Public Herald


Public Herald is a non-profit investigative news organization based in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. Launched in 2011 by Joshua Pribanic and Melissa Troutman, Public Herald is known for their investigative reporting on fracking activity and its effect on water in Pennsylvania. Their slogan is, "media by and for the public interests."
Public Herald has been active in environmental issues, publishing the films “Triple Divide", “Triple Divide ”, and "Invisible Hand", and producing reports on fracking and its effects on groundwater in Pennsylvania. Public Herald also launched Fileroom.org, which collects information on oil and gas and makes those records available online so they are accessible to both the public and journalists.
The works of Public Herald have had widespread coverage in environmental journalism, editorials, and major news media, including NPR Marketplace, Rolling Stone, The Washington Post, and The New York Times. Their work has also been referenced in the books "Amity and Prosperity: One Family and the Fracturing of America" by Eliza Griswald, "Legal Rights for Rivers: Competition, Collaboration and Water Governance" by Erin O'Donnell and "Sustainability and the Rights of Nature: An Introduction" by Cameron La Follette, Chris Maser.

Films and investigative reports

In 2013, Public Herald released the film "Triple Divide" which documented regulator misconduct surrounding the controversial practice of fracking.
On September 21, 2015, Public Herald released a report titled "Ways Pennsylvania DEP Water Contamination Cases Related to Fracking are “Cooked”.
In 2017, Public Herald released its second feature-length documentary, “Triple Divide which expanded on what was covered in "Triple"Divide".
In 2020, Public Herald released a documentary titled "Invisible Hand" which focuses on the story of Rights of Nature through Grant Township, previously reported by Public Herald. The film discusses democracy, capitalism, and rights of nature. Mark Ruffalo is the executive producer for INVISIBLE HAND, and narrator of all 3 films. The films are directed by Melissa Troutman and Joshua Boaz Pribanic.
PublicHerald.org reports have been cited by multiple academic articles

#fileroom

In 2015, Public Herald created the online resource #fileroom, located at , to collect information about oil and gas which is open to the public and journalists to contribute to or access. There are categories for complaints, permits, waste, GMI, and a legal section for court cases and law that is related oil/gas in Pennsylvania or the Department of Environmental Protection.

Awards and funding

In 2014, The Investigative News Network & the Knight Foundation awarded $35,000 through the Innovation Fund for the work on "Triple Divide".
Awards and Festivals
  • 2021 Red Nation International Film Festival
  • 2021 Gold Winner Telly Awards for non-broadcast feature documentary
  • 2021 Award Winner for Best Feature Documentary, Colorado Activism Film Festival
  • 2021 Audience Award Common Good International Film Festival
  • 2021 Spotlight Documentary Film Awards’ Gold Award
  • 2021 Official Selection Blackbird Film Festival
  • 2021 Official Selection Transitions Film Festival
  • 2021 Official Selection Common Good International Film Festival
  • 2021 Official Selection Water Docs Film Festival
  • 2020 Grand Prize Humanitarian Award from Accolade Global Film Competition
  • 2020 Best Documentary Feature from the Hollywood Verge Film Awards
  • 2020 Accolade Global Film Competition Award of Excellence for Documentary
  • 2020 Official Selection Columbus International Film Festival
  • 2020 Official Selection Princeton Environmental Film Festival
  • 2020 Official Selection Around Paris International Film Festival
  • 2019 Official Selection Adirondack International Film Festival
  • Humanitarian Award, Accolade Global Film Competition
  • People's Choice Award, Real to Reel Film Festival
  • Award of Merit, Accolade Global Film Competition
  • Runner Up, Audience Award, Reading Film Fest
  • Official Selection New York Film & TV Festival
  • Official Selection Maryland International Film Festival
  • Official Selection Erie International Film Festival
  • Official Selection Colorado Environmental Film Festival
  • Official Selection Harrisburg-Hershey Film Festival
  • Official Selection Oil Valley International Film Festival