How long-term environmental journalism creates real change: lessons from mongabay’s southeast asia coverage

Environmental journalism’s greatest impact often comes not from breaking news, but from sustained, long-term reporting that builds an undeniable case for action. Isabel Esterman, managing editor for Southeast Asia at Mongabay since 2016, exemplifies this approach by staying with stories long after initial headlines fade.

Esterman’s persistence has yielded concrete results. When Mongabay began investigating Sumatran rhino populations, official estimates claimed over 100 animals remained in the wild. Through sustained reporting, the newsroom revealed the actual number was closer to 30. Eventually, official figures were revised downward—a grim but crucial correction that gave conservationists realistic data to work with. “It’s not one story, but this collective body of reporting, and staying on it has been significant,” Esterman explains.

Similar dedication paid off with a controversial carbon credit land deal in Malaysia. Because Mongabay had spent years covering land rights and Indigenous communities in the region, reporters caught early warning signals and followed the story closely. The increased scrutiny helped stall the problematic deal, demonstrating how consistent coverage can influence policy outcomes.

Today, Esterman’s role focuses less on writing and more on editorial judgment and risk assessment—crucial skills as press freedoms narrow across Southeast Asia and sources face increasing retaliation. Her work illustrates how environmental journalism’s true power lies in building comprehensive, evidence-based narratives that become impossible for officials and policymakers to ignore, ultimately driving meaningful change for conservation efforts.