USC Annenberg Center for Climate Journalism and Communication

What USC Annenberg Center for Climate Journalism and Communication does

The USC Annenberg Center for Climate Journalism and Communication is an academic center housed within the USC Annenberg School for Communication and Journalism at the University of Southern California in Los Angeles. Founded in 2022 with eight employees, the Center's stated mission is to empower journalists and other communicators to tell more accurate and community-centered stories about climate change through research-backed training, media production, and convening. It operates as a nonprofit, university-affiliated initiative under the leadership of Dean Willow Bay, drawing on interdisciplinary faculty across climate science, energy resources, chemical engineering, and communication.

The Center's product portfolio centers on three pillars. First, credentialed training programs including the Certificate in Sustainability Communication (with the next cohort scheduled to begin September 2026) and the inaugural Health and Climate Change Reporting Fellowship delivered in partnership with USC's Center for Health Journalism. Second, on-demand media training sessions covering climate science, ethical AI, and best practices for climate journalists, plus bespoke sessions for organizations. Third, media projects and research resources, most notably the award-winning Electric Futures podcast (now in Season 3 covering California's Imperial Valley and hyperscaler data centers), the Temperature Check annual report surveying climate communicators, and downloadable guides on ESG, podcast creation, and data center community impacts.

The business model is fee-based professional services for training and fellowships, supplemented by institutional funding through USC and likely grants or sponsorships (none disclosed). Pricing is not publicly disclosed, and no external investors, funding rounds, or commercial customers are referenced. Distribution spans the USC campus (weeklong fellowships, certificate cohorts using Annenberg's media facilities) and global self-serve channels (online resources, podcast distribution via Apple Podcasts, Spotify, and Amazon Music, plus email and social media). Public programming featuring high-profile climate figures (e.g., Tom Steyer, Jane Fonda) supports awareness and community-building rather than direct monetization.

Name

USC Annenberg Center for Climate Journalism and Communication

Legal name

USC Annenberg Center for Climate Journalism and Communication

Website

https://climatecenter.usc.edu

Company type

Private

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

The USC Annenberg Center for Climate Journalism and Communication is a USC Annenberg School–based nonprofit center that trains journalists and communicators in climate reporting through certificate programs, fellowships, custom media training, the Electric Futures podcast, and research publications.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Climate Journalism Education and Training

NAICS

Professional and Management Development Training (611430)

SIC

Services-Educational Services (8200)

akta.pro primary industry

Environmental Education & Outreach (BPAGAGAH)

akta.pro secondary industries

Environment, Climate & Sustainability Congresses (THAHAJAH), Sustainability, ESG & Climate Finance Risk (EDABAJAO)

Keywords

• Climate journalism training
• Sustainability communication
• Journalism certification
• Climate media training
• Environmental storytelling

Headquarters

HQ city

Los Angeles

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B and B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Technology or R&D, Infrastructure

Revenue model

1. Training and Certification Programs: The Center offers fee-based training programs including the Certificate in Sustainability Communication, Health and Climate Change Reporting Fellowship, and custom media training sessions. Revenue is generated through program fees for certification and fellowship programs.

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels2 records

Marketing channels5 records

Core offering

The Center offers fee-based professional training programs in climate and sustainability communication, including a Certificate in Sustainability Communication and a Health and Climate Change Reporting Fellowship. It also produces media projects (the Electric Futures podcast) and research reports (Temperature Check) and delivers bespoke media training to journalists, scientists, and organizations. Its primary purpose is to enhance climate literacy and reporting skills for working journalists and communication professionals.

Product overview

The USC Annenberg Center for Climate Journalism and Communication offers a portfolio of training and media products focused on climate communication. The core offerings include educational programs (Certificate in Sustainability Communication, Health and Climate Change Reporting Fellowship, media training sessions), media projects (Electric Futures podcast series), and research resources (Temperature Check reports, guides on data centers and podcast creation). These products work together to advance climate journalism through training, storytelling, and research.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• Electric Futures Podcast: Award-winning podcast exploring lesser-known facets of the energy transition, with seasons covering Lithium Valley, Shadow Mountain community, and climate disaster aftermath.
• Certificate in Sustainability Communication
• Health and Climate Change Reporting Fellowship
• Temperature Check Report
• My Story is a Climate Story

