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News Release

3 Environmental Journalists Named Vermont Law School Media Fellows

Monday, March 26, 2018

SOUTH ROYALTON, Vt.

—The Environmental Law Center at Vermont Law School, top-ranked in the nation for environmental law, has selected three journalists for its 2018 Summer Media Fellowship program. Each fellow, selected from dozens of outstanding applicants, will attend a two-week Summer Session course at VLS and deliver a lecture as part of the law school’s free “Hot Topics” series.

The 2018 Summer Media Fellows are:

Roseanne Gerin of Radio Free Asia. A writer and editor for Radio Free Asia’s English Service, Gerin reports on issues ranging from military conflict in Myanmar to the impact of hydropower dam projects on people and the environment in Cambodia. Her recent work includes “Experts Warn Mekong Delta Agriculture, Livelihoods Face Serious Threats.” Gerin previously worked as a senior news editor for China Radio International and editorial consultant for Beijing Review.

Maya Kapoor of High Country News. A Colorado-based science and environmental writer for High Country News, Kapoor reports on climate change, biodiversity, environmental policy, and environmental justice. Recent stories include “The Desert, Divided” and “Interior Opens More Western Waters to Offshore Drilling.” Kapoor’s work has appeared in The Atlantic, Business Insider, Longreads, and Mother Jones.

Rebecca Leber of Mother Jones. Based in Washington, D.C., Leber covers environmental policy and writes about climate change, global climate politics, environmental lawsuits, and the energy industry. Her recent work includes “Making America Toxic Again” and “Coal Country Rebelled Against Trump’s Candidate Last Night. Here’s Why.” Leber previously reported for Grist, The New Republic, and ThinkProgress.

Fellows were selected based on work history and samples, commitment to covering environmental issues, and their potential for increasing understanding of environmental law and policy issues in the United States and internationally. Former media fellows include Lisa Hymas of Media Matters for America, Renee Schoof of Bloomberg BNA, and freelance journalist Peter Schwartzstein.

In addition to attending class, media fellows will join faculty and other distinguished scholars in delivering lectures as part of Vermont Law School’s 2018 Hot Topics summer series, which covers a wide range of current issues in environmental law. Free and open to the public, the hour-long lectures will be held from noon to 1 p.m. beginning May 31 in Oakes Hall on the VLS campus. Continuing legal education (CLE) credit is available. A schedule of upcoming Hot Topics will be announced later this spring and posted at vermontlaw.edu/summer.

The Vermont Law School Summer Media Fellowship program has been made possible since 2002 by a generous grant from the Johnson Family Foundation.

For more information about environmental programs at Vermont Law School, visit the Environmental Law Center online at vermontlaw.edu/ELC.

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Vermont Law School, a private, independent institution, is home to the nation’s largest and deepest environmental law program. VLS offers a juris doctor curriculum that emphasizes public service; four master’s degrees—Master of Environmental Law and Policy, Master of Energy Regulation and Law, Master of Food and Agriculture Law and Policy, and Master of Arts in Restorative Justice; and four post-JD degrees —LLM in American Legal Studies (for foreign-trained lawyers), LLM in Energy Law, LLM in Environmental Law, and LLM in Food and Agriculture Law. The school features innovative experiential programs and is home to the Environmental Law Center, South Royalton Legal Clinic, Environmental and Natural Resources Law Clinic, Energy Clinic, Food and Agriculture Clinic, Center for Applied Human Rights, and Center for Justice Reform. For more information, visit vermontlaw.edu, find us on Facebook, and follow us on Twitter and Instagram.