Gisele Neuls

I am an Information and Media Ph.D. I was an instructor of record of environmental reporting and advocacy at the Michigan State School of Journalism between 2023 and 2025. My professional and scholarly work is focused on environmental communication, Indigenous media, and participatory methods.

Before joining Michigan State, I completed my master’s in Communication and Information at the Rio Grande do Sul Federal University in Brazil.

I have 20 years of experience as an environmental journalist and communications expert. I have closely followed issues such as climate change and sustainable development for rural and forest communities.

RESUMÉ

EDUCATION

Information and Media Ph.D., Michigan State University, Specialization in Gender, Justice and Environmental Change. Year of conclusion: 2025.

Master’s degree in Communication and Information, obtained at Federal University of Rio Grande do Sul (UFRGS). Title: Agroforestry possible: communication and information appropriation by settlers in Amazon. Year of conclusion: 2011.

Bachelor’s degree in Communication – Journalism, obtained at Federal University of Rio Grande do Sul (UFRGS). Year of conclusion: 2004.

RESEARCH

2021-2023 – National Science Foundation, (RA) Project: GCR – Convergence for Innovative Energy Solutions: Empowering Off-Grid Communities with Sustainable Energy Technologies PIs: Emilio Moran (PI), Rachel Mourão, Norbert Mueller, Aaron McCright, Maria Lopez

Research groups

  • 2021 – present: Environmental Journalism Research Group (Brazil)
  • 2023 – present: Knight Center for Environmental Journalism (US)

TEACHING

  • Instructor of Record, Michigan State University, School of Journalism
    • Environmental, Science and Health Reporting (JRN 472), AY 2023-2025
    • Public Relations for Journalists (JRN 402), Summer 2022, asynchronous
    • Environmental Advocacy Planning (JRN 472), Summer 2023, asynchronous
  • Teaching Assistant, Michigan State University, School of Journalism
    • Social Media Storytelling (CAS 841 – online MA program), Summer 2021, asynchronous
  • Guest Lecturer Michigan State University, School of Journalism
    • Social Media Planning, at JRN 821: Social Media News and Information, Spring 2023, Fall 2023 (MA level)
    • Brazilian Electoral System and 2022 Elections, at JRN 365: International News and Government Dynamics, Fall 2022

Peer-reviewed academic publications

  • Lembi, R., Lopez, M. C., Ramos, K. N., Johansen, I. C., Da Silva, L. J. S., Santos, M. R. P., Lacerda, G. Y. C., Neuls, G. S., & Moran, E. (2025). Towards energy justice and energy sovereignty: Participatory co-design of off-grid systems in the Brazilian Amazon. Energy Research & Social Science, 119, 103858. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.erss.2024.103858
  • Mourão, R. R., Neuls, G. S., & Ninni, K. (2022). Hydropower in the News: How Journalists do (not) Cover the Environmental and Socioeconomic Costs of Dams in Brazil. Environmental Communication, 16:6, 822-835. doi.org/10.1080/17524032.2022.2115095
  • Girardi, I., Moraes, C. H. de, Loose, E. B., Neuls, G. S., Massierer, C., Camana, Â., & Gertz, L. (2016). O olhar do jornalismo sobre a Economia Verde: Estudo a partir da cobertura da Rio+20 pelos portais G1, UOL e Terra. LÍBERO, 0(32), 71–80.
  • Girardi, I. M. T., Massierer, C., Moraes, C. H. de, Loose, E. B., Neuls, G. S., Schwaab, R., Camana, Â., & Gertz, L. (2013). Discursos e vozes na cobertura jornalística das COP15 e 16. Em Questão, 19(2), 176–194.

