Luis Joel Méndez González

Covering Science at the Local Level: A Peer-Mentoring Community - The Open Notebook The Open Notebook's Covering Science peer-mentoring program is a diverse community of practice for local and general assignment reporters and editors who are interested in adding more science…

For journalists covering science and looking for support, @theopennotebook.bsky.social hosts a peer-mentoring community on Slack called Covering Science at the Local Level. Learn more and apply:

Wealthy Ranchers Profit From Public Lands. Taxpayers Pick Up the Tab. A ProPublica and High Country News investigation found that government programs supporting grazing on public lands prop up a wealthy few while harming the environment. The Trump administration is supe...

The Trump administration is pushing to expand grazing on public lands while reducing its already low cost, under the false premise that it will fill America’s coffers.

Wealthy ranchers are profiting — at the expense of taxpayers.

(Published Dec. 2025 with @highcountrynews.org)

I can assure you that those long-form stories are the ones that will survive to AI.

Long-form stories have their own audience.

My entire journalistic career, editors & owners & bosses told me again & again that my stuff was too long, too in-depth, too wonky, no one would read it.

Again & again, readers flocked to the longer, wonkier pieces, passed them around, wrote me to thank me for them, cited them years later.

Les comparto parte de mi conversación con la abogada Mayra López Mulero en su programa de radio transmitido por la estación WKAQ 580 AM. Conversamos sobre el alza en el costo de la vivienda en Cabo Rojo que se ha agravado tras el anuncio del proyecto Esencia. 🇵🇷#CPIFiscaliza

YouTube video by Victoria840 AM {En vivo} Ponte al día: Proyecto Esencia agrava el acceso a viviendas asequibles en Cabo Rojo

Gracias a Linda Michelle, moderadora del programa Ponte Al Día, por invitarme a conversar en Radio Victoria 840 AM sobre mi más reciente investigación sobre el impacto del proyecto Esencia en Cabo Rojo en el mercado de la vivienda. Aprecio la oportunidad — youtu.be/nV6HhtTgzOg?.... #CPIFiscaliza

¡Gracias a la Universidad de Puerto Rico en Arecibo por el reconocimiento! Mi alma mater: donde viví los mejores años de mi juventud, conocí profesores, compañeros de estudio y descubrí mi máximo potencial. Por siempre, un orgullo ser egresado de la mejor universidad del País. 🇵🇷 #AullaLobo

Proyecto Esencia agrava el acceso a viviendas asequibles en Cabo Rojo La construcción propuesta del proyecto de lujo en Cabo Rojo coincide con un incremento en el costo de las viviendas en ese municipio y en la cantidad de casas vendidas, mientras sus residentes luchan ...

La construcción del proyecto Esencia coincide con el incremento en el costo y cantidad de viviendas vendidas en Cabo Rojo, mientras sus residentes luchan por un techo a bajo costo. Lean mi investigación para el Centro de Periodismo Investigativo 🏠 – periodismoinvestigativo.com/2026/03/esen...

Yesterday, I spoke with journalist Cristina del Mar Quiles on Agenda Propia about a forum celebrated in Mayagüez where economists and planners warn about tourism’s developments impact on western Puerto Rico’s coastal municipalities. #Tourism #Gentrification #Environment #PuertoRico #Esencia

The nonprofit El Otro Puerto Rico included the findings of my story, “Act 22 Investors Drawn to Coastal Development Amid the Climate Crisis,” in its proposal to advance the Housing Access Act. This piece was co-authored by Wilma Maldonado & Vanessa Colón Almenas for the CPI.

We also highly encourage reading @mjoel17.bsky.social's guide!

Exploring the hidden gems of my island 🇵🇷 #Hiking #Tourism #PuertoRico #Caribbean #Nature

Thanks to the Revista de Estudios Críticos del Derecho de la Universidad Interamericana de Puerto Rico for quoting my 2023 investigative series, “Inefectiva la protección costera,” in one of its articles on the climate crisis. Always an honor to help to academia! #ClimateChange

If you are an environmental activist, community leader, or journalist, I encourage you to read my guide on how to cover the impacts of tourism on disadvantaged communities. It was written during my year at the Metcalf Ocean Nexus Academy (MONA) at @uprootproject.bsky.social: surl.li/twmjsv 🌱

Wow 😮 I wasn’t aware. Thank you!

Why?

The world heard JD Vance being booed at the Olympics. Except for viewers in the US | Bryan Armen Graham The real risk for American broadcasters is not that dissent will be visible. It is that audiences will start assuming anything they do not show is being hidden

www.theguardian.com/sport/2026/f...

