The Wilderness Society presented Rocky Barker ‘75 the Aldo Leopold Award for Distinguished Editorial Writing during its annual governing council meeting in Sun Valley, Idaho, September 24, 2015. The award is given to editorial writers who articulate the importance of protecting American wilderness.

Barker has been a tremendous influence in Idaho, including the protection of the Boulder-White Clouds wilderness areas.

In his journalism career he has covered every environmental issue in Idaho—endangered species, salmon recovery, wilderness, wolf reintroduction, grizzly management, fire, and climate change.

Barker is doing the best, if not only, investigative reporting in Idaho. By seeking out diverse voices and opinions, his coverage sets the tone for serious, in-depth conversations that affect all of Idaho. His perspective fuels honest, no nonsense reporting on Idaho’s environmental issues.

Photo credit: Bill Cronon