The demise of green biz reporting?

Joel Makower writes on the Huffington Post about his worry that coverage of environmental and green business issues is on the decline.

Makower notes that Fortune recently gave layoff notices to Marc Gunther, one of the leading business writers on corporate environmental practices, along with Todd Woody, whose coverage of clean technology has led the pack.

Makower writes, “As I’ve noted earlier this year, mainstream business writers still seem ill-informed and overly cynical about company efforts to be greener. Like the preponderance of their readers, editors and reporters seem to start with the assumption that most environmental activities undertaken by companies, especially large companies, are done primarily for P.R. reasons. True, healthy skepticism is the currency of a good journalist, but undying cynicism is more the norm when it comes to environmental business reporting.

“The recent spate of downsizings of writers, editors, and producers covering environmental issues will only exacerbate this, relegating green business coverage to reporters with less knowledge, context, and historical perspective on the transformation taking place in business.

“I hear from such reporters every week: general-assignment reporters from newspapers and broadcast stations around the U.S., niche trade magazines, and others seeking comment or context on a story they’re covering. I can tell you unequivocally that the nature of their questions reveals a high degree of ignorance. I’m happy to bring them up to speed, but it’s a slog.”

Read more here.