Why Covering Extinction Offers Hope and Human Stories: A Journalist’s Two-Decade Perspective

Editor’s note: This article is a joint publication of SEJournal and The Revelator.

Like many journalists, I’m drawn to underdog stories. For me, that often means reporting on red wolves—or wolf spiders or wolfsnails. For more than two decades, I’ve covered the extinction beat: writing about rare and endangered species, the threats they face, the people fighting to save them, and the plants and animals we’ve already lost. Along the way, I’ve written more species “obituaries” than I ever expected.

Documenting Extinction: The Stories of 30+ Species Lost in 2025

Most recently, I chronicled the stories of over 30 species declared extinct in 2025. Many of these losses share common causes with the threats facing people worldwide: climate change, pollution, habitat destruction, income inequality, and invasive diseases. Yet my work isn’t solely about documenting decline. I’ve also covered species recoveries, rediscoveries, conservation breakthroughs, and the human efforts behind them.

That’s the paradox of the extinction beat: You’re writing about animals and plants, but you’re really writing about people—at their worst and at their best.

Why Writing About Extinction Is Hopeful (Yes, Really)

“Writing about extinction is an inherently hopeful act.”

It may sound counterintuitive, but it’s true. While I’ve covered hundreds of extinctions, I’ve also written or edited thousands of stories about species surviving—often thanks to scientists, conservationists, or sheer tenacity. Even the grim stories—the declines, the disappearances, the emerging threats—exist because people are paying attention. And awareness is the first step toward change.

The journalism of extinction isn’t about finality. It’s about prevention. We document what’s been lost and what’s still at risk to build the knowledge and collective will needed to stop further declines. Every story is a lesson in what to protect and how to do it better.

The Human Stories Behind Endangered Species

Behind every endangered species is a network of scientists, activists, and local communities whose lives are deeply connected to that animal or plant. Their stories bring relatability to topics that might otherwise feel distant—especially when writing about creatures like snakes, insects, or parasites that often face unfair stigma.

When we write about a species on the brink, we’re also writing about the people who depend on it, fight for it, or study it. These human narratives make conservation stories more compelling and accessible.

Why This Beat Matters

Looking back over the past 20 years, I’ve stayed with this beat for a few key reasons:

• Hope in Action: Conservation victories—big and small—prove that change is possible.
• Human Connection: The stories reveal our shared responsibility and interconnectedness with nature.
• Urgent Lessons: Each extinction is a warning, and journalism helps turn warnings into action.