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October 2009 Survey Results LOCAL WARMING Environmental Journalists put a journalists worry community focus on about resources a global issue Page 16 Freelancers Fight a Glut Scratching out work in a crowded marketplace Page 5 Is TV News on the Ball? Why the ACORN story should have come from the pros Page 50

COVER IMAGE BY GIO ALMA

WTVJ-TV’S JEFF BURNSIDE 09np0012.qxp 7/21/09 11:12 AM Page 1

The Alfred I. duPont-Columbia University Awards

HONORING THE BEST IN BROADCAST NEWS FOR 40 YEARS

www.dupont.org

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FROM THE EDITOR The Beat Goes On

Welcome to NewsPro’s special Enviro-Journalism issue. The environment remains a crucial beat with ongoing CONTENTS developments that affect all aspects of our future. And despite the crunch of shrunken resources being felt throughout the OCTOBER 2009 business, dedicated news organizations are finding ways to keep it fully covered. FEEDS As you will learn in these pages, the Society of Environmental Newspapers and TV newsrooms Journalists plays no small role in helping its members stay merging to cut costs ..... Page 4 abreast of the field, and one of the organization’s key contributions is its annual conference, where new ideas are Journalists scramble for work in a exchanged and vital information imparted. It’s being held this crowded freelance market ...... Page 5 year in Madison, Wis., Oct. 7-11. Although attendance is anticipated to be down 20 percent at the SEJ gathering this COVER STORY time around, the 650-plus people expected to attend include the top of the environmental journalism field, along with more high-profile newsmakers and government officials as Environmental journalists put a local spin guest speakers than at any previous edition. on global warming ..... Page 12 In our special section we take a look at how the issue of global warming is increasingly becoming a local story, as a disturbing process that once seemed a matter of far-away SPECIAL REPORT glaciers begins to manifest in different ways back home. Plus, we look at the media’s plans The Society of Environmental Journalists to cover December’s COP15 Climate Change Conference in Copenhagen and the to convene in Wisconsin ..... Page 11 transparency of the Obama administration’s Environmental Protection Agency under new administrator Lisa Jackson Particular thanks to SEJ executive director Beth Parke for her indispensable SIGNOFF assistance on this issue, especially with our exclusive poll of SEJ members that appears Tom Petner thinks the ACORN scandal on page 16. Its results might not surprise you, exactly, but they should reinforce your should have been TV’s scoop .... Page 50 confidence in the extraordinarily committed journalists who cover the beat. —Tom Gilbert DEPARTMENTS Newsmakers ..... Page 9 ADVERTISING SALES Technology ..... Page 46 Ph: (212) 210-0748 Fax: (212) 210-0772 Executive Producer: Jeff Reisman, [email protected] Online ..... Page 48 (212) 210-0748 EDITORIAL OFFICES Producer: Danny Schreiber, [email protected] NewsPro, (USPS# 000-134), Volume 1, Issue 3, is published Ph: (212) 210-0706 Fax: (212) 210-0772 (503) 723-9688 Quarterly, August, September, October, November at Crain SUBSCRIPTION HOTLINE (888) 288-5900 Production Manager: Nicole Dionne Communications Inc, 711 Third Ave, New York, NY 10017. Group Circulation Director: John LaMarca Periodical postage pending at New York, NY, and at additional VP-Publisher: Robert Felsenthal, (212) 210-0262 Circulation Manager: Nicole Chantharaj mailing offices. POSTMASTER: send address changes to Editor: Tom Gilbert, [email protected] NewsPro, Circulation Dept, 1155 Gratiot Ave, Detroit, MI 48207- (212) 210-0706 THE AD AGE GROUP 2912. Subscription and Customer Service (888) 288-6954. Art Director: Jeanine Dunn VP-Publishing and Editorial Director Subscription price for US and US Territories is $59, Canada and Copy Editor: Angel Musker David S. Klein Mexico is $69, all other international is $89 per year. CRAIN COMMUNICATIONS INC. Executive VP-Operations: William A. Morrow Chief Information Officer: Paul Dalpiaz Senior VP-Group Publisher: Gloria Scoby Corporate Circulation Director: Chairman: Keith E. Crain Group VP-Technology, Circulation, Patrick Sheposh Keep up to date with what’s going President: Rance Crain Manufacturing: Robert C. Adams Founder: G.D. Crain Jr. (1885-1973), Secretary: Merrilee Crain VP-Production & Manufacturing: Chairman Emeritus: Mrs. G.D. Crain Jr. on in the news industry by visiting us Treasurer: Mary Kay Crain online at TVWeek.com/Newspro David Kamis (1911-1996) NewsPro® is a registered trademark of Crain Communications Inc.

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FeedsINFORMATION AND ANALYSIS FROM THE WORLD OF PROFESSIONAL NEWS

ECONOMY MEASURES over-the-air channel or in a newspaper, Sentinel newspaper offices — is what’s new. and I have content that belongs on your WSFL, a CW affiliate, did not have a Combined laptop,” Charlier said. “You take a great in- news department, but now it has four depth newspaper story combined with hours of morning news a day. The news - Newsrooms a video so it’s not limited to the person paper’s columnists and reporters appear getting it on their front porch. It hits five or on the program, either on set or on six delivery methods. It’s ridiculous not to location, or from home by Web cam. The Sign of Times work together to provide content.” paper’s 11 photographers were trained to Although many critics and academics shoot video. BY HILLARY ATKIN argue that the merger decisions are based It’s a sign of the constantly shifting on the simple economics of doing more Added Resources media landscape — television and print with less and surviving in a bad economy, “For the TV station, it’s a treasure trove of newsrooms in several major markets are some do see benefits — and that it makes reporting being done by newspaper people,” being combined, led by Tribune Co., with sense for newspapers to collaborate with said Bob Gremillion, who, as Tribune’s merger operations either under way or TV stations rather than trying to start their executive vice president for publishing, scheduled soon in Los Angeles; Chicago; own video units from scratch. oversees the operation. “There are more than Hartford, Conn.; and Miami/Fort Lauderdale. 100 people, with a huge archive at our It’s the beginning of a new business Collaborative Efforts fingertips that provides a great source of model. Even as some stations across the “One upside of merged newsrooms is information in ways other than extra video country are shuttering their news de - those print journalists who do what they and reporting. As a TV station we could partments entirely, many others are do best can now collaborate with those on never afford to do this without being adding even more news. The average net - the broadcast side, and pool the talents of integrated into the Sun-Sentinel.” work television affiliate has on about 4.5 their newsroom to do multiplatform Depending on the success and growth hours of news a day, even as station journalism,” said Geneva Overholser, of its morning show — which launched in revenue is down 20 percent to 30 percent director of the USC Annenberg School of April and is doing well but faces stiff this year due to the severe reduction of Journalism in Los Angeles. “Merging competition in the market from Univision, advertising dollars. enables everyone to do what they do best Telemundo and the network affiliates — an evening newscast may be added. Something’s Got to Give The operation’s sales team sells At the same time, even with staff integrated advertising packages across cutbacks, stations are beefing up their “One upside of media platforms. “Clients want solutions, Web sites to become 24/7 sources of news. merged newsrooms and return on investment, and we’ve been Something’s got to give, and for Tribune, is those print able to offer that in a way no one in the which owns highly respected papers like market can,” said Howard Greenberg, Sun- the Los Angeles Times and the Chicago journalists can now Sentinel president and publisher and Tribune, as well as local stations KTLA-TV collaborate with WSFL’s general manager. “We bring in new and WGN-TV in those markets, the answer those on the money by offering the opportunity to mix is fusing its newsrooms. platform sales in one package. It’s all about In Chicago, there’s a breaking news broadcast side to do package selling, not rates, not spot buys.” desk in the Chicago Tribune that serves multiplatform “Whenever we talk about a change in WGN Radio, WGN-TV, CLTV and the journalism.” media, it’s not always about cost-cutting,” newspaper. It’s a shared assignment desk Charlier said. “We have to stop thinking and shared Web sites, with the entities - Geneva Overholser, Annenberg School about that and that the industry is starting to combine reporting talent, and changing and consumers are changing. very much acting as one newsroom. There’s been more change in the past two “They are not economic decisions. These and tell stories in a lot of different ways, years than the past two decades.” are decisions to be a smart content with photos, video and sound. You bring In another sign of the times, Cox provider, and to continue to reinvent how talent together and tell one story, using Enterprises recently restructured its radio, we deliver our content,” said Steve talent who have deep expertise.” television and newspaper division into a Charlier, senior VP of news and operations Tribune properties have been sharing single unit, now called Cox Media Group. for Tribune Broadcasting. content for about five years now, with “Sharing expertise and best practices “If you have multiple properties in a endeavors such as L.A. Times reporters across all of our media properties allows market turning variations of stories, why appearing on KTLA’s news, but physically us to better serve consumers and not get together and share information to having one newsroom for TV, print and online advertisers in our changing environment,” provide it in the best way? I have content — as Tribune did with Fort Lauderdale’s said Sandy Schwartz, president of Cox that belongs on the iPhone, on cable or an WSFL-TV moving into its South Florida Sun- Media Group. ❑

