The Walton Family Foundation has announced a three-year, $2.5 million grant to the Associated Press in support of environmental journalism.

Building on the foundation’s previous support, which established an environment and water beat with three dedicated reporting positions, the grant will continue to fund two text reporters and a video journalist dedicated to water and environmental coverage, while also adding a Spanish-language reporter and photographer.

The foundation also supports environmental journalism through the Society of Environmental Journalists (SEJ), Planet Forward, Report for America, the University of Missouri, NPR, the Good Energy Project, and other journalism, nonprofit, and academic organizations that provide information on the causes and solutions for climate change. “It’s no secret newsrooms nationwide have been struggling to cover the complex environmental challenges we face. At the same time, it is clear audiences want to know how climate and environmental changes affect the places they live, the water they drink, and the food they eat,” said SEJ executive director Meaghan Parker. “Foundations are stepping up to meet this demand by supporting a new, more diverse generation of environmental journalists and increasing the capacity of news outlets to share the stories of people living on the front lines of climate change.”

“Communities need access to high quality, fact-based journalism on the environment and water in order to address the challenges of climate change,” said Walton Family Foundation environment program director Moira McDonald. “Climate change is crystal clear through the lens of water. Droughts, floods, storm events, and warming oceans impact communities across the country. The people who are closest to the problem are also closest to the solutions. That’s why communities need consistent, high-quality reporting on these issues to create a more sustainable, resilient future.”

(Photo credit: Getty Images/Ersler)