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Winter 2001 S E J ournal The Quarterly Publication of the Society of Environmental Journalists Vol. 11 No. 3 A fellow’s story Coping with 9/11 Why pay a journalist to think? On the beat and at home By Chris Bowman environmental debates.” Compiled by the SEJournal Robert Stavins is not much for chit- About a year later, Stavins put some When the suicide bombers hit the chat. The cost-benefit of idle chatter grant money where his mouth is. first World Trade Center tower in doesn’t pencil out. The newly created V. Kann Lower Manhattan, Newsdayenviron- A Harvard professor known for his Rasmussen Foundation, named after the ment writer Dan Fagin was in his car, rapid-fire lectures on environmental eco- founder of a Danish roof window and driving to the subway station. His car nomics, Stavins walks the talk about skylight company, approached Harvard radio blared the news. Looking out his optimal leveraging of time, money and about supporting new environmental ini- car window, Fagin confirmed the hor- other limited resources. tiatives at the university. As faculty and ror. Black smoke billowed from those Asked at a 1991 Stanford University administrators drew up a wish list of towers he used to consider ugly. conference what would be the single seminars and lecture series, Stavins Margie Kriz, environment reporter most effective way to improve environ- tossed in an idea from left field: Establish at the National Journal,sat in a mental policy, Stavins had a ready reply. fellowships for environmental journalists Washington, D.C., office just five “I said it then, and I believe it now, in the existing Nieman program. blocks from the White House. She won- that the one thing would be to improve Stavins had some selling to do, but dered soon after she heard about the the quality of the coverage in the news ultimately he and Bill Kovach, then crash at the Pentagon whether she media of environmental problems and (Continued on page 13) (Continued on page 16) Inside Story ‘Poison in your backyard’ Exposing the hidden dangers of treated lumber By Mike Dunne arsenic into the soil,” Hauserman’s Pressure-treated wood, used for story said. “The arsenic comes from everything from homes and gardens to chromated copper arsenate, or CCA, a playgrounds and picnic tables, is leaking powerful pesticide brew that is injected arsenic into the soil. into the boards to give them long life Individuals should wear gloves against the elements. when handling the wood and masks “Arsenic is leaking out of huge when cutting it. That’s what the pres- wooden playgrounds that volunteers built sure-treated wood industry’s consumer all over Tampa Bay. It’s leaking beneath Inside information sheets say—sheets rarely decks and state park boardwalks, at lev- ever seen by those who use it. els that are dozens of times —even hun- Julie Hauserman of the St. dreds of times—higher than the state 11th Annual Conference Petersburg Times’Tallahassee bureau considers safe. And discarded pressure- Including caribou protests (above)..........page 4 gathered bits and pieces of that story, treated lumber is leaking arsenic out of New Web Digest at www.sej.org while juggling legislative sessions and unlined landfills, state experts say, pos- the Gore-Bush election flap. She eventu- ing a threat to drinking water.” Where to go for breaking environmental news ally produced a Sunday package head- The stories used tests commissioned and a gallery of the best stories................page 6 lined “The Poison in Your Backyard.” by the newspaper to show arsenic leak- SEJ launches Awards program A strong story backed up the strong ing into playground soils. A look at SEJ’s first Environmental Reporting headline. Reaction was swift—from local “All over the state, pressure-treated playground closures to bills in the U.S. Awards ....................................................page 7 boards and posts are leaking poisonous (Continued on page 22) © Copyright 2001 the Society of Environmental Journalists, P.O. Box 2492 Jenkintown, PA 19046 Protecting SEJ’s credibility a board priority Credibility means everything for ply pro-journalism. them. These services include the listserv, journalists. And journalism organizations. One prominent member told me that the SEJournal,the organization’s rapidly Journalists who cover the environ- the apparent sponsorship of the reception improving Web site, its regional work- ment beat are no different. Nor is the by the four interest groups was actually shops, TipSheetand, of course, the annual Society of Environmental Journalists. good for SEJ’s image. It illustrated, in the conference, which this year attracted For SEJ, there are a number of ways form of logos on a program, balanced more than 600 participants. its volunteer leaders and professional support from industry, government and It should be noted that the SEJ board staff have built and maintained credibility environmental