Underwater caverns in Mexico and deep, immersive storytelling

Hello and welcome to The Associated Press Climate Watch newsletter. I am Peter Prengaman , global climate and environment news director. Today I’m?writing about what went into the building of a recent, visually stunning story on “cenotes,” sinkhole lakes that are part of a labyrinth of underwater caves in Mexico’s Yucatan Peninsula.

I am going to start this week’s newsletter by asking you to do something. From a computer or tablet, click on this link and spend 60 seconds looking at the opening visuals and reading the headline and initial paragraphs.

If you did that, I’m going to bet you kept going, getting deeper into the story and possibly even finishing it. “Immersive storytelling,” as it’s called, is meant to pull you in by telling a strong story that uses arresting photos, video, words and graphics while giving you some control over the experience in the form of interactivity.

The story of the “cenotes,” which provoke a wide range of human emotions, has a little bit of everything.

The cenotes are an ecological wonder and a major water source — that are being badly damaged by the Maya Train project. That train, however, will likely draw more tourists to the Yucatan Peninsula, providing economic opportunities to poor people in the region. Then add to the mix an outgoing president determined to build it, foreign tourists partying it up in the caves and volunteers who clean up garbage already accumulating from the development. All of that is captured in the story.

Telling a story with so many characters, and using different mediums to do it, doesn’t just happen. To better understand how it came about, I spoke with colleague Teresa de Miguel Escribano , a video journalist and editor who is a member of the Climate team based in Mexico City.

De Miguel had traveled to the Yucatan Peninsula twice before for stories, in 2022 and 2023. Visiting the caves, she said she was awed by the crystal-clear waters and tranquility of the underground world.?

When images of drills blasting into the caves began emerging early this year, de Miguel pitched traveling to the area for a story looking at all aspects of what was happening. To take the story to the highest level, she would need to bring in other colleague experts.?

“I realized I was involved in something larger than me,” said de Miguel.??

Peru-based photographer Rodrigo Abd would travel with de Miguel to the caves while reporter Megan J. , based in Mexico City, would help with the reporting and anchor the writing of the text story.

Abd and de Miguel, both certified scuba divers, spent a week in the Yucatan Peninsula. Besides gathering stunning images of the caves, they talked to people who supported the train project, activists who were against it and volunteers working to clean up the caves — all while going to great lengths to avoid the Army, which would not speak about the project nor allow access.?

Upon return, de Miguel, Abd and Janetsky began working with other colleagues who had been brought in. Developer Caleb Diehl , illustrator Peter Hamlin, enterprise editor Anna Jo Bratton , enterprise photo editor Enric Marti and beats video editor Kathy Young .?

Meshing the ideas of so many talented journalists into a coherent vision took negotiation, frank conversations and experimentation.

There were also challenges along the way, such as mapping where the train was being built. The Mexican government has only divulged bits and pieces, so the team had to work with biologist, non-governmental organizations and activists for Diehl to be able to create an interactive map.

Since AP video customers have varying needs, the story had to be told in various ways. In total, there were three different pieces for traditional customers, a mini-documentary (which also went in the presentation) and an Instagram reel?and post.

Not surprisingly, the package was a winner of AP’s weekly Best of the Week contest.?

For de Miguel, there were many takeaways, perhaps the biggest being that, even as news consumers gravitate toward shorter stories, fuller stories can still resonate.

"People do want context," she said. "People do want longer stories that are compelling."

Check out all our climate coverage here.

Here’s what else you need to know?

?? While scientist after scientist, and one international agreement after another, all say that the world must move away from fossil fuels to combat climate change, the Philippines is aiming to become a regional hub in Asia for liquid natural gas. ?

?? In Indonesia, women are working to combat deforestation, one patrol, and one conversation, at a time.

?? United Nations Secretary General Antonio Guterres recently called for a “windfall tax” on companies working in oil, gas and coal, fossil fuels that when burned contribute to climate change.

? Climate Solutions?

What if you could significantly cut your heating and cooling bills while combatting climate change? This pilot program in Massachusetts is aiming to do just that with geothermal.?

Thank you for reading this newsletter. We’ll be back next week. For questions, suggestions or ideas please email [email protected]?

This newsletter was written by Peter Prengaman, global news director for climate and environment, and produced by climate engagement manager Natalia Gutiérrez .

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