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THE NEW REALITY Making the RESOURCES FOR FREELANCE JOURNALISTS  Mediabistro.com offers tips on pitching stories to various publications, this month Most of the featuring Redbook, Marie Claire and Ladies’ Home Journal. The site also offers a freelance marketplace (more than 1,100 freelancers are currently listed) Crowded and offers seminars or online courses in feature writing, food writing and writing Freelance for the Web, among other topics.  Freelancewriting.com has job boards for writers, copy editors and copywriters; writing Market jobs to bid on; and a magazine guideline database. The site is a compilation of numerous other resources for writers, including CraigsList and Creative Circle. BY JARRE FEES Since the Internet reached its  Writejobs.com has mostly Internet job postings. Be warned: Among the freelance adolescence, both print and on-camera opportunities available are assignments that pay $15 per article ($20 for health and journalists have watched the gradual fitness stories) and one job that pays $25 for a 500-word article. decline of the freelance market. But last year’s economic collapse dealt  Thereview.com offers job listings for teachers and educational specialists, from a heavy blow to writers, editors, news kindergarten through college. anchors and others, who now find them - selves in a free-falling market that is  saturated with professionals. jobspage.com gives practical advice on job interviews and negotiations, newsroom Many of those journalists were able to politics and summer internships. find freelance work last year, only to —Jarre Fees discover that this year’s sinking market is much more crowded and, since no one knows how much further it is to the market. “It’s delegitimized the profession,” she bottom, are being forced to pursue Some freelancers said, “and made everybody a writer.” alternative employment. are trading their Sportswriter Billy Witz, who was laid off at independence for the Los Angeles Daily News in early 2008, Tallying the Losses found freelance work right away at The New Unity: Journalists of Color’s recently more dependable York Times and several online venues, but released 2009 Layoff Tracker Report found lines of work — said the market sagged in 2009. that there have been 46,599 U.S. journalism teaching jobs are “The print work was slow this summer,” jobs lost since Jan. 1, 2008. Witz said. “And last fall I wrote a weekly The U.S. Department of Labor, in its available nationwide piece for Fox Sports.com, but this year it’s Occupational Outlook Handbook 2008-2009, to qualified only three weeks out of four.” predicts little or no change in employment for Joe Grimm, who took a buyout from the journalists through 2016. That statistic, of candidates. Detroit Free Press at age 55 in 2008, course, doesn’t include freelancers, who are publishes the journalism careers Web site, already working just outside the system. training budgets to nothing.” jobspage.com, teaches reporting and Some journalists are trading their The evolution from print to Internet, Anzur writing at Michigan State and contributes independence for more dependable lines of said, is reminiscent of the earlier changeover work — teaching jobs are available from radio to television. “The industry is still nationwide to qualified candidates. Other in transition,” she said, “trying to figure out TIPS FOR STRUGGLING freelancers are turning to fields they’ve where the revenue streams are going to come always been interested in but never had a from.” FREELANCERS: chance to explore. Many freelancers are wondering whether  When WPEC-TV in West Palm Beach, Fla., those revenue streams are ever going to come Retrain if necessary and be willing to did not renew news anchor Terry Anzur’s at all. branch out. contract in 2006 she said she welcomed the Entertainment journalist Robyn Flans, opportunity to return to Southern California, who spent five years writing for People  Use industry and personal contacts. where she had previously served as co-anchor magazine and has freelanced for a number of for KTLA-TV’s “News at Ten.” publications, said she believes the market  Be flexible. Your skills might translate Unable to find another on-air job, she downturn is permanent. easily to another industry. started Terry Anzur Coaching Services in “All the magazines are folding,” she said, 2007 to coach on-camera talent for TV “or everyone’s using in-house writers.  Tap into your inner freelancer to figure stations in the United States and Canada. Publishers are going to see that, even if the out what you really want to do with the Anzur said she “had a great year in 2008, economy bounces back, it was cost-effective next phase of your life. It might be time including four months preparing young to do it this way.” journalists to cover the first multiparty to try something new or pursue a democratic election in the Islamic Republic of Bloggers a Problem discarded dream. Maldives,” but characterized 2009 as “a tough Flans said she also feels the proliferation of —Jarre Fees year because most stations have cut their Internet bloggers has hurt the freelance

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a blog to the Poynter Institute’s Career easily learn new things, who can’t move or RTNDA HONORS Center. who are in the years when their expenses are at their highest, “Sadly, most of us are Murrow Mid career Woes in one or more of those circumstances.” He said mid career journalists face a Winners particularly difficult challenge. Career Change “Older journalists may be able to coast for Dennis Liff, a long time journalist in his Reflect their last few years and young journalists mid-50s who worked as a sportswriter, are getting trained now for the new jobs that news editor, copy editor and special projects editor in California, said he Diversity started preparing for a career change several years ago, before being laid off in of Style, 2008. “I started working in video in 2004,” he Commitment said, “and started making a music doc - umentary a few years later.” to Excellence Video editing lessons followed. “I’m still in the stage of developing that skill,” he By Allison J. Waldman said, adding that he and his wife, Linda, The Radio-Television News Directors have formed a video production company Association — to officially become known and are in the process of setting up a as the Radio Television Digital News family history project that they hope will Association Oct. 13 — every year presents eventually prove profitable. one of the industry’s most important and valued awards honoring excellence in Books Not an Easy Option electronic journalism, the National Edward Other journalists are turning to writing R. Murrow Award. books, but that field is also undergoing changes and, in any case, publishing deals have always been hard to come by. “The skills that you have — writing on deadline, writing creatively and coherently — those are skills that translate to a lot of other industries,” Witz said. “But there’s something about this calling that just gets in your blood and it’s TEACHING THE CRAFT not easy to give up.” Former WPEC-TV anchor Anzur said she thinks there will be a Terry Anzur now coaches on- camera talent. growing market for her on-camera coaching skills “as more people have to appear on multimedia devices such as iPhones.” are emerging,” Grimm said, adding, “At She’s also under contract for a college- mid career, we might forge a combination level, multimedia textbook that she is co- of both approaches. By all means, we can writing. But Anzur makes it clear that she and must learn new skills: writing for the is “very much a freelance journalist for Web, shooting and editing video, learning hire. to use social networks.” “I would jump at the chance to host a WINNER'S CIRCLE Steve Capus, president of Grimm noted that some mid career show on-air or online, do talk radio or NBC News, which earned journalists are more able than others to write a regular column,” she said. five Murrow awards this year. adapt to lower incomes. “Making less Whether freelancers find work in the money can work for savers whose kids fields they know or move into new areas, have finished college,” he said. “It can Anzur had some practical advice. “I think mean stitching together a few smaller jobs the important thing for freelancers to This year’s national winners in that are part-time or long-distance. And it remember is that you are truly on your television, who will be presented with their might mean a mix or layering of old skills own,” she said. “No agent is going to find awards Oct. 12 at the RTNDA’s Edward R. and new. a job for you. I am constantly networking Murrow Awards dinner in New York, “The journalists who have a very tough for the next opportunity, and you never represent a diversity of style, a commitment time are those who are in debt, who do not know where it’s going to come from.” ❑ to excellence and an endeavor to emulate in

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many ways the work of the award’s Tip of the Spear’ stories even when he’s not technology and science are starting to make namesake, Edward R. Murrow. out there with them on the front line.” in overturning such cases.” Capus said Brian Williams’ award- Reporter Lesley Stahl worked with Jury of Peers winning coverage of Hurricane Katrina in producer Shari Finkelstein on “Rex,” which “This is an award that really counts, it 2005 affected NBC News’ approach to was a follow-up to a previous “60 Minutes” means an awful lot to all of us in our Gustav. feature. Five years ago, Stahl met an 8-year- profession. The thing I like about the “We were going to make a substantial old boy named Rex, a musical savant, Murrow award is that the judging is done commitment to this, not just because of what who’d been born blind and brain damaged. by our peers,” said Steve Capus, president “Rex” caught up with the young man today, of NBC News, which earned five Murrow at age 13. awards this year, including the award for “Lesley and Shari do great work together. overall excellence. “Some of the best in our This is a story that you never forget. It sticks industry are the people who weigh in on with you. That’s the mark of excellent these awards.” journalism,” said Fager. “These are hard stories to tell, harder than I think most ‘American Story’ Takes Two people realize because there’s no natural NBC News’ “American Story With Bob beginning or end, so it’s challenging too. It Dotson” earned two Murrows, one for news says a lot about Shari and Lesley’s abilities to series and the other for writing. The tell a story.” “American Story” series epitomizes the quality of television feature stories. This ‘Wasteland’ Honors award-winning submission included tales In addition to the Murrow award, “The about a 74-year-old street salesman who Wasteland” has won George Polk and Gerald hawks potato peelers by day and lives in a Loeb awards, as well as honors from the posh Park Avenue apartment, and the Investigative Reporters and Editors and mothers who tend to the graves of their Sigma Delta Chi. ONE OUT OF THREE soldier sons who now reside in Section 60 Scott Pelley's report "The Fager said the people in China who were of Arlington cemetery. Electronic Wasteland" was running the electronic waste-dumping one of three "60 Minutes" “NBC Nightly News With Brian pieces recognized. ground exposed in the report jumped CBS Williams” received three Murrows: overall News’ Scott Pelley and his crew during excellence; breaking news for “Hurricane production. Gustav”; and continuing coverage for “Tip “They tried to get the tapes and physically of the Spear.” NBC News learned or Brian Williams learned, force them off the site. It has all the classic but what the country learned,” said Capus. elements of a great ‘60 Minutes’ investigation. “It wasn’t a bunch of people standing around This is a story that would have made Edward being blown by hurricane force winds. You R. Murrow very proud,” said Fager. “These are hard don’t pick up an award like a Murrow for the As to other winners, veteran TV reporter stories to tell, harder theatrics of coverage. There needs to be some Linda Ellerbee was recognized in the category than I think most meat on those bones.” of news documentary for a piece she did for CBS News’ “60 Minutes” received three a nontraditional news outlet, her current people realize Murrows, as well as one for “The CBS home base, Nickelodeon’s Nick News. because there’s no Evening News With Katie Couric” best Ellerbee was given a Murrow for the “Nick newscast on Nov. 12, 2008. That night’s News With Linda Ellerbee” documentary natural beginning or broadcast covered stories about the “Coming Home: When Parents Return From end, so it’s government bailout, Mexican drug cartel War,” the story of returning soldiers as told challenging too.” violence, how Google could track the flu and from the perspective of their sons and revisited a classic Charles Kuralt on the road daughters. -Jeff Fager, "60 Minutes" feature. ESPN won a Murrow in the category of The three “60 Minutes” pieces were: for sports reporting for another military themed hard news, “Exonerated”; for feature story, “Kick for Nick,” about a fallen The latter is a series of stories by reporting, “Rex”; and for investigative American soldier, Nick Madaras, in whose reporter Richard Engel documenting the reporting, “The Electronic Wasteland.” memory soccer balls were collected, sent to work of Viper Company from the front line “We’re in our 42nd season and some of the Iraq and distributed to children in response in Afghanistan. most powerful stories are the ones about to his wish to share his love of the game with “Richard is an old school reporter in a people who were wrongly imprisoned,” said others. young body. He wants to be out there to see, “60 Minutes” executive producer Jeff Fager. CNN received a Murrow for its Web site, feel, touch and smell what’s going on,” said “‘Exonerated’ is a great example, and what CNN.com, and CTV News earned one for Capus. “Richard continues to report ‘The you see in this story is the impact that videography in “Tibetan Horseman.” ❑

