Pulitzer Prize-winning environmental journalist Bob Marshall has joined the staff of The Lens, where he will bring his widely recognized expertise to bear on issues of wetlands restoration, flood protection and coastal erosion.

Marshall was a reporter and columnist at The Times-Picayune for more than 30 years. He joined The Lens this month, and his debut story addresses attempts to shift money for coastal restoration, even before the money begins to flow.

In 1997, Marshall was co-author of the Pulitzer-winning series “Oceans of Trouble,” which examined the plight of the world’s fisheries.

His considerable experience in environmental reporting produces unique insight into the scientific, social and political aspects of Louisiana’s coastal issues, providing him access to the key decisions-makers involved in the issue.

“Bob’s instincts for finding stories no one else is telling, as well as his ability to write in-depth stories that resonate with all readers, mesh well with The Lens’ mission of providing our readers with unique, public-interest journalism,” Editor Steve Beatty said. “Bob’s work will continue to educate policymakers and the public, and we’re thrilled to have him on staff.”

Marshall’s work will be featured on The Lens and shared with our expanding network of publishing partners in print, television and radio, ensuring that his reporting reaches the widest possible audience. He said he’s intrigued and excited about working in a nonprofit, cooperative newsroom that has reader engagement at its core.

“The Lens represents a new way forward in investigative and solution-based journalism, and it’s good to be a part of something so innovative,” he said.

Marshall also covered a variety of major sporting events for the newspaper, including Olympic Games and Super Bowls, and he wrote a beloved fishing column. His work at The Lens, though, will be tightly focused on the critical environmental issues facing the state, including implementation of the multi-billion-dollar RESTORE Act and whether corporate fines and  taxpayer money are used for their intended purposes.

He’s no stranger to such incisive and influential work.

In 2005 Marshall’s investigations into Corps of Engineers missteps in building the New Orleans levees and floodwalls was part of The Times-Picayune’s reporting package that was awarded two Pulitzer Prizes. In addition, Marshall was a finalist for the Investigative Editors and Reporters award and the Polk Award for his ongoing coverage into the causes of the disaster.

In 2007 Marshall was co-author of the series “Last Chance: The Fight to Save a Disappearing Coast,” about Louisiana’s coastal erosion problems, which won the 2007 John H. Oakes Prize for Distinguished Environmental Reporting from Columbia University and The National Academies Of Science Communications Award for excellence in reporting and communicating science.

In 2008 Marshall was co-author of the award-winning series “Losing Louisiana,” which explored the impacts of global climate change and sea-level rise on coastal Louisiana.

In addition to his newspaper work, Marshall’s professional credits include his current assignment as conservation editor for Field&Stream Magazine, South columnist of Outdoor Life Magazine; host of the F&S Radio Network; co-host of ESPN’s The Outdoors Writers and feature assignments for a wide range of national publications from Reader’s Digest to National Geographic Adventure and Men’s Journal.

Marshall is 1971 graduate of Loyola University in New Orleans, and is a member of the School of Mass Communication’s Den of Distinction. Since 2008, he has been the journalism instructor at the ieiMedia summer journalism program at the University of Urbino, Italy.

Marshall lives in New Orleans with his wife, Marie Gould, founder of Louisiana Lost Lands Environmental Tours.

He can be reached at bmarshall@TheLensNola.org