Products and services

• Certificate in Sustainability Communication A first-of-its-kind certificate program designed for professionals from various backgrounds who want to incorporate climate change narratives and storytelling into their work. The next session begins in September 2026.
• Health and Climate Change Reporting Fellowship A weeklong reporting fellowship held on USC's campus, jointly run with the USC Annenberg Center for Health Journalism, focused on the intersection of environment, public health, and climate disaster zones including the Los Angeles fires.
• Electric Futures Podcast An award-winning podcast produced by the Center exploring lesser-known facets of the energy transition, including Lithium Valley, the Shadow Mountain community, and climate disaster aftermath.
• Media Training for Climate Communicators Communications training delivered online and in USC Annenberg's state-of-the-art media facilities, equipping climate experts, scientists, and researchers to communicate about climate change.
• Best Practices Training for Climate Journalists Training sessions covering topics ranging from climate science to ethical AI, offered to groups of varying sizes.
• Bespoke Training Sessions Custom training sessions addressing regional or thematic climate communication issues, delivered upon demand to organizations of all sizes.
• Temperature Check Report An annual research report surveying climate communicators about news consumption habits, biggest challenges, and best practices in climate reporting.
• How to Create a Climate Podcast Guide An in-depth environmental storytelling resource for burgeoning podcasters, grounded in climate communication best practices.
• The Data Center Next Door Guide A guide outlining key issues communities encounter when considering data center development, with questions residents, leaders, and journalists can ask for clarity.
• ESG Narratives and Social Media Report A research report addressing narratives and narrators gaining traction in the ESG conversation, providing enhanced understanding of corporate climate-related disclosures.

Segments3 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

One partnership is on record.

• USC Annenberg School for Communication and JournalismcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerThe Center is housed within the USC Annenberg School, a world-class journalism and communication school at an R1 research university. This provides institutional infrastructure, faculty access, and state-of-the-art media facilities for training programs.

Scale indicators1 record

Recent moves5 records

Expansion highlights4 records

Direct peers

• Climate Central: Nonprofit climate science communication organization producing research, visuals, and journalism resources for reporters. Directly comparable as a nonprofit focused on improving climate coverage and providing tools and training for journalists and communicators.
• InsideClimate News: Nonprofit investigative climate journalism outlet. Comparable as a nonprofit producing award-winning climate journalism and supporting reporters covering climate stories.
• Covering Climate Now: Journalism initiative co-founded by Columbia Journalism Review and The Nation that organizes newsroom collaboration on climate coverage. Comparable as a coalition-style effort to improve the quality and quantity of climate journalism.
• Yale Program on Climate Change Communication (YPCCC): Academic research program at Yale studying and supporting climate communication. Closely comparable as an R1-university-based program that produces research, surveys, and training resources for climate communicators and journalists.
• Climate Reality Project: Nonprofit founded by Al Gore that trains climate leaders and communicators and produces climate communications campaigns. Comparable as a training-and-communications nonprofit in the climate space with cohort-based programs.

Broad incumbents

• The Columbia Journalism Review: Columbia University-affiliated journalism review and training organization that has run climate journalism initiatives. Comparable as a university-affiliated media organization that influences standards and training for climate coverage.
• The Poynter Institute: Major journalism training and education nonprofit offering courses, workshops, and seminars for media professionals. Comparable as a training provider for journalists with overlapping professional development and certificate-style offerings.
• The Nieman Foundation for Journalism (Harvard): Harvard-based journalism fellowship and training program. Comparable as an elite university-affiliated journalism training institution offering fellowships and climate-related programming for working journalists.
• Knight Science Journalism Program (MIT): MIT-based fellowship program for science journalists, including climate and energy coverage. Comparable as a top-tier academic fellowship offering that trains journalists on science and climate topics with university resources.

Emerging players

• Solutions Journalism Network: Nonprofit that trains journalists on solutions-focused reporting, including climate solutions. Comparable as a smaller, mission-driven training organization shaping how journalists cover climate and related issues.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat3 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/usc-annenberg-center-for-climate-journalism-and-communication

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles2 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about USC Annenberg Center for Climate Journalism and Communication