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NEWSPRO Q&A resources at the station to cover it? Daley: That happens from time to time, KSL’s John Daley: but my bosses are really supportive of good journalism. Yes, we’re all in the same boat Doing it All on the and that boat has shrinking revenues, and adjustments have to be made. The thing Environmental that it requires is that you have to have a long-term vision and persistence on Beat certain stories. You may not be able to crack that nut today, but if you are continuing to work at it over weeks or John Daley, general assignment reporter months, a lot of times you can get to the for KSL-TV in Salt Lake City, has spent 10 bottom of it. years working on stories as varied as the GENERAL YET SPECIFIC 2002 Winter Olympic Games, which the NewsPro: What skills are necessary today John Daley specializes in investigative environmental city hosted, and the subsequent bribery to do your job well? stories at KSL-TV. scandal, as well as the legislative beat at Daley: There’s no doubt you need to be Utah’s Capitol Hill. good across multiplatforms. That’s where During that time, he also came to the future is. It’s all starting to blend specialize in investigative stories about the together. Our stories are not just on the Daley: You’ll see job postings occasionally. environment, transportation and air air, they’re on the Web, and we have a lot There’s just a great variety of stuff. Overall, quality and has won a number of national of extra content on the Web. Newspapers it’s a really useful resource, especially this and local awards, including the Earthwrite are putting video on their sites; we’re doing network of people. It’s a social network for Environmental Award, the RTNDA more writing on our TV sites. reporters. We’re all like-minded journalists Environmental Fellowship and the Society In the future, a lot of the hiring will be interested in similar things, and thanks to of Environmental Journalists Beat Re- people who can do it all: write and film the Internet, we’re in easy contact with porting Award. video and get it up on the Web. It may not each other. Daley recently spoke with NewsPro always be like that in your career, where correspondent Allison J. Waldman about you’re a one-man-band, but you have to be NewsPro: What reaction do you get from the challenges of the beat and the range of prepared to do it all. The budget realities viewers about environmental stories? skills it takes to do his job well. force you to do that, and that’s not all bad. Daley: The climate issue has driven the environmental concerns in the general NewsPro: What are the challenges you face NewsPro: How advantageous is it to have public to new levels. Climate issues have doing investigative environmental stories in SEJ as a resource? raised awareness. One of the challenges is your market? Daley: I think it’s very valuable on a whole that this is an issue that’s become very John Daley: They’re the ones we’re seeing bunch of levels. They’re sending out the politicized as well, and that complicates it everywhere in the industry. We used to news wire and the daily TipSheet, so that’s in a variety of ways. We’re one of the have a much bigger staff, but we still have a constant source of ideas. Another is the regions — Salt Lake City — that’s going to the same amount of news programming SEJ talk, which once you’re in SEJ you be affected by water issues. We’re one of that we put on during the course of a day. can be part of that and its just different the driest places on the planet. Wild fires We’re stretched more thinly than before members of SEJ e-mailing around. That’s are also a major issue out here. There’s a and there’s way less time to work on long- quite entertaining and informative. It’s a lot to chew on. term projects that require more digging. good source for story ideas and a platform There’s no doubt about that. for some members to vent, which is kind of NewsPro: What advice would you have for useful as well. But most important is that other journalists/broadcasters interested in NewsPro: Do you look for stories about the there’s just a great wealth of smart, specializing or advancing their careers? environment to investigate? talented people around the country who Daley: If you saw the piece on CBS about Daley: As a general assignment reporter, are all connected through the SEJ Don Hewitt a few weeks ago, I was really you’re out and about a lot and you’re network, and you can reach out to other taken by it and what he said. He was an crossing paths with a lot of other people, folks for ideas, for contacts. On that SEJ interesting, colorful, charismatic guy and and that can lead to story ideas and tips talk, for instance, you’ll see members pop the thing that really struck me as someone on this or that. I also cover legislative on there and they might be working on a working in the field was that when he was issues on Capitol Hill, and there are any story about chemical exposure and ask if asked a similar question at a conference, number of stories that come out and you you know any experts. That’s really, really he said, ‘Tell me a story.’ I loved that. learn about just being there. valuable. That’s really what it’s all about. Whether it’s general assignment news or en - NewsPro: What happens when you have a NewsPro: What else about SEJ distinguishes vironmental issues or investigative pieces, story you want to do but there aren’t the it from other groups? you have to tell a story. ❑

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Joe Skeel has been made permanent executive director of the Society of CLOSE-UP Professional Journalists. He had been interim co-executive director and succeeds Terry Harper, who passed away June 2. CBS News Promotes Friedman to Exec VP Jam Sardar has been promoted to news director for WLNS-TV in Lansing, Mich., from Paul Friedman has been promoted assistant news director. from senior VP to ex ecutive VP of CBS News. Rebecca Sapakie has returned to WOOD-TV Friedman, who joined CBS News in Grand Rapids, Mich., as news director. She in April 2006 with responsibility for the division’s hard news operation previously was assistant news director before and co verage, oversees CBS News’ leaving to become senior Web producer for cap abilities, from technology to WDAF-TV in Kansas City, Mo., three years newsgathering to long-term strategic ago. initiatives. He continues to be the executive Julie Weindel has been named news director responsible for the “CBS Evening at KBCI-TV, Boise, Idaho. She was formerly News With Katie Couric,” “CBS Tonight with Peter Jennings” (1997- news director at WHIO-TV in Dayton, Ohio. Evening News” weekend editions and 2000 and 1988-93). “The Early Show,” as well as special Under Friedman’s leadership, the Candace Chapman has been elevated to events and political coverage. broadcast became the highest rated From 2003-06 Friedman was a evening news program. news director at WBNG-TV, Binghamton, consultant through Friedman News Prior to joining ABC News, N.Y., from executive producer and 6 p.m. Consultancy and prior to that was Friedman worked at NBC for 14 news anchor. executive producer of “The Journal years. He began his journalism ca - Report” on PBS. reer as a reporter and writer for Hit Johnson has been named corres pon dent Friedman was executive VP and WNBC Radio News. for CBS Newspath, based in Washington. He managing editor of news coverage for He has been adjunct professor of will also contribute to CBS News broadcasts ABC News from 2000-03 and executive journalism at both Columbia Un- across the division. Johnson previously was producer of ABC’s “World News iversity and New York University. 6:30 p.m. weeknight co-anchor and reporter for KSL TV in Salt Lake City.

Bob Sellers has been named a primary Katisha Cosley has been promoted to Angie Goff has added duties on the anchor for WSMV-TV in Nashville. He most weekend evening anchor at KIAH-TV in morning show at WUSA-TV in Wash - recently was a morning anchor at WTTG-TV Houston from general assignment ington, while continuing her traffic in Washington. reporter. reporting.

Ducis Rodgers has joined ESPN News as Jonathan Martin has been elevated to Kim Baldonado has been promoted to anchor. Ducis most recently was the primary Saturday morning co-anchor at WSMV-TV in weekday midday anchor from weekend sports anchor for WCBS-TV in New York. Nashville from weekday reporter. anchor at KNBC-TV in Los Angeles.

Andrea Fujii has joined WJZ-TV in Baltimore Sheinelle Jones has been renewed as Amy Lutz has joined WSYX-TV/WTTE- as a reporter. She was weekend evening co- weekday morning anchor at WTXF-TV in TV in Columbus, Ohio, as morning and anchor at KSTU-TV in Salt Lake City, Utah Philadelphia. noon anchor. She most recently was morning anchor at WCSC-TV in Brett Cummins has joined KARK-TV in Little Ama Daetz has joined KTXL-TV in Charleston, S.C. Rock, Ark., as weeknight meteorologist. He Sacramento, Calif., as reporter and fill-in previously was chief meteorologist at WVLA in anchor. She most recently was at WDIV-TV Veronica Sanchez has been renewed as Baton Rouge, La. in Detroit. lead reporter at KPNX-TV in Phoenix.

