Hi,

The Correspondent is a special place. We are encouraged to define our own reporting beats, and we are given the freedom – and responsibility – of following the stories we choose to highlight wherever they take us.

As the Climate correspondent, I’ve realised in my first few weeks that this process can quickly get pretty overwhelming. How do you consistently tell concise, fresh, important stories about the biggest problem humanity has ever faced?

My answer, so far, is surprisingly simple: you can’t. At least not alone.

In the 22 days I’ve spent doing the preliminary reporting for my first feature series, I’ve realised there’s a lifetime’s worth of possible stories wrapped up in contemplating how our relationship with our home planet has gone off the rails. And to be perfectly honest, we don’t have time for that. We’ve got to get to the point, we’ve got to show each other why this moment in history matters so much, and to do that we’ve got to try lots of things at once.

In sketching out this feature series, I’ve realised that the best way to take on a beat as big as climate is to tell many stories at the same time, and ask for help along the way. Doing my reporting this way will make my beat a richer, more inclusive experience for everyone.

Over the next few weeks, we’ll be launching a few ongoing supplemental reporting series within my climate beat. The two additional series we’re launching right away will be: 1) intimate, low-carbon profiles of key figures from all aspects of the climate movement, and 2) a series of group-reported variations on a theme that will highlight what it looks and feels like to experience climate change around the world from all different angles.

The profiles series originated from the fact that I’ve decided to eliminate my air travel in all but unavoidable situations, and I can’t justify flying across the continent or around the world just to meet someone or see a place with my own eyes. Instead, I’ll be reporting these profiles remotely by speaking with the person themselves and a few of their closest loved ones – their parents, siblings, and lifelong friends. In other words, the people who know them best.

The group-reported series will examine an important climate-related topic, trend, place, or phenomenon from multiple viewpoints, with the idea that there are simultaneous truths and many different ways of understanding the world. We’ll add specifically curated images and art to tie these views together and make the reporting transnational.

I’ll still be spending a lot of time to tell the big, underlying stories that are shaping our planetary future, but I’ll be taking these (and other) important diversions along the way, too. It’s going to be an exciting ride. And I’m so happy you’ll be taking it with me.

Thank you so much,

Eric

PS: If you have a recommendation for someone (or some place, or some idea) that should be featured in either of these new series – or if that person is you – please let me know.