Bringing together journalists, researchers, campaigners, organisers and others to improve how we understand and tell stories about Scotland’s climate and environment.
The climate and nature crises touch almost every part of our lives, from energy, housing and transport to food, land, jobs and democracy.
They’re also complicated. We want to create a space where people working across different fields can meet, share what they know and learn from each other.
The Scottish Environmental Journalism Network is about making those connections.
Join the network and sign up for updates
How did the idea emerge?
The network grew out of The Power Shift, a Scottish Beacon project exploring Scotland’s renewable energy boom and what it means for communities.
The project began with support from the Tenacious Journalism Awards, which funded independent, community-based publications across Scotland to investigate what was happening in their own areas.
With further support from Uplift, we produced a special print magazine and brought journalists, campaigners, researchers, community organisations and others together in Glasgow in April 2026.
That gathering made us want to keep going. There was real value in getting people with different knowledge and experience into the same room, and creating space for conversations that don’t always happen elsewhere. This network has grown from that.
Who is it for?
Despite the name, you don’t need to be a journalist.
It’s open to journalists, writers, researchers, students, academics, campaigners, activists, community organisers, artists and people working on communicating climate and environmental issues.
You might have years of experience or be completely new to this work. You don’t need to know anyone already involved or consider yourself an expert.
If you’re interested and think you have something to contribute, you’re welcome.
What will we do?
We’ll meet roughly every two months, mostly online and in person where possible.
There’ll be speakers, discussions, workshops and skill-sharing, as well as space to share research, stories, data, ideas and opportunities to collaborate.
A big part of it is simply helping people find each other: connecting journalists with researchers, community knowledge with wider conversations, and people working on similar questions from different angles.
We also want the network to be shaped by the people in it. Our first meetings will help decide what we focus on and what would actually be useful.
About the Scottish Beacon
The Scottish Beacon is a collaborative network of around 25 independent, community-based publications from across Scotland.
We work together on stories and projects that combine local knowledge with opportunities to collaborate across the country.
Come to the first meet-up
Our first online meet-up is Tuesday 20 October, 1–2pm.
It’ll be a chance to meet each other, talk about what the network could be and decide together what we want to focus on over the first six months.
Find out more and register for the first meet-up
Can’t make it? You can still join the network and hear about future events and opportunities.