Amber Sullins joins KNXV-TV in Phoenix as Martin Bartlett has joined KVUE-TV in Arran Andersen has joined KVVU-TV in morning meteorologist. She previously was Austin, Texas, as political reporter from Las Vegas as the co-host of the morning and noon meteorologist at KVIA-TV KVIA-TV in El Paso, Texas, where he afternoon show “More” from KOVR in in El Paso, Texas was a reporter. Sacramento, Calif.

Please send Newsmaker submissions to [email protected].

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NEWSPRO SPECIAL REPORT FOLLOWING WATER’S FLOW

THE WATER FRONT The water supply is a key topic at the 2009 SEJ conference. PHOTOGRAPH BY W. CODY / CORBIS SEJ FOCUSES ON OUR ‘MOST VALUABLE RESOURCE’

By Debra Kaufman do come to the conference,” she said. “People take vacation time Big-name guests and a special focus on water will mark the and spend their own money to get there.” 19th annual conference of the Society of Environmental Jour - The conference will introduce attendees to some of the new nalists, being held from Oct. 7 to 11 in Madison, Wis. faces and forces in the Obama administration. For the first time, According to SEJ executive director Beth Parke, 820 people a sitting Secretary of Agriculture — Tom Vilsack — will speak at attended last year’s conference in Roanoke, Va., but she the SEJ Conference. Also expected to speak, but not confirmed at anticipates a 20 percent drop in attendance this year, due to the press time, is Lisa Jackson, the new administrator of the U.S. recession. “It’s a tribute to this community that so many people Environmental Protection Agency.

Continued on page 40

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NEWSPRO SPECIAL REPORT Journalists Bring Global Local News Faces By Debra Kaufman

Task of Putting In Miami, WTVJ-TV special projects producer Jeff Burnside discovered an area of the Hometown Spin Florida coastline that was a true flood zone, based on data from the federal government’s new on Worldwide Story laser-measured elevation study. Then he found that new homes were being built there. “We talked to homeowners in this neighborhood who had no idea their neighborhood would be inundated as sea levels rise and hurricane storm surges hit,” said Burnside. 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. “The challenge has been to convince the local news manager that global warming can be a local story,” said Burnside. “For this story, neighborhoods that never imagined they’d be potentially inundated realized for the first time that they could be.” Covering climate change has never been an easy task. For years, environmental journalists PHOTOGRAPH BY GIO ALMA

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Warming Home

FLOOD ZONE Jeff Burnside’s WTVJ story helped local homeowners.

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Cover Story

felt compelled to give equal time to the real issue,” he said, “but they’re less and said, “But it includes drought, vector-born naysayers, but times have changed. less willing to do something about it.” illnesses, economic stories about the oceans, “I don’t think you see this false balance Covering global warming is also hurricanes and so on. The breadth of as much as you used to,” said Associated complicated by the fact that many scientific environmental stories is massive.” Press science writer Seth Borenstein. “On issues related to global warming are still Climate change stories are a hard sell the Internet you have some people who, no the subjects of research and debate. now, but there is movement afoot to create matter what the science says and what the “Global warming is not one question, and partnerships for more climate change news numbers show, won’t buy it. But they’re that’s what people tend to forget,” said New as well as train in-house resources to cover not scientists. It’s mainly political.” While the issue global warming been a major national environmental story for “We have to build up peoples’ baseline years, it now is also becoming an in - knowledge of what climate is, [and] we’re creasingly local one. getting around that by telling locally Society of Environment Journalists President Christy George, who is special based stories with strong scientific projects producer at Oregon Public content.” -Dr. Heidi Cullen, Climate Central Broadcasting, points to stories about the devastation the pine park beetle has created in the forests in the Rockies and widespread York Times envir onmental reporter global warming topics. vector-born illnesses such as the West Nile Andrew C. Revkin. “For example, there are Climate Central, a year-old nonprofit virus as two examples of very visible and people who widely disagree on how quickly science and media organization, was created local global warming stories. “This story is the sea level will rise, and they’re not to provide “clear and objective information getting less political all the time,” she said. employed by Exxon.” about climate change and its potential “The science is just pouring in and is very solutions.” conclusive.” Science vs. Policy Director of communications/senior Revkin also points out the difficulty of research scientist Dr. Heidi Cullen, who A Tough Story to Sell teasing out policy from science in the debate. formerly was a climate expert and That doesn’t mean that U.S. newspapers President Obama is currently being urged to correspondent for The Weather Channel, and TV newsrooms are clamoring to cover join other countries that have pledged to keep reports that Climate Central has already climate change on a regular basis. The global warming from rising more than 2 provided stories for “News Hour With Jim perception is that global warming is still a degrees Celsius. “That number of 2 degrees Lehrer,” Newsweek and Time.com, but the difficult, depressing story that people don’t Celsius was determined by policymakers, not goal is to be able to provide more local stories. want to hear, which makes news directors scientists,” he said. “So the importance of that “Our heart and soul is in developing hesitant to assign it. specific number is not based on science.” relationships with news editors at local TV “It’s bad news and makes people feel Environmental journalism is also being news markets,” she said. “A huge majority of powerless,” said George, “and it remains hit hard by tightened budgets in the Americans get their news from local TV.” Dr. political because the solution is political. newsroom. “I have a tough time covering it, Cullen reports that they’re “in the early There are still a lot of downsides to doing with the compression we face at The Times,” phases” of developing partnerships with local this story.” said Revkin. “We have shrinking story length TV news outlets. ABC News correspondent Bill Blakemore and there’s a growing demand on the Web to Training Meteorologists At The Yale Forum on Climate Change “It’s hard to take in what scientists are & The Media (climatemediaforum.yale.edu), saying in terms of how dangerous this editor Bud Ward has held two workshops on climate change for meteorologists and [global warming] could be for civilization.” weathercasters from the American -Bill Blakemore, ABC News Meteorological Society “to elevate the me - teorologist within the station hierarchy to notes that global warming is a “threatening” be dramatic. It’s the same pressures faced by the role of scientist.” story. “It’s hard to take in what scientists are TV journalists, except it’s worse on TV. I can’t “The key thing is that the me- saying in terms of how dangerous this imagine anything harder to cover than global teorologist/weathercaster is the only scientist could be for civilization,” he said. “There’s warming on TV.” most Americans see on a day-in, day-out hardly a day when I don’t find myself No one knows that better than WTVJ’s basis,” he said. “They’re in the key position to being dragged out of denial by talking to Burnside, who said he “sneaks an help inform the public on complex issues a scientist.” environmental story on the air about once a related to and beyond weather.” National Public Radio science cor - week. We don’t have the luxury of a focus on Even so, Dr. Cullen is the first to admit respondent Richard Harris points to a a beat any more.” that environmental journalists have a long January 2009 Pew Research Center poll But he also reports that he is chipping road to travel to educate the public. “It’ll that showed global warming at the away at resistance by educating his take a long time, but we have to build up bottom of a list of 20 “top priorities for managers about what environmental co - peoples’ baseline knowledge of what 2009” that respondents want President verage can be. climate is,” she said. “We’re getting around Obama to address. “The public more and “They had an immediate impression it that by telling locally based stories with more believes that global warming is a was a National Geographic kind of story,” he strong scientific content.” ❑

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enviro-journalism

challenge felt by WTVJ-TV special projects others. Top of Mind: editor Jeff Burnside. “Environmental stories are assigned a lower Warming the Crucial Issue priority,” he said. “There is more pressure to An overwhelming plurality — 50.4 percent JobResources, cover the crime of the day. I was never full- — tagged global warming as the crucial issue. time as an environmental journalist but it was Water issues came in second in importance, Warming more of a priority a few years back. That’s less at 17.4 percent, followed by peak because of the green pendulum and more oil/renewable energy at 14.9 percent. about our shrinking staff. That, and as Agriculture/food issues rated a 5.8 percent NewsPro Poll management changed, so did priorities.” response, and refugee issues a mere 0.8 Spotlights the A full 25 percent of respondents, however, percent. “This says that these issues have Concerns of SEJ listed “other” challenges in being an truly gained prominence among reporters who Members environmental journalist. That’s the category are in a position to cover it,” said Parke. that ABC correspondent Bill Blakemore But a full 10.7 percent of respondents By Debra Kaufman counts himself in. “In the minds of our editors, answered “other,” and under that rubric, more there is no category of what we do,” he said. than one respondent noted that “all these A new survey of environmental reporters “It’s genuine unfamiliarity about how you issues are intertwined.” Blakemore agrees. indicates that their biggest challenge is the cover this thing. My biggest challenge in “Hands down, global warming and the limited resources of their jobs and the most covering global warming is to find ways to attendant ocean acidification,” he said. “Global crucial issue they cover is global warming. make a totally unprecedented kind of story feel warming is the envelope — quite literally — in The poll, conducted by NewsPro in approachable to my editors, my colleagues which all these other issues live.” conjunction with the Society of Environmental and my viewers.” “Once you start looking at environmental Journalists, also found that: The second question asked what res - issues, you see everything is connected to ■ They are encouraged by the American pondents viewed as the most important everything else,” said Parke. “People who cover public’s generally raised level of consciousness national environmental story over the next the environment have to be aware of so many about green issues. several years, with choices listed as global things. It’s a kaleidoscopic beat.” ■ They believe the advent of multimedia has warming, peak oil/renewable energy, fresh Global warming, however, still isn’t an easy had a great effect on the way they do their water issues, agriculture/food systems, re- sell at the local station or local newspaper jobs. fugees from environmental disasters, and level. “Climate change is called the story of the ■ They think the amount of coverage their news organization devotes to environmental issues is on the rise. What is the biggest challenge in your job as On the eve of the SEJ’s 19th annual a journalist covering environmental issues? conference, NewsPro surveyed the

organization’s members on a number of 35.2% questions central to coverage of environmental 25.0% issues. Response rate to the online poll was 19.5% about 10 percent, a return SEJ executive 16.4% director Beth Parke characterized as “healthy.” 3.9% A plurality of respondents (35.2 percent) answered that “resources at my news A: Resources at B: Priority among C: Reader D: Job security E: Other organization” topped the challenges. “I’ve been my news news topics controversy / spending a lot of time this year listening to organizations covered by my opposition / news angry feedback reporters talk about what’s happening in their organization to environmental hot-button newsrooms,” said Parke. topics “The resources answer has to do with how much time they get to report a story. It might not have to do with the amount of coverage What do you view as the most important they’re being asked to do. Some of them are environmental story over the next several years?

