For nearly three decades, environmental reporter Sammy Fretwell (1983 B.A., journalism) has chronicled South Carolina’s most pressing environmental stories — from coastal erosion and nuclear waste to climate change and conservation. As part of the Environmental Reporting Fellowship in the College of Information and Communications, Fretwell is helping 12 student fellows understand how to turn complex environmental issues into compelling stories.
In a recent session, Fretwell discussed how coastal development has evolved since Hurricane Hugo devastated the state in 1989. He explained that new laws were originally designed to limit rebuilding too close to the ocean, but over time, legal challenges and political pressure have weakened those restrictions.
“Virtually everything wiped out by Hugo had everybody in an uproar,” Fretwell said. “The setback lines that were meant to protect the coast were slowly pushed seaward, allowing construction closer to the water, and that’s left taxpayers footing the bill for repeated damage.”
Fretwell, who has covered the environment beat for The State newspaper since 1995 and was named Journalist of the Year by the South Carolina Press Association in 2017, shares insights drawn from his decades of reporting across the state. The fellowship, now in its third year, includes six evening sessions throughout the semester, offering students the chance to learn from Fretwell about his reporting on landfills, pollution and other environmental issues.
Riley Edenbeck, a second-year student in the Master of Data and Communication program, said the experience has expanded her understanding of what makes environmental stories resonate statewide.
“We’ve talked about how to make local stories relevant for the entire state,” she said. “A lot of times that comes down to showing how these issues affect people financially — if it hits their pocketbook, it gets their attention.”
This year’s fellowship culminates in the spring with a visit from Washington Post environmental reporter Brady Dennis. He’ll speak to the fellows and a larger group of students and will be given the SJMC’s first Environmental Leadership Award for shining a light on issues nationwide.