Book chapters

  • Neuls, G. (2011). Aproximações teóricas entre informação, consumo e cidadania ambiental. In V. J. Morigi, I. M. T. Girardi, & C. D. de Almeida (Eds.), Comunicação, informação e cidadania: Refletindo práticas e contextos (pp. 119–132). Editora Sulina.
  • Almeida, C. D. de, Guindani, J., & Neuls, G. S. (2010). Rádio-comunitária Quilombo FM: comunicadores comunitários, sujeitos da sua história, cidadãos de sua cidade. In A. Pereira, I. Tomita, M. Fernandes, & S. Kurschaidt (Eds.), Mídia, cidadania, manifestações culturais e questões de gênero (pp. 187–203). Unicentro Paraná.
  • Girardi, I. M. T., Neuls, G. S., & Loose, E. B. (2009). Jornalismo Ambiental e Científico na Construção da Cidadania. In C. Victor (Ed.), Jornalismo científico e desenvolvimento sustentável (pp. 94–112). All Print Ed.

Peer-reviewed academic conference papers

  • Friedman, E.; Takahashi, B.; Balden, J.; Neuls, G.S.; Amiden, I. (2025) Challenges and Opportunities for Environmental Journalism Training: Experiences from three Latin American Countries. Presented at the Association for Education in Journalism and Mass Communication National Conference, in San Francisco.
  • Neuls, G. S. (2024) Brazilian Indigenous Women discourse on Instagram: a nexus of land, nature and survival. Presented at the International Communication Association Conference, in Gold Coast.
  • Antolini, M.; Neuls, G. S.; Mourão, R.; da Silva, M. (2024) Influencers as political news providers: Understanding patterns of information consumption during elections in Brazil. Presented at the International Communication Association Conference, in Goals Coast.
  • Neuls, G. S.; da Silva, M.; Battocchio, A. (2023) Learning from Indigenous Journalism: a case for standpoint journalism. Presented at the Association for Education in Journalism and Mass Communication National Conference, in Washington.
  • Neuls, G. (2023, May). Brazilian Indigenous Environmental Journalism perspectives. Presented at the International Communication Association Conference, in Toronto.
  • Neuls, G. S.; Ninni, K.; Mourão, R. (2022). Discourses about socio-environmental impact of hydropower in Brazilian news. Presented at the International Communication Association Conference, held in Paris.
  • Mourão, R.R.; Neuls, G. S.; Ninni, K. (2021). Hydropower in the news: how journalists do (not) cover the environmental and socioeconomic costs of dams in Brazil. Presented at the Association for Education in Journalism and Mass Communication National Conference, virtual due to COVID-19.

PROFESSIONAL EXPERIENCE

  • CEO, Matiz Caboclo Communication, São Paulo, SP, Brazil, 2017-2023. Public relations agency specialized in socio-environmental issues, focused on non-profit organizations and B-corps.
  • Chief Communications Officer (CCO), Secretariat for the Environment of São Paulo State, São Paulo, SP, Brazil, 2016-2015. Managed the communication strategy for São Paulo’s Environment System, consisting of the Secretariat, three research institutes, two environment foundations and the environmental protection agency (Cetesb). The work included PR, social media management, web content management, briefings for press conferences and interviews.
  • Chief Online Editor, Canal Rural TV Chanel, São Paulo, SP, Brazil, 2015-2013. Coordinated all web editorial content, from hard news to special projects; managed the news team and budget; did audience trend reports (analytics); and supervised the social media strategy.
  • Freelance Reporter, Campo Grande, MS, Brazil, 2010–2013. Reporting on climate change, green economy, sustainability and environmental policies.
  • Chief Communications Officer (CCO), Instituto Centro de Vida (NGO), Cuiabá, MT, Brazil, 2005-2010. Responsible for strategic planning, public relations, content management, team management, project management (budget, workflow and reports).
  • News editor, RBS Communications Network, Porto Alegre, RS, Brazil, 2003-2005.

LANGUAGES

  • Brazilian Portuguese: native speaker
  • English: fluent (speaking and writing)
  • Spanish: confident (fluent level for speaking, intermediate for writing)

STATS SKILLS

  • SPSS
  • R Studio (intermediate)