asked to do more because there are fewer 50.4% people,” said Parke. Bud Ward, editor of “The Yale Forum on Climate Change & The Media,” notes that the response reflects “a pink-slipping of 17.4% newsrooms.” 14.9% “That’s not too surprising that that would 5.8% 0.8% be the first challenge,” he said. Whereas 16.4 percent of respondents said A: Global B: Peak oil / C: Fresh water D: Agriculture / E: refugee “job security” was their chief challenge, 19.5 climate change renewable issues food systems issues from percent cited “priority among news topics energy environmental disaster covered by my news organization.” That’s a

16 | NewsPro | October 2009 09np0066.qxp 9/24/09 12:06 PM Page 1

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enviro-journalism

What do you see as the most positive environmental trend in the U.S?

45.4% 18.5% 9.2% 10.1% 2.5% 5.9% 8.4%

A: Local B: Renewable C: General trend D: Recycling E: Green F: Legislative G: Other agriculture / energy at home: of raised buildings initiatives (Cap locovore weather- consciousness and Trade, Cash movement proofing, solar about green for Clunkers, panels, light issues others) bulbs, etc.

century, for good reason,” said Burnside. local story. It’s usually seen as far off and far Blakemore points to “subnational gover - “But it’s the most difficult environmental away in time. Polar bears, not Topeka.” nments” as the most important trend. story to do for TV, because it’s visually Indeed, one res pondent who ans wered “Although there was inattention and denial challenging, and there’s a presumption that “other,” said that, “for my readers, the most from the national level, at the state and local it’s not a local story.” important issue is the res toration of the health level, environmental issues were taken “The Yale Forum’s” Ward also pointed out of the [local bay] — water quality, fish eries, etc.” seriously,” he said, observing that over 500 that mainstream legacy news organizations cities have signed the U.S. Mayors Climate focus more on what’s in the immediate area. Raised Consciousness a Positive Protection Agreement, with a commitment to “Half the res pondents put global climate A question that asked what was the most “strive to meet or beat the Kyoto Protocol change as the most important national story,” positive envir onmental trend in the U.S. drew targets in their own communities.” Likewise, a he said. “I question whether or not they would an enthusiastic response: 45.4 percent named group of governors and leaders from 30 states have climate change as the most important a “general trend of raised consciousness about and territories formed the Governors’ Climate green issues.” Coalition. “Local agricul ture- Opinions about the value of raised /locovore movement” consciousness differed dramatically among (eating food that is respondents. “I think when you raise grown locally) drew consciousness you invariably raise activity,” Ni`k`e^XjkfipXYflk an 18.5 percent res - said Burnside. “When people in the Zc`dXk\Z_Xe^\6the talk, but don’t walk the walk. “People k_\dXcc6>fkfk_\ solar panels, light always say they’re green,” he said. “But give jfliZ\1K_\8d\i`ZXe bulbs.” Other pos - them a choice between a fuel-efficient vehicle GlYc`ZKiXejgfikXk`fe sible answers in - and an SUV, and they’ve tended to go for the cluded legislative in - Hummer. It pays to be skeptical when people 8jjfZ`Xk`fe%M`j`k itiatives (Cap and say they’re environmentally responsible.” nnn%XgkX%ZfdfiZXcc Trade, Cash for Some respondents agreed with Ward’s )') +0-$+/(- -0 % Clunkers, others) at assessment. “The big trends aren’t very 8.4 percent; green positive and the positive trends aren’t very N_\k_\i`kËjdfi\afYj# buildings at 5.9 big,” said one. Yet another focused on “interest XZc\Xe\i\em`ifed\ek# percent; and re - and commitment from Obama admin - \e\i^p`e[\g\e[\eZ\fi cycling at 2.5 per- istration, but in context of poor economy” as XY\kk\ihlXc`kpf]c`]\# cent. Once again, the trend to watch. glYc`ZkiXejgfikXk`fe 10.1 percent of res - In response to the question asking what the kXb\jljk_\i\% pondents checked biggest change in job requirements has been “other,” citing tech - in the past five years, 33.3 percent answered nology and biology “multimedia.” That’s as an underscoring of R&D, corporate Am- SEJ’s efforts to increase multimedia savvy erica becoming more among its membership. “It shows us what we sustainable, and all can do with education, equipment support to types of energy con - help learning in that area,” said Parke, servation. who notes that preconference training

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sessions are already full. What has been the biggest change in your job requirements in the past five years? More Stories, Fewer Resources For Burnside, the biggest change has been “doing more stories with fewer resources.” 33.3% “I went from doing several stories over the 20.8% 24.2% course of several weeks to doing three stories 12.5% in one day,” he said. “If you subtract travel 9.2% time and eating, that’s 90 minutes to gather information, write and produce a story and get it on the air.” A: Social B: Blogging C: Multimedia D: More E: Other Blakemore reports that he’s doing Web and networking expertise on (Facebook, the beat social networking tasks, but doesn’t see that Twitter, Digg, etc.) much of a change from when he started working as a correspondent in 1970. “I’m excited by new media, but my job “They’re reducing page width, column inches, comprehensive enterprise stories.” requirements are the same,” he said. “I’ve and broadcasters are reducing airtime. I think Although Blakemore was reluctant to give always done a little print, a little radio, so it a large percentage of [the people who said a hard answer, he points out the impact of doesn’t seem like that much of a change.” coverage was increasing] comes from new media. “On the Web, of course, it’s Finally, respondents were asked if the specialized outlets and not traditional media increasing,” he said. “New digital multimedia amount of coverage dedicated to such as large metropolitan dailies.” platforms are helping coverage to increase.” environmental issues at their news outlets In concert with Ward’s observation, For Parke, the overwhelming take-away was increasing or decreasing. A surprising 41 Burnside said the amount of coverage at his from the survey is a message she wants the percent said it was increasing, with 35.9 station is decreasing. membership to hear. saying it was staying the same, and only 23.1 “I can’t say we’re representing a national “SEJ is paying attention,” she said. “We percent saying it was decreasing. trend,” he said. “I can only speak for our want to continue to ask questions to be able “I suspect that coverage is not increasing at particular circumstance. Budgets are crashing to respond to where people see this field going the large news organizations, which are going not just in newspapers but in TV, too. The staff and the advances that need to take place in to a smaller news hole overall,” said Ward. is smaller and you have less chance to do terms of improving public understanding.” ❑

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October 2009 | NewsPro | 19 Oct NPpage20.qxp:ContentWare 9/28/09 2:25 AM Page 1

enviro-journalism HOT SPOT OF DEBATE The U.N. Climate Change Conference convenes in Copenhagen in December.

the hallways. I find people I know, buttonhole them, and find out what they know and Copenhagen Meet: gradually build a story.” New York Times science reporter Andrew C. Revkin notes the challenges in separating the spin from the truth. “Most of what you AViewFromAfar hear publicly is posturing and not December’s COP15 a Challenge to the Press substantive,” he said. “The forces at play behind closed doors can be lobbyists working By Debra Kaufman beyond imagination,” he said. “We hardly for particular countries. The oil-producing have the money for an hour’s overtime, much countries are very influential in these talks, Although the upcoming United Nations less a trip to Copenhagen, and it’s really but they’re not really visible. Over the years Climate Change Conference (COP15) will be affected our ability to report.” I’ve tried to find people with access to a hot spot of debate about how the world “We’re relying on the national media to particular delegations who can give me a deals with global warming, few U.S. bring the Copenhagen story back. From sense of what’s happening.” journalists, local or national, will be on hand there, we can localize it.” Climate Conference vets are going to — partly because of tighter budgets and Copenhagen with enough context to make partly because the conferences have Borenstein Attending sense of the proceedings. Harris isn’t historically proven difficult to cover on-scene. While attending COP15 seems a natural optimistic about what he’ll learn there. The meeting of policymakers, lobbyists for Associated Press science writer Seth “People who watch these things carefully and other interested parties will take place in Borenstein, who has been covering climate think there is no way a meaningful deal will Copenhagen, Denmark, from Dec. 7-18. It change since 1998 when he joined Knight be cut there,” he said. “But [the participants] will be the 15th such conference since the 1995 Conference of Parties in Berlin. “It’s all behind closed doors. It’s really “I wish we were going,” said KING-TV news director Mark Ginther, whose Belo- difficult to cover, a real monster.” owned NBC affiliated station in Seattle is -Christy George, SEJ one of a handful in the United States to have a reporter dedicated to the en - Ridder’s Washington bureau, his plans to be don’t want to work on a Plan B because that vironmental beat — Gary Chittim. “Being in there this year are actually unusual. “I’m would admit defeat. If they don’t cut a deal Copenhagen would give us an edge. But it’s more of a science reporter than a policy and don’t have a Plan B, then it’s just a huge not in the budget.” reporter,” said Borenstein, who explains that loss. And nobody wants this critical meeting AP’s Charles Hanley has covered the UN to be a complete dud.” ‘Too Big of a Stretch’ Climate Change Conferences for many years. A trip to Denmark isn’t simply too big of a That underlines the fact that knowledge A Topic to Cover line item on the budget. Covering a cabal of about climate change science isn’t enough to That’s too much policy, politics and hype international policymakers doesn’t jibe with make sense of a United Nations Climate for journalists who focus on the science of a local TV station’s mission. “Copenhagen is Change Conference. climate change. ABC correspondent Bill too big of a stretch to try to localize the story,” “It’s all behind closed doors,” said Society Blakemore — who notes that his specialty is said Jim Parsons, investigative reporter at of Environmental Journalists President “the science of global warming and the ABC-affiliated WTAE-TV, a Hearst-owned Christy George. “You have to talk to people as science of the impact of that” — is still station in Pittsburgh. they come out. It’s really difficult to cover, a uncertain as to whether he’ll attend. “It’s Jeff Burnside, special projects producer at real monster.” possible, but I don’t know if I would be most NBC O&O WTVJ-TV in Miami, has closely “Copenhagen will be a zoo,” agrees helpful in Copenhagen or somewhere else, covered environmental issues and climate National Public Radio science correspondent providing context and perspective,” he said. change for many years, but he won’t be on a Richard Harris, who has attended UN “It’s a topic to cover, for sure, but whether I’m plane to Denmark in December, either. Climate Change Conferences since 1992 and in Copenhagen or doing stories around it is a

