 | |
| Editor in chief | Nico Lauricella |
|---|---|
| Executive editor | Robinson Meyer |
| Format | Digital |
| Founded | 2023 |
| Country | United States |
Heatmap News is an American digital media company focusing on climate journalism. Founded in 2023, Heatmap takes a solutions-oriented approach to the climate crisis, covering its intersections with politics, business, and culture. [1] [2]
Heatmap was founded by a group of former executives at The Week , including former editor-in-chief Nico Lauricella, former CEO Sara O'Connor, and Randy Seigel, the former CEO of the magazine's publisher. Robinson Meyer, a staff writer at The Atlantic , was hired as executive editor, and several climate-focused journalists came on as contributors. [3] The site launched in March 2023. [4] Lauricella, who became Heatmap's editor in chief, compared the outlet's launch to the early days of Wired , describing its focus on covering climate “as the all-encompassing epic it is.” [5]
The company focused initially on consumer subscriptions, implementing a metered paywall that allowed readers to access some content while encouraging them to pay for full access. [3] As of March 2024, it had about 500,000 monthly readers and more than 50,000 newsletter subscribers, employing 12 full-time reporters. [4]
Meyer's first piece for Heatmap described an era of "climate post-science" in which environmental scientists combine a focus on the Earth with attention to how "humanity itself" is affected. [2] In its first year, the site broke stories relating to electric vehicle rollouts, the implementation of the Inflation Reduction Act, and U.S. hydrogen policy. [4]
In 2025, Heatmap won its first National Magazine Award, honored in the service journalism category for the "Decarbonize Your Life" special report edited by Jillian Goodman. [6]
Heatmap does not accept advertising from fossil fuel companies, a split from legacy media organizations that run such content alongside their climate coverage. [5] [7]