Journalist dedicated to environmental reporting in Great Lakes region receives career award

David Poulson

David Poulson, the senior associate director of Michigan State University’s Knight Center for Environmental Journalism, has been recognized by the International Association for Great Lakes Research "for a career-long dedication to inform and educate the public and policymakers on Great Lakes issues," reports Michigan State University.

Poulson received the John R. (Jack) Vallentyne award, "for contributing substantially to education and outreach in the Great Lakes community for at least 20 years and with an impact beyond the awardee’s local community," reports Michigan State. "The award recognizes people who bridge the gap between the science community and the public. Recipients can be engaged with any great lake in the world, including the North American Great Lakes and the African Great Lakes."

"Poulson, a 1982 graduate of MSU’s School of Journalism, is also editor of Great Lakes Echo, the Knight Center’s award-winning regional online environmental news service," reports Michigan State. "At MSU, Poulson teaches environmental journalism, using tools as diverse as drones, satellite imagery, geographic information systems, experiential learning and nontraditional reporting techniques. He currently serves on the board of directors of the Society of Environmental Journalists."

Poulson has created three online Great Lakes environmental news services, the Great Lakes Environmental Wire, Great Lakes Wiki—winner of the 2007 Knight-Batten Journalism Award for innovations in journalism—and the Great Lakes Echo.