“Budgets have plummeted in local TV news will be in Copenhagen. Harris said he “works detail.” .❑ PHOTOGRAPH BY © PETER ADAMS/MONSOON/PHOTOLIBRARY/CORBIS

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The Campaign for America’s Wilderness Celebrates 45 Years of the Wilderness Act and Cheers the Release of…

Our Wilderness: America’s Common Ground The new film Forever Wild, which spotlights the by Campaign Policy Director Doug Scott efforts of wild heroes who have permanently protected with a foreword by Robert Redford, this photo- the places they love for future generations to use and graphic tribute to wilderness is a powerful visual enjoy. Forever Wild is currently being broadcast on PBS reminder of the country’s natural beauty and stations nationwide. www.ForeverWildFilm.com our place in it. www.OurWilderness.org

Today, the National Wilderness Preservation System stands at 109.5 million acres across 44 states and Puerto Rico. Learn how citizens are continuing to use the Wilderness Act to protect additional lands as a natural legacy at www.LeaveItWild.org.

Members of the media may request a copy of the book or film by calling (202)544-3691.

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FREE FLOW: SLOW GO

Mixed Reviews By Elizabeth Jensen For proponents of efforts to pass a federal shield law, it’s been a few months for the New EPA of one step forward, two steps back. Movement Slow Toward More Transparency “Just when you think you’re making some headway, something comes up that you weren’t expecting,” said Kevin By Debra Kaufman collecting and releasing to the public Z. Smith, an assistant professor of important environmental data needed to journalism at Fairmont State University, When Barack Obama was elected protect the environment and public in Fairmont, W.Va., and the new president of the United States many health,” said the report, posted on Sept. 15. president of the Society of Professional environmental journalists felt optimistic that “These actions, combined with instructions Journalists. his call for transparency signaled easier days from the EPA administrator, Lisa Jackson, ahead for obtaining information from the to operate more openly, are a distinct House Passed Bill in March Environmental Protection Agency. change from agency policies during the last Those who are in favor of the Free Now, nearly nine months into his several years.” Flow of Information Act, which would administration, not everyone is sure that Still, not everyone is content. New York protect journalists and sources from things have changed. Times science writer Andrew C. Revkin has government prying, were encouraged “It’s way, way, way too early to judge how had only one experience trying to get when the bill passed in the House by this administration is going to be on information under the new administration’s voice vote in March. transparency issues,” said Ken Ward, chair EPA, and it was not positive. “It’s no easier But the Senate has proven to be a of the Society of Environmental Journalists’ under the new administration,” he said. holdup. For two consecutive Thursdays First Amendment Task Force and a staff “They’re no more forthcoming than they were in late September, the Judiciary writer at The Charleston Gazette in West under the Bush administration. They’re very Committee was unable to end debate Virginia. “On the other hand, the EPA is still defensive and very slow on some things.” and vote the bill out of committee. insisting that EPA staffers shouldn’t be Despite distraction from the push to talking to the media, only PR people should. Early Signs ‘Good’ pass health care reform, as of Sept. 25, And they want questions in advance. If Society of Environmental Journalists Committee Chairman Patrick Leahy, D- Obama believes in transparency, he’ll issue President Christy George, however, insists Vt., was still insisting that the shield bill an order to cease this.” that “the early signs have been good.” She’s would get through, even if it takes some referring to a conference call she’s had with a time. Bush EPA: A Slow Process number of EPA officials. “We asked them to The bill, which is supported by about Under the Bush administration getting roll back some of the information they’d been 70 journalism organizations including the information from the EPA was slow and blacking out,” she said. On Sept. 15, OMB Society of Environmental Jour nalists, painful. “It was difficult for our members to Watch reported that the EPA released the endured a couple of major changes in get information,” said Ward. “Freedom of Toxics Release Inventory, which tracks the amendments approved by the committee. Information Act requests were not handled in release or transfer of more than 650 toxic Most notably, bloggers were excluded a timely manner. There were a lot of chemicals from facilities nationwide, much from the bill’s protection, a dis - situations where EPA officials weren’t allowed earlier than the past administration. appointment to those hoping for a broad to talk to journalists and, when they were, the “There’s an ongoing conversation, written, umbrella. EPA insisted on having PR minders present.” personal and on the phone,” said George, Things got so bad that in September 2005 who reports that 10 public officers from Security Worries ‘Not a Concern’ SEJ’s First Amendment Task Force issued a various EPA regions are expected to attend Smith said supporters’ current task is report, “A Flawed Tool — Environmental this year’s SEJ Conference. to convince Justice Department staffers Reporters’ Experiences With the Freedom of She notes, however, that SEJ also reached that their worries that the bill will hurt Information Act,” and recommended that out to the Bush administration’s EPA. “The national security “are not a concern. “actions by Congress, journalists and the beginnings of the Bush administration was They are addressed in this bill.” public to better ensure that this positive as well,” she said. “But after 9/11, Joe Davis, who writes the Society of democratizing law is carried out faithfully.” one of the biggest problems SEJ had was Environmental Journalists’ First Fast-forward to 2009 and the new that they shut down the Web sites and any Amendment WatchDog TipSheet, said administration’s EPA. OMB Watch, a information having to do with nuclear power the Obama administration “has been nonprofit research and advocacy plants, chemical plants, pipelines and dams.” supportive of a shield law. I think the organization formed in 1983 to shed light on Ward says that although he has issue is what kind of shield law.” the secrecy shrouding the White House personally had a couple of good experiences He added, “I only hope the Office of Management and Budget, has with FOIA requests from the new Democrats do what they said they would stated that the Obama administration’s high administration’s EPA, he cautions journalists do during their various campaigns, and priority on transparency is bearing fruit most to be vigilant about how the EPA reacts to that was support reporters’ privilege. I quickly at the EPA. their FOIA requests over the coming months think there’s some hope for that.” “Across a range of issues, the EPA is taking and years. “The journalist’s job is to hold proactive steps to improve transparency, that agency accountable. ❑

22 | NewsPro | October 2009 09np0056.qxp 9/21/09 12:53 PM Page 1

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09np0056.pdf RunDate: 10/ 05 /09 Full Page Color: 4/C NP40_partials.qxp 9/28/09 10:51 AM Page 4

enviro-journalism Humor Scores SeriousPoints Adding Some Laughs Can Help Leaven Dry or Unsettling Stories

By Elizabeth Jensen

So why did the chicken cross the road? To get viewers and readers to pay attention to gloom-and-doom environmental stories, of course. 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.

Laughing at Ourselves THAT’S FUNNY Grist.org has been using Humor “helps audiences connect with humor in its environmental the story by letting them see the humanity posts for 10 years. in it. Everyone somewhere in their bones laughs,” said Debra Schwartz, chief executive of Dash on Deadline, a free-lance Early 21st Century,” will lead a Friday Society way to bring nuance to a story as well as writing service specializing in science, of Environmental Journalists conference to whet readers’ appetites for more details, environment and education journalism. panel on how, why and when to use humor he added. She added, “When we can help each other in environmental writing. laugh at ourselves, then there’s an A lot of science, energy and en vironmental ‘Beacon in the Smog’ emotional connection to the story that material “is very dry and drab,” said Tom Grist.org, which calls itself “a beacon in doesn’t exist when you’re hammering Henry, a writer and columnist for the Toledo the smog,” has been using a humorous someone over the head. I don’t think laying Blade in Ohio, who has been covering the approach to its environmental posts since a guilt trip on somebody is a way to make environmental beat since 1993 and will be on 1999. Newsweek called the Seattle-based them productive.” the panel. Journalists, he said, “have the site — which reaches about 750,000 users Schwartz, the Beloit, Wis.-based author of power to inflame a community needlessly a month and features a “Things That Are k“Writing Green: Advocacy & Investigative or put them to sleep” when they should be Funny” category and a “Clarity-O-Meter” Reporting About the Environment in the paying close attention. Humor can be one alongside serious policy coverage — “the Need a new angle for your environmental reporting? Ask us about the responsible use of pesticides and fertilizers, and the issues surrounding their use. What you cover is very complex and there are many sides to every story. You want to cover these issues responsibly. We can help. For issues involving pesticides or fertilizers used by consumers, commercial applicators and government agencies, contact RISE (Responsible Industry for a Sound Environment®), we’re a national not-for-profit trade association representing producers and suppliers of pesticide and fertilizer products. Some of these products are used to protect public health and property by controlling pests such as mosquitoes and termites. Others maintain green lawns, manage invasive plant species, school grounds, highway rights-of-way, lakes and ponds. RISE is an indispensable media resource, providing journalists with the facts and science about key pesticide and fertilizer issues. Call Karen Reardon at 202-872-3860 or visit: www.pestfacts.org

