Q&A with Environmental Journalist Jim Robbins

By Maeve Hamlet 

Jim Robbins is a veteran environmental journalist based in Montana. He is a regular contributor for The New York Times, the Smithsonian, Yale Environment 360 as well as several other publications. Robbins is also an author and his latest book The Wonder of Birds: what they tell us about the World, ourselves and a better future was released in 2018.

Q: How did you get into environmental journalism?

Jim Robbins: I grew up in Niagara Falls, New York. It got me extremely interested in toxic waste sites and pollution. That raised my consciousness about such things. I went to college in Buffalo, New York, and then shortly after graduating, I drove to Montana. I always wanted to live in a place where I had plenty of room to roam. I was impressed by the backcountry. I knew I had to stay in Montana. That was in the late 1970s. In 1980, I got a job writing for the New York Times, as a stringer from Montana, they liked what I did. I have been doing that ever since. That was 41 years ago.

Q: Environmental journalism has been highly politicized in media coverage. As a journalist, how do you stay away from politics?

Robbins: It is important to avoid politics and report the facts. The facts speak for themselves. That is how good reporting should be. There's plenty of opinions out there and shading of stories. I think you should focus on trying to get the truth across to people. I think that’s powerful journalism.

Q: How do you remain positive in your career?

Robbins: I am an intellectual pessimist but a glandular optimist. I was born to be hopeful.

Q: What would you say is the goal of your reporting? 

Robbins: Truth. I think you must get to the truth as best as you can. The truth should always be your goal.

Q: What is the biggest struggle with being an environmental journalist?

Robbins: Keeping up with the changes. When I started doing this, I used to write on a typewriter. Instead of a computer, I would type things out and then read the copy into a tape recorder and then somebody would transcribe it and send it out.

Q: What is your favorite topic to report on?

Robbins: I like positive stories! I just wrote a piece about one of the members of Pearl Jam, who built 27 skateboard parks in Montana. It was in the New York Times, and I traveled with him for a couple of days, going to different skate parks around Montana. I saw a lot of happy people skateboarding, they were all overcoming their problems because they had something to do. That was fun; I like fun stories. I have also done travel stories in Peru, Australia and Europe. I like seeing the world and opening people's minds to different ideas. I always like stories that make people feel good. That is my favorite kind of story to report on.

Q: What advice would you give to a young journalist?

Robbins: Longevity is the key to success. Mistakes are how you learn. A lot of people quit because it is hard, and they make mistakes, or their story is not accepted. I have had some colossal failures, but that is how you succeed. You will learn from those mistakes. That is the key. You must pick yourself up, keep going and not feel like a failure. You will make mistakes because everybody does. The key is to learn from those mistakes.