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Caribbean Broadcasting Union The 36th CBU Media Awards © Caribbean Broadcasting Union

Caribbean Currents Newsletter

Barbados and Jamaica Journalists win TNC Excellence in Environmental Reporting Awards

October 06, 2025

The Nature Conservancy’s Caribbean Division, in collaboration with the Caribbean Broadcasting Union (CBU), announced the winners of the 2025 Caribbean Media Awards for Environmental Journalism at the 36th Annual CBU Media Awards Gala in Barbados on August 20. 

The Award for Excellence in Environmental Reporting on Mangrove and Seagrass Beds was presented to the RJR/GLEANER Communications Group from Jamaica for its Television Jamaica feature “Rocking the Boat” by Romardo Lyons, Ivan Shaw and Uton West. 

The Award for Excellence in Environmental Reporting on Coral Reefs went to Esther Jones of the Barbados Government Information Service for the video story “Our Fragments of Hope,” which highlighted coral restoration work in Belize and Barbados. Greater Belize Media (Channel 5) received an Honorable Mention for the story “Belize’s Reefs Improving but Still Need Saving,” produced by Marion Ali and Darrel Moguel. 

Two people stand at a podium during an award ceremony.
Excellence in Journalism Award Cleveland Sam, Marketing and Communications Director for TNC Caribbean, presenting Dahlia Harris of RJR/Gleaner Communications Group with an award for her work with mangroves. © Troy Baker

The two TNC-sponsored categories received thirteen entries: eight in the Excellence in Environmental Reporting: Coral Reefs – digital category, and five in the Excellence in Environmental Reporting: Mangrove/ Seagrass – television category.

This was the second year of the Caribbean Division’s partnership with the CBU to present the Caribbean Media Awards. Since 2023, TNC has sponsored categories highlighting marine and coastal conservation to advance public awareness and positive change through media and storytelling initiatives. The awards celebrate exceptional reporting on the importance of coverage of coral reefs, mangrove and seagrass beds—critical ecosystems for protecting biodiversity, sustaining fisheries and safeguarding coastal communities from the impacts of climate change.

Two people pose at for a picture at an award ceremony.
Excellence in Journalism Award Cleveland Sam, Marketing and Communications Director for TNC Caribbean, presents Esther Jones of the Barbados Government Information Service with an award for her coral work. © Troy Baker

The CBU awards recognize excellence across 52 categories, with support from leading partners including TNC’s Caribbean Division, UNICEF, Sagicor and the Healthy Caribbean Coalition.