A friendly reminder that Bad Bunny explained pretty well what America is: 58 countries and territories, not 50 states. And yes, he also included Puerto Rico on the list. I’ve seen a couple of media outlets omitting it, which is highly disrespectful. #SuperBowl #BadBunny #HalfTimeShow

Resource Library The Uproot Resource Library gathers together resources for and by Uproot members, as well as resources from the broader environmental journalism community. A Journalist’s Guide to Reporting on Deep-Se...

Go to the Uproot Resource Library to see three new reporting guides by 2025 MONA Fellows and Uprooters @rachelreports.bsky.social, @mjoel17.bsky.social, and Eva Tesfaye
uprootproject.org/initiatives/...

This Monday, February 3 at 7:00 p.m., I’ll be talking about my experience at the Metcalf Ocean Nexus Academy (MONA) of the @uprootproject.bsky.social. As part of this program, I took part in a series of workshops on science journalism and received a grant to report abroad. #MONA

Lucia Priselac’s work is grounded in two core truths: environmental reporting is a part of every beat, and environmental journalism needs diversity—principles that will guide her work as co-chair of our 35th annual conference.

💬 How do you apply an environmental lens to your beat? Share examples!

“The Metcalf Ocean Nexus Academy has been an amazing opportunity to report on ocean equity in other countries. It taught me how to approach different cultures in their respective languages and within their unique historical realities in order to build meaningful stories.“ Luis Joel Méndez González Investigative Journalist and MONA Fellow

“MONA has been an amazing opportunity to report on ocean equity in other countries. It taught me how to approach different cultures in their respective languages and within their unique historical realities in order to build meaningful stories.“ @mjoel17.bsky.social
uprootproject.org/mona-fellows...

[CHEQUEO DE DATOS] Premisas falsas sobre enmiendas a la ley de transparencia: “hay confusión” Tras anunciar el pasado domingo la firma de enmiendas a la Ley de Transparencia y Procedimiento Expedito para el Acceso a Información Pública, la gobernadora Jenniffer González Colón dijo que el Proye...

La Fortaleza no proveyó al Centro de Periodismo Investigativo ninguna prueba que respaldara su alegato de que las enmiendas a la “Ley de Transparencia” facilitarán el acceso a datos. Lean mi más reciente chequeo de datos trabajado con Tatiana Diaz: periodismoinvestigativo.com/2025/12/cheq...

The Center for Investigative Journalism in #PuertoRico needs your help to keep investigating the climate crisis, environmental crimes, and unchecked development. Every dollar counts triple today—please donate before midnight: periodismoinvestigativo.com/donaciones. 🗞️ #CPIFiscaliza

Este miércoles, 12 de noviembre, conversaré con los estudiantes de la Asociación de Comunicaciones Científicas del Recinto de Mayagüez de la Universidad de Puerto Rico acerca de mi trabajo como periodista ambiental e investigativo. El encuentro será a las 4:30 p.m. EST. #CPIFiscaliza

Esencia: A Primarily Residential Project with Millions in Tourism Tax Breaks According to the Puerto Rico Tourism Company, the housing units proposed for the project outnumber the tourist lodging units by a ratio of two to one. The agency recommended that the developer reduce ...

A proposed development project in Puerto Rico would receive millions in tourism tax credits despite being primarily residential. Uprooter @mjoel17.bsky.social for @cpipr.bsky.social.

periodismoinvestigativo.com/2025/10/esen...

Este lunes conversé en el programa Agenda Propia del @cpipr.bsky.social sobre mi investigación acerca dd la adaptación y mitigación de los deslizamientos de tierra en la red vial, lo cual impacta directamente la economía y la movilidad de las comunidades. #CPFiscaliza

Delays in Using Reconstruction Funds After Hurricane María Leave Puerto Rico’s Roads Exposed to Landslides The lack of a plan to address climate change and the absence of precise data on landslide damage are hindering road and highway repairs, posing a constant risk.

The lack of a plan to address climate change and the absence of precise data on landslide damage are hindering road and highway repairs, posing a constant risk for locals in Puerto Rico. Read more in my latest investigation for @cpipr.bsky.social 🌄 – periodismoinvestigativo.com/2025/10/slow...

Gracias a la abogada Mayra López Mulero por recibirme en WKAQ 580 AM para conversar acerca la lenta adaptación de la red vial en Puerto Rico a los deslizamientos de tierra en el marco del cambio climático en representación del @cpipr.bsky.social. #CPIFiscalizamos