24 | NewsPro | October 2009 NP40_partials.qxp 9/28/09 10:51 AM Page 5

‘Daily Show’ of the green space.” But not all humorous approaches have He wrote a story once about efforts to In a tip sheet for the SEJ panel, Grist to be pure stand-up comedy routines, say eradicate emerald ash borers by peeling senior editor Katharine Wroth offers Henry and Schwartz. “You don’t have to be back the bark on some trees and releasing examples of ways to use humor, from pheromones, “but I don’t say the trees are incorporating rhymes and wordplay and sluts, or anything like that,” he noted. “writing for yourself” and what you think is Deciding when humor isn’t appropriate funny, to a suggestion to “butcher your is also key, he said, noting that “Humor sacred cows.” No topic, she writes, is so usually doesn’t fly when you’ve got important that it can’t be tweaked: someone being prosecuted in court,” or “Methane in the atmosphere? Not so there’s a spill or disaster. “You don’t want funny. Bovine burps as a source of said to be accused of being flippant. That’s methane? Now we’re talking.” always the danger.” She also suggests going “for the “It is possible to offend somebody un - unexpected,” citing a recent Grist slide intentionally,” said Schwartz. “Sensitivity show of famous environmentalists’ “I don’t think laying is the order of the day. Sometimes humor mustaches, which the site used as “a a guilt trip on can have a hard edge that turns people chance to highlight key thinkers doing somebody is a way off.” She occasionally uses a bit of humor important work on sustainability — in a at the top of a story to engage her readers way that caught people completely off to make them before getting to the nitty-gritty details of guard.” productive.” her topic. Another good tool, she says, is to ask -Debra Schwartz, Dash on Deadline And not everyone gets it. She once wrote “WWJSD” (What Would Jon Stewart Do?), a story about textiles created from spun suggesting that journalists “imagine Jon an entertainer to write in a sequence of petroleum with a lead along the lines of Stewart or some other comedian you threes,” said Schwartz, referring to one “save oil, go naked.” An editor didn’t admire delivering your story. How would technique of using “small, bigger, bigger” understand, and the story was rejected, he or she spice things up? What un - or “big, smaller, smaller” formulas. but Schwartz still thinks it was a good expected, unserious angle would he or she “What you’re really trying to do is approach to a materials science story,

focus in on?” lighten up your writing a bit,” says Henry. “which can be really boring.” ❑ PHOTOGRAPH BY GLEN HACKER

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October 2009 | NewsPro | 25 Oct NP lost jobs and ? page26, 28 29.qxp:ContentWare 9/28/09 2:31 AM Page 1

enviro-journalism Adapting to Life After Layoffs Eco-journalists Recycle Unique Skills in New Workplaces

By Dinah Eng — now they have one. There’s less time and to get their news? SEJ is doing what we can less space for it. That said, there’s still award- to promote the idea of the nonprofit news Industry layoffs and an economic winning work being done.” model, and being a business incubator that downturn have sidelined thousands of Parke says the single largest employment helps journalists set up entrepreneurial journalists in the last year, forcing many who category in membership shifted from ventures.” covered the environment to find new ways to “newspaper” in January 2008 to “freelance” in make a living. July 2009. In June 2007, SEJ had 309 Switch to Nonprofits Reporters who once worked to raise public working freelance, compared with 355 Robert McClure, an SEJ board member awareness of environmental issues are now working freelance across all platforms in June and longtime environmental reporter for the creating entrepreneurial ventures online, 2008. As of July 2009, SEJ had 1,520 South Florida Sun-Sentinel and Seattle working for government agencies or members. Post-Intelligencer, was one of the first to nonprofits, and teaching. Most have moved move into the nonprofit news sector. When into some kind of freelance career. Opportunities Out There the Post-Intelligencer stopped its print “Our membership continues to grow, She notes that numerous opportunities editions in March 2009, McClure joined which may seem counterintuitive,” says Beth exist for environmental journalists, in - forces with other former staffers to launch Parke, executive director of the Society of cluding working for outlets that may cover InvestigateWest (invw.org), a nonprofit news Environmental Journalists in Jenkintown, the environment with focused points of venture online. Pa. “Like many other journalism or gan iza- view, such as Greenpeace Magazine or “We want to preserve and modernize tions in this difficult period, our people are Clear Skies TV. investigative reporting in Western North growing their networks and shoring up “The skills that print and broadcast America — including Canada and Mexico — their skills. journalists have are valuable in government, on the environment, public health and social “Where there are newspapers with com- public relations and universities,” Parke says. justice issues,” says McClure, vice president mitments to environmental coverage — where “People can teach or write books. What we’re of InvestigateWest. “We’re doing one project a they may have had three people on the beat concerned about is where is the public going month, and have media partners that will pay

NEW OPPORTUNITIES Miles O’Brien, former CNN environment correspondent, now works with Spaceflightnow.com.

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for the stories. We’ll be getting money from Nuclear Energy philanthropic organizations, and later from the public as donors.” McClure, who covers climate change and other environmental news topics in his blog Dateline Earth, says he’s working as hard now as he did on the multipart projects he did at the Post-Intelligencer on mining, endangered species and the need for environmental Fuels restoration of Puget Sound and the Duwamish River. “We can only cover 12 stories a year, but there’s a place for us,” he says “I hope we’re pioneering a new way to do journalism.” Chris Bowman, former environment and energy reporter for The Sacramento Bee, has Economic Growth carved out a new niche for himself after being laid off in May by combining a full-time job with the California Environmental Protection Agency, teaching and freelance writing.

“Mainstream media has walked away & Job Creation from [eco stories] but there are opportunities to tell [them] in other mediums.” -Miles O’Brien, Spaceflightnow.com

“I write and edit scientific reports, press Nuclear energy is the low-cost producer releases and legislative bill analyses for the of baseload electricity — power that is Office of Environmental Health Hazard available 24/7. By providing reliable and Assessment,” Bowman says. “I’m teaching a course on environmental news reporting and affordable electricity, nuclear energy writing for graduate students at the University keeps American business competitive and of Nevada at Reno on my furlough Fridays, powers job growth. and I pull together a monthly newsletter on the latest green automotive technology for a Our leaders are proposing a massive Nuclear energy already provides more than Silicon Valley public relations firm. I’m economic recovery program centered on 70% of our nation’s carbon-free electricity. fortunate that it does tap some of my skills, rebuilding our nation’s infrastructure. By Building advanced nuclear plants can help and keeps me in the swim of things.” building domestic energy infrastructure, enhance our energy security and meet our it will provide abundant, clean sources of environmental and economic challenges. Bowman says The Sacramento Bee has electricity while producing tens of thousands been in the forefront of environmental of U.S. jobs and stimulating the economy. reporting, but early on, editors tended to view International Association of Bridge, Structural, Ornamental environmental reporting with suspicion as & Reinforcing Iron Workers International Association of Heat & Frost Insulators & Allied Workers advocacy reporting. Today, having one or International Brotherhood of Boilermakers, Iron Ship Builders, Blacksmiths, Forgers & Helpers more dedicated environmental reporters on International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers International Brotherhood of Teamsters staff is still seen as a luxury, rather than International Union of Bricklayers & Allied Craftworkers necessity, he adds. International Union of Elevator Constructors International Union of Painters & Allied Trades “Having one person cover the beat is like Laborers’ International Union of North America Operative Plasterers’ & Cement Masons’ International having one person cover all sports or the state Association of the United States & Canada Sheet Metal Workers’ International Association Nuclear. Clean air energy. capitol,” Bowman says. “Now that I’m United Association of Journeymen & Apprentices of the Plumbing & Pipefitting Industry of the United States & Canada nei.org working at Cal EPA, and scientists are freely United Union of Roofers, Waterproofers & Allied Workers talking to me, I see so many stories. But there are fewer reporters I can turn to who would do the story justice.

