We examine whether media coverage affects the insurance-like effects of environmental corporate social responsibility (CSR) during the occurrences of negative events. During the occurrences of environmental negative events, we find that the strength of media coverage (frequency of positive media coverage) will have an effect on a firm’s shareholder value. A firm’s shareholder value increases with more positive CSR media coverage rather than CSR performance. In contrast to prior CSR literature, insurance-like effects of CSR are not prevalent during the occurrences of negative events. A firm’s shareholder value is only affected when a negative event occurs for a firm that has been frequently reported for doing good. These evidences document that media coverage plays a pivotal role between CSR and shareholder value. Our findings are supported with data that media is a vital intermediary between CSR and shareholder value when negative events occur.