well as airing on radio:
www.noticel.com/ahora/fallaron-los-funcionarios-de-salud-en-detectar-bacteria-que-mato-decenas-en-pr/1083811376
caribbeanbusiness.com/a-deadly-bacteria-has-killed-people-in-puerto-rico-and-health-officials-didnt-detect-it/
www.latinousa.org/2019/06/06/bacteriapr/
www.telemundopr.com/noticias/destacados/Una-bacteria-mortal-mato-decenas-de-personas-en-Puerto-Rico--510856091.html
www.univision.com/local/puerto-rico-wlii/una-bacteria-mortal-mato-decenas-de-personas-en-puerto-rico-y-los-funcionarios-de-salud-no-la-detectaron
www.radioisla1320.com/una-bacteria-mortal-mato-decenas-de-personas-y-los-funcionarios-de-salud-no-la-detectaron/
www.robinspost.com/news/noticias/salud/920638-salud-noticias-una-bacteria-mortal-mato-decenas-de-personas-en-puerto-rico-y-los-funcionarios-de-salud-no-la-detectaron.html
www.nelpr.com/2019/06/05/una-bacteria-mortal-mato-decenas-de-personas-en-puerto-rico-y-los-funcionarios-de-salud-no-la-detectaron/
www.diariodepuertorico.com/2019/06/05/una-bacteria-mortal-mato-decenas-de-personas-en-puerto-rico-y-los-funcionarios-de-salud-no-la-detectaron/
Lee van der Voo for "Climate and Youth," reporting on youth and climate change, with relevance to multiple issues of environmental health. Long-form articles for regional or national magazines, spot news coverage for Reuters, and exploration for book-length work.
FEJ-funded project:
- "Teen activists face US government in crucial hearing over climate trial," The Guardian, June 4, 2019.
- "Youth climate activists set for nationwide rallies ahead of landmark case," The Guardian, May 31, 2019.
- "U.S. youth rally in Washington protests climate inaction," Reuters, March 15, 2019.
- "U.S. youth plan Washington rally to protest climate inaction," Reuters, March 15, 2019.
- "Schools work to restore routine to children of lost Paradise," Reuters, December 3, 2018.
- "California wildfire survivors face new challenge: rebuilding," Reuters, December 2, 2018.
- "Search for remains in California's deadliest wildfire officially ends," Reuters, November 29, 2018.
- "Some 88 killed, 196 missing three weeks after Camp Fire began: sheriff," Reuters, November 29, 2018.
- "Children, activists rally in support of climate change lawsuit," Reuters, October 29, 2018.
The Society of Environmental Journalists thanks generous donors, our independent FEJ contest jury of editors and colleagues, the Grossman family and these grantees for dedication to public service journalism and for honoring the memory of Lizzie Grossman through these projects.
SEJ’s Fund for Environmental Journalism was established in 2010. To date $287,000 in FEJ story project grants have been awarded to staff and freelance journalists for specific, timely reports through print, broadcast and online media.
Founded in 1990, the Society of Environmental Journalists (SEJ) is the world’s oldest and largest educational membership association of journalists who cover environment-related issues. SEJ’s 1,400+ members provide reports via print, broadcast and digital media worldwide on a daily basis.
Contribute now to SEJ’s Fund for Environmental Journalism and help journalists tell the most important stories in the world.
Advertisement 