October 2009 | NewsPro | 27 NP40_partials.qxp 9/28/09 10:51 AM Page 7

enviro-journalism

“With climate change becoming a part of your door.” journalism. So as print mainstream news and education, editors can O’Brien, who worked for reporters leave their papers, no longer ignore environmental reporting. The CNN for nearly 17 years, they’re ending up at places demand is there, but the industry hasn’t continues to work on like this. It’s going to be up figured out how to make money off it.” documentaries for PBS and to the reader to figure out Miles O’Brien, CNN’s environment and a blog. He says in terest in where to go now for their technology correspondent until the cable environmental stories on news.” network disbanded its science, technology air is difficult to maintain Kay says environmental and environment unit in December 2008, is because topics like global journalists, who are creating an income stream with nonprofit change are big, but don’t knowledgeable about state Spaceflightnow.com, an online venture that necessarily lend themselves PAUL ROGERS and federal environmental provides space coverage. to visual storytelling. Two part-time jobs laws and ecological issues, O’Brien approached Spaceflightnow.com “Mainstream media has are concerned about dim- and suggested continuous video coverage of walked away from the subject matter, but inishing public access to objective STS-119, the space shuttle that launched there are opportunities to tell the story in information. March 15. He found sponsors for the initiative other mediums,” he says. “This is a time when our planet is facing and served as anchor/host for the Webcast, The Internet has welcomed many great environmental problems, and we need which has covered three other shuttle environmental reporters, such as Jane Kay, sophisticated examinations of how we’re launches since. a longtime writer for the San Francisco going to address these problems,” Kay says. Chronicle who lost her job July 31 as part “We don’t want to lose this knowledge that’s ‘Hyperspecialization’ of a large reduction in force at the paper. taken so long to build.” “We had 190,000 unique visitors for the “I’m writing for Environmental Health While downsizing has pushed veterans last launch (STS-128),” O’Brien says. “It was News (environmentalhealthnews.org), a sister like Camille Feanny, former CNN global really gratifying. We’re in a new era of site to DailyClimate.org, based on the Pro environmental producer, to leave the hyperspecialization with a lot of little Publica model,” Kay says. “EHN started in business to pursue other passions — she is audiences. Tweet a little bit, put it on 2002 as an aggregator of stories, and in the pursuing a doctorate in anthropology at the Facebook, and the world will beat a path to last year it’s started commissioning original University of Florida, and plans to work on global orphan issues — some have kept one foot in traditional journalism while blazing trails with new methods of environmental reporting. Paul Rogers, resources and en vir - onment writer at the San Jose Mercury News, combines a 30-hour, part-time job at the newspaper, with a 20-hour part- time job as managing editor of public broadcast station KQED-TV’s Quest, a multimedia series that explores Northern California science, environment and nature through podcasting, radio and educational materials for teachers. Four years ago, Rogers asked the Mercury IN A WORD, IT’S GLASS. News to cut his hours so that he could take on the new initiative with KQED, an 94% of consumers know RECYCLING is good for the environment* arrangement that has worked well for all 78% know GLASS containers are recyclable back to their original use involved. Rogers notes that the newspaper 76% know GLASS containers are not made of synthetic materials gets the benefit of embedding Quest videos shot in hi-def into his stories on the Glass, the original recyclable packaging. newspaper Web site, and KQED gets more To learn more, visit www.gpi.org/recyclesurvey eyeballs on their work. “It’s likely that we’ll see more newspapers go bankrupt, or cease publishing on dead trees,” Rogers says. “I’ve been intrigued with public broadcasting alternatives because at KQED we’re able to cover stories with a different revenue model. Maybe some of the

*Survey of 750 Americans conducted by telephone in July 2009, by Newton Marketing Research, Norman, Oklahoma, future models for environmental coverage in conjunction with Professor Doyle Yoon, PhD Gaylord College of Journalism and Mass Communications, will be these nonprofit models. If this is how University of Oklahoma, with a Margin of error of +/- 3.7% (survey facts). we keep environmental reporting alive, so be it.” ❑

28 | NewsPro | October 2009 09np0051.qxp 9/18/09 1:41 PM Page 1

Protect the environment or protect jobs. CAN’T WE DO BOTH?

As an industry, we believe we have a role Jobs lost to countries like Russia, China,

in protecting the environment. But Venezuela and those in the Middle East

when it comes to climate changeg that have questionable interests in

legislation, we can’t supportrt rreducingeduc carbon emissions. Our ddependenceep on foreign sources a bill that costs American ofo fertilizer would also put jobs and puts our food oour food security at risk. supply at risk.

WWe can’t let this happen. You see, manufacturing WeW believe Congress can cre- fertilizer requires large ate climatec change policy that amounts of natural gas. If protects bothb the environment and the climate change legislation jobs critical to our nation’s food supply. Join drastically increases the price of natural us and tell your senators you can’t support

gas, the fertilizer industry would close any climate change policy that puts our food

production plants and jobs would be lost. supply at risk and Americans out of work.

Learn more at TFI.org

09np0051.pdf RunDate: 10/ 05 /09 Full Page Color: 4/C NP40_partials.qxp 9/28/09 10:51 AM Page 8

enviro-journalism

Second Place: Third Place: Ed Jahn, Jeff Douglas, Mark Clayton, The Sarah Fox, Todd Christian Science Sonflieth, Nick Fisher, Monitor SEJAward Winners Michael Bendixen, Beat Reporting Entry, Bruce Barrow; Oregon 2008: US Coal Boom Public Broadcasting Suddenly Wanes; Aged On Oct. 7, 2009, the first day of the Society of Environmental Journalists’ 19th annual The Silent Invasion Ships a Toxic Export; EPA conference, the organization will present the winners of the 2008-09 Awards for Reporting This report wades — Acts on ‘Toxic’ Ship; Why literally — into the weeds National Parks, Coal-Fired on the Environment. Thirty-one entries in 11 categories have been selected out of 187 and waters where Power Plants May Be entries, chosen by a jury of reporters, editors and journalism educators. environmental battle is Neighbors; Is Water being waged, from Becoming ‘the New Oil’?; ranchers struggling to Off-Road-Vehicle Bans keep their connections to Seem To Please No One; SEJ’s Rachel Carson defend dangerous pro - toxic chemicals. ument how little reg - the land to the Customs Do Uranium Mines Environment Book ducts against damning Second Place: ulators know about the workers guarding against Belong Near Grand Award science and common Sammy Fretwell and environmental risks of biological “invaders.” Canyon? First Place: Andrew sense. John Monk, The hydrofracking, a drilling Third Place: Clayton tackled an array Nikiforuk, co- Nancy A. Nichols, (Columbia, S.C.) State process that many Vince Patton, Nick of stories, embarrassing published by Island Press DHEC Under Fire energy companies are Fisher, Todd Sonflieth, the EPA into closing a Greystone Books and Lake Effect: Two Sisters This report proved that rushing to utilize. Michael Bendixen, loophole that had the David Suzuki and a Town’s Toxic South Carolina’s Tom Shrider; Oregon allowed privately owned Foundation Legacy Department of Health Outstanding Beat/In- Public Broadcasting U.S. companies to scrap Tar Sands: Dirty Oil and Nichols’ very personal and Environmental depth Reporting, Radio Oregon Field Guide: commercial ships on the Future of a Continent book weaves her history Control had repeatedly First Place: David Bighorn Pneumonia; foreign soil examining Mr. Nikiforuk illustrates of childhood along the failed to enforce envir- Baron, independent Malheur Refuge Carp; freshwater shortages and how an industry born in polluted shores of Lake onmental laws and sided producer for NPR’s All Celilo Revealed; Mount how national parks are the 1960s has already Michigan and her sister’s with moneyed interests Things Considered St. Helens Mysteries imperiled by weakened industrialized an area death from cancer with over public interests. Shifting Ground With its deep exploration air pollution regulations. larger than Florida, an investigation of the Third Place: Relying on original of the unintended turning Alberta into the history of pollution in the Abrahm Lustgarten, research, personalization consequences as we Outstanding Saudi Arabia of the lake, particularly as it ProPublica, picked up of the stories, use of change our environment, Explanatory Reporting, West, shedding affects her hometown of by WNYC radio, natural sound and this report captures these Print frightening new light on Waukegan. BusinessWeek, Albany interviews, Mr. Baron’s conundrums with perfect First Place: the future of energy. Times-Union, San pieces clarify land-use pitch and pace. Valerie Brown, Miller- Kevin Carmody Award Diego Union-Tribune conflicts not often McCune Magazine Honorable Mentions for Outstanding and the Denver Post reported on. Outstanding Beat Environment Becomes (two, in alphabetized Investigative Is Natural Gas Drilling Second Place: Reporting, Print Heredity order by author’s last Reporting, Print Endangering U.S. Water Ashley Ahearn, Steve FIRST PLACE: Brown explains whether name) David Michaels, First Place: Supplies? New York’s Curwood, Jeff Turton, Kenneth R. Weiss, Los chemical exposure can Oxford University Blake Morrison and Gas Rush Poses Living on Earth Angeles Times trigger multi-generational Press Brad Heath, USA Environmental Threat Lead and Violent Crime A Warming Sea: Subtle health problems, using Doubt Is Their Product: TODAY The Smokestack (Albany Times-Union) Featuring clear, easy-to- Changes Can Have scientific knowledge, How Industry’s Assault Effect Buried Secrets: Is Natural understand writing and Profound Impacts: plain English, and humor on Science Threatens By analyzing Gas Endangering U.S. outstanding use of Infested Fish May Bear to reveal how mothers Your Health Focusing on government records, Water Supplies? natural sound and Scars of Global Warming; exposed to certain the tobacco industry, this canvassing independent (BusinessWeek) How the interviews, Ahearn’s story An Elusive Catch; A chemicals may be passing book — by an epide - air monitoring West’s Energy Boom put a human face on Warning from the Sea; genetic time bombs on to miologist and Energy nationwide, and Could Threaten Drinking complicated science From Slim to None? their children and Dept. regulator in the investigating polluting Water for 1 in 12 research. Though his work was grandchildren. Clinton Admin istration — industries near schools, Americans (San Diego Third Place: limited primarily to Second Place: analyzes the strategies this report proved the Union-Tribune) Shawn Allee, oceans, shorelines and Stefan Milkowski, corporations, politicians air outside schools in all Lustgarten’s stories on Environment Report, Pacific Ocean fishing, John Wagner; and their allies use to 50 states was rife with natural gas drilling doc- Michigan Radio Weiss peeled away many Fairbanks Daily News- Nuclear Power Series: of the myths and took a Miner Part I: Stuck with Old science-based approach Alaska’s Changing Nuke Plants; Part II: Stuck to the issue. Climate with Old Nuke