NewsPro: Society of Environmental Journalists

October 2009

The Society of Environmental Journalists

In Print: PDF of Full Issue

Journalists Bring Global Warming Home

Global warming is typically perceived as a story about far away — melting icecaps in the Arctic — and far in the future; both factors make the climate change story a hard sell to TV news directors and newspaper editors. But while the issue global warming been a major national environmental story for years, it now is also becoming an increasingly local one.

Combined Newsrooms a Sign of the Times

It’s a sign of the constantly shifting media landscape — television and print newsrooms in several major markets are being combined, led by Tribune Co., with merger operations either under way or scheduled soon in Los Angeles, Chicago, Hartford, Conn., and Miami/Fort Lauderdale. Although many critics and academics argue that the merger decisions are based on the simple economics of doing more with less and surviving in a bad economy, some do see benefits — and that it makes sense for newspapers to collaborate with TV stations rather than trying to start their own video units from scratch.

Making the Most of the Crowded Freelance Market

Last year’s economic collapse dealt a heavy blow to writers, editors, news anchors and others, who now find themselves in a free-falling market that is saturated with professionals.Many of those journalists were able to find freelance work last year, only to discover that this year’s sinking market is much more crowded and, since no one knows how much further it is to the bottom, are being forced to pursue alternative employment.

Murrow Winners Reflect Diversity of Style

The Radio-Television News Directors Association — to officially become known as the Radio Television Digital News Association Oct. 13 — every year presents one of the industry’s most important and valued awards honoring excellence in electronic journalism. This year’s national winners in television, who will be presented with their awards Oct. 12 at the RTNDA’s Edward R. Murrow Awards dinner in New York, represent a diversity of style, a commitment to excellence and an endeavor to emulate in many ways the work of the award’s namesake.

KSL's John Daley: Doing It All on the Environmental Beat

John Daley, general assignment reporter for KSL-TV in Salt Lake City, has spent 10 years working on stories as varied as the 2002 Winter Olympic Games, which the city hosted, and the subsequent bribery scandal, as well as the legislative beat at Utah’s Capitol Hill. During that time, he also came to specialize in investigative stories about the environment, transportation and air quality. Daley recently spoke with NewsPro correspondent Allison J. Waldman about the challenges of the beat and the range of skills it takes to do his job well.

SEJ 2009: Following Water's Flow

Big-name guests and a special focus on water will mark the 19th annual conference of the Society of Environmental Journalists, being held from Oct. 7 to 11 in Madison, Wis. The conference will introduce attendees to some of the new faces and forces in the Obama administration. For the first time, a sitting Secretary of Agriculture — Tom Vilsack — will speak at an SEJ Conference.

NewsPro's SEJ Poll: Job Resources, Warming Top of Mind 

A new survey of environmental reporters indicates that their biggest challenge is the limited resources of their jobs and the most crucial issue they cover is global warming.
The poll, conducted by NewsPro in conjunction with the Society of Environmental Journalists, also found that: they are encouraged by the American public’s generally raised level of consciousness about green issues.

Copenhagen Meet: A View From Afar

Although December's United Nations Climate Change Conference (COP15) will be a hot spot of debate about how the world deals with global warming, few U.S. journalists, local or national, will be on hand — partly because of tighter budgets and partly because the conferences have historically proven difficult to cover on-scene.

Mixed Reviews for the New EPA

When Barack Obama was elected president of the United States, many environmental journalists felt optimistic that his call for transparency signaled easier days ahead for obtaining information from the Environmental Protection Agency. Now, nearly nine months into his administration, not everyone is sure that things have changed.

Humor Scores Serious Points

Melting icebergs and dying polar bears are sad and scary stories; eyes glaze over when clean coal technology is dissected; and a few scientists just take themselves a bit too seriously. For some journalists, clear and concise writing isn’t enough, so they are using humor to get media consumers to tune in to complicated, oftentimes, grim subjects.

Environmental Journalists Adapt to Life After Layoffs

Industry layoffs and an economic downturn have sidelined thousands of journalists in the last year, forcing many who covered the environment to find new ways to make a living. Reporters who once worked to raise public awareness of environmental issues are now creating entrepreneurial ventures online, working for government agencies or nonprofits, and teaching.Most have moved into some kind of freelance career.

PBS Set the Course With 'Nova,' 'Nature'

When “Nova” debuted on PBS in 1974, the subject of its second program was a film about overreliance on the capacity of the Colorado River. In other words, PBS was examining environmental topics before it was cool.But while “Nova” in particular has a history of looking at how science can help explain and improve the environment, not every PBS program was always so eager to lead viewers to environmental topics, despite holding the long franchise on an audience fascinated by the science, history and beauty of the natural world.

The Masters of Environmental Journalism

The environment can be a tough beat. It requires extraordinary persistence and dedication to remain abreast of the myriad developments in an ever-evolving, often controversial field. For some reporters, it has become more than a career — it is a commitment. NewsPro profiles some of environmental journalism’s most accomplished professionals.

Planet Green: TV Designed for 'Conscious Living'

At Discovery Communication’s Planet Green network, it’s all about evolution. When the network  launched in June 2008 with the mission of the greening of America and the world, the goal was programming that promoted an eco-friendly lifestyle.Now it's broadening its scope with a lot of new programming, and has 10 shows in development.

'Drill' Story a Win for WTAE

WTAE-TV, the Hearst-Argyle-owned ABC affiliate in Pittsburgh, is no stranger to awards. Last year it received a national George Foster Peabody Award for its investigation of spending practices at Pennsylvania's state-run student loan agency. Now it has distinguished itself as a leader in environmental reporting: At the 2009 SEJ conference, WTAE reporter Jim Parsons, cameraman Kendall Cross and editor Michael Lazorko, will be honored with the SEJ Award for Outstanding Story, Television, Small Market, for their story “Drill Baby Drill.”

NBCU Enlists All TV Units in Eco Agenda

In 2008, Lauren Zalaznick, president of NBC Universal Women and Lifestyle Entertainment Networks, undertook the leadership role in an environmental awareness initiative for NBC Universal called Green Is Universal. A year later, the commitment to green remains an integral part of the NBC Universal brand and corporate identity.

SEJ's 'Tip Sheet' Provides Valuable Keys to Doors

Among its many valuable resources, the Society of Environmental Journalists provides a one-stop shop for editors and reporters looking for story ideas and sources.It’s called The Tip Sheet. Started in July 1996, it comes out biweekly, with an alternate week edition called The Tip Sheet Watchdog issue, which is completely devoted to freedom of information issues.

Studios Refitting With Green Gear

Given the broader awareness of environmental issues in recent years, broadcasters and station groups have been dedicating more dollars to greener equipment and facilities. Groups like Cox Enterprises, Fox, CBS and NBC Local have dedicated green initiatives or are outfitting certain stations to be eco-friendly. The benefit, they say, is both in the cleaner output and more efficient tools.

MSNBC Gives Green Light to Keeping Eco News Online

When MSNBC.com first launched in 1996, the big environmental news was the upcoming Kyoto Protocol, aimed at combating global warming through regulating greenhouse gas emissions. Thirteen years later, the Web site remains dedicated to covering and disseminating environmental news online, and what began as a climate section has evolved into the current environment section under U.S. News that is overseen by editor Miguel Llanos.

Sign Off: Investigating the Investigators

The way the ACORN scandal unfolded  prompts NewsPro columnist Tom Petner to write, "The fuss and flourish, countercharges and political fallout over the ACORN hidden-camera videos made me curious: Where’s mainstream media in all this? What’s up with investigative units at the local television stations? Are there less, or are the investigative efforts simply lying dormant during these tough times?"