groups. I think that’s a has not banned corporate, government or as an independent group of reporters, edi- point worth discussing. advocacy money from its budget. We’ve tors, producers, teachers and students. For starters, though, one has to cashed their checks under terms and con- One has to do with SEJ’s membership understand that SEJ has not taken this ditions that the board has decided are guidelines. Anyone who lobbies or does approach—some call it the “big tent”— appropriate. Essentially, instances accept- public relations on environmental issues is with the majority of its funding. able have been a fee-for-service basis. not eligible. Some members, and would-be This is what SEJ does: It seeks the For example, we welcome vendors to members, have debated the definitions of support of philanthropic foundations and our annual conference and rent them lobbying and public relations, but most educational institutions—not environmen- space and tables so they can supply atten- people know what these activities are. tal or corporate sources seeking visibility. dees with literature and other informa- It’s not that lobbying or public rela- tion. I look forward to going home each tions aren’t important or legitimate. It’s Report from the year with a stack of fact sheets and fliers. just not independent journalism. SEJ must Twice SEJ has put on a technology safeguard the organization’s independence. Society’s President “expo,” even giving conference attendees SEJ also has financial guidelines that the opportunity to drive fuel cell and cover where and how the organization electric hybrid motor vehicles. And SEJ gets its money, and with whom it chooses rents a members mailing list. to form partnerships. In the coming months, issues of SEJ’s policies in these areas are funding and credibility will be important among the most stringent of any national to the SEJ board as it wrestles with the journalism group. That’s why a flap on challenges of sustaining the organization. the final night of our recent and otherwise By The board wants to maintain services that highly successful annual conference in members have come to appreciate, while Portland upset me. James also providing for new initiatives such as SEJ had The World Forestry Center Bruggers SEJ’s recently announced awards pro- museum at a reduced rate for a reception. gram and a daily environmental news We paid for the food and arranged for a We go to foundations with estab- digest on the Web. cash bar. Yet because of a miscommuni- lished guidelines and attempt to find Let’s not also forget that the SEJ cation—apparently on both organiza- those that are a good match for SEJ. board has a payroll to meet so that it can tion’s parts—conference attendees were What’s a good match? Those who under- retain a talented and dedicated staff. greeted by signs and brochures, prepared stand and support our vision, respect our It’s clear to me, more than ever, that by the forestry center, that made it appear self-determined objectives and want to this organization needs to move forward the event was underwritten by an envi- invest in our methods. on building an endowment. We’ve made ronmental group, a government agency, a We sign contracts with foundations some progress in laying the groundwork, timber company and a trade group. based on proposals that SEJ’s executive but not nearly enough. Conference Chair Christy George director, Beth Parke, has prepared on And SEJ also needs to expand its and an official from the forestry center behalf of the board and members. sources of operating revenue. clarified the situation during their wel- We later report back to the founda- Of course the question will always come announcements. But the situation tion on the progress we’ve made toward come back to this: How can SEJ stay was still troubling. reaching our goals. SEJ only accepts financially strong while maintaining Now, weeks later, I believe what foundation revenue—the bulk of our bud- what’s most important to all of its mem- happened at the reception will ultimately get, by the way—for general support or bers—credibility? be good for SEJ. One reason is that it pro- for programs that are consistent with As the board continues to discuss vides an excuse for a largely new board SEJ’s strategic plan. issues of money in the coming year, I can to discuss SEJ’s financial policies in a SEJ’s foundation supporters have say two things with certainty. We welcome year of funding uncertainties. been incredibly helpful. They’ve under- your suggestions and guidance. (Write me First of all, I need to say loud and stood our journalistic mission. They’ve at [email protected] or con- clear that SEJ is not anti-environmental assisted us in providing services that tact any other board member.) groups, anti-timber companies, anti-gov- members—journalists working in the And we will continue to protect SEJ’s ernment or anti-trade groups.

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