Pulitzer Prize finalist Rosanna Xia visited the University of Hawai'i at Manoa, sharing her climate reporting expertise through sea level rise field tours, engaging storytelling workshops, and an inspiring public lecture.

Acclaimed environmental journalist and Pulitzer Prize finalist Rosanna Xia recently visited the University of Hawaiʻi at Mānoa to share her expertise in climate reporting with students and researchers. During her stay in January, organized by the Institute for Sustainability and Resilience, Xia connected with PhD students studying sea level rise and toured several vulnerable coastal hotspots across the island, discussing both the challenges and potential strategies for addressing this critical issue.
In addition to these field discussions, Xia led a workshop titled “Crafting Compelling Stories: Lessons from a Pulitzer Prize Finalist” for journalism students in the JOUR 330 class. Emphasizing the importance of intention, ownership, and responsibility in narrative building, she taught students how to integrate technical language with vivid, human-centered details. Her public lecture, “Telling the Story of Sea Level Rise: Lessons from a Los Angeles Times Reporter,” concluded the visit, leaving the audience inspired by her innovative approach to connecting science and humanity in the face of climate change.
Xia is an environmental reporter for the Los Angeles Times, where she specializes in stories about the coast and ocean. She was a Pulitzer Prize finalist in 2020 for explanatory reporting, and her work has been anthologized in the Best American Science and Nature Writing series.
FULL STORY: Pulitzer finalist shares climate reporting insights at UH Mānoa

Planetizen Federal Action Tracker
A weekly monitor of how Trump’s orders and actions are impacting planners and planning in America.

Congressman Proposes Bill to Rename DC Metro “Trump Train”
The Make Autorail Great Again Act would withhold federal funding to the system until the Washington Metropolitan Area Transit Authority (WMATA), rebrands as the Washington Metropolitan Authority for Greater Access (WMAGA).

The Simple Legislative Tool Transforming Vacant Downtowns
In California, Michigan and Georgia, an easy win is bringing dollars — and delight — back to city centers.

Albuquerque’s Microtransit: A Planner’s Answer to Food Access Gaps
New microtransit vans in Albuquerque aim to close food access gaps by linking low-income areas to grocery stores, cutting travel times by 30 percent and offering planners a scalable model for equity-focused transit.

This City Will Pay You to Meet Your Neighbors
A North Kansas City grant program offers up to $400 for residents to throw neighborhood block parties.

Commentary: Our Silence Will Not Protect Us
Keeping our heads down and our language inoffensive is not the right response to the times we’re in. Solidarity and courage is.
Urban Design for Planners 1: Software Tools
This six-course series explores essential urban design concepts using open source software and equips planners with the tools they need to participate fully in the urban design process.
Planning for Universal Design
Learn the tools for implementing Universal Design in planning regulations.
Smith Gee Studio
City of Charlotte
City of Camden Redevelopment Agency
City of Astoria
Transportation Research & Education Center (TREC) at Portland State University
US High Speed Rail Association
City of Camden Redevelopment Agency
Municipality of Princeton (NJ)