Jenae Barnes Received 2026 New Wave Award

We are thrilled to announce Jenae Barnes as the inaugural recipient of the New Wave Award for Excellence in Environmental Journalism.

The New Wave Award was created to elevate a new generation of journalists who are tackling critical, high-stakes environmental issues early in their careers. The New Wave Award is made possible through collaborative efforts from The LIFT Project at Michigan State University’s School of Journalism and the Institute for Journalism and Natural Resources.

Barnes’ rigorous reporting on the arsenic contamination in a community well in Gary, Indiana exemplifies exactly why this award exists. She is setting the benchmark for this honor, demonstrating the kind of immersive, community-centered journalism we hope to encourage other early-career reporters to pursue.

As the flagship health and environment reporter for Capital B Gary, Barnes covered issues at the intersection of public health, environmental justice, and the lived experiences of Black communities. Her journalism blends investigative rigor with narrative storytelling to highlight the impacts of climate change and health disparities while amplifying underrepresented voices.

Barnes’ dedication to her craft is further reflected in her extensive fellowship experience. She was selected as a 2024 Pulitzer Center Story Reach Reporting Fellow, participated in the 2024 National Science, Health And Environment Reporting Fellowship, and was part of Wake Forest University’s Environmental and Epistemic Justice Fellowship. She is also a 2025 participant in the AHCJ German Health Care Study Group, where she reported on the health care experiences of Black expatriates in Germany.

Barnes’ work will be honored during IJNR's welcome event for their new programming to support community reporting on environmental journalism in May 2026. We are incredibly excited to have Jenae serve as our keynote speaker to discuss the reporting behind her "Magic Water" story. A panel discussion will immediately follow, featuring Javonte Anderson, the founding editor of Capital B Gary, and Jiquanda Johnson, founder and publisher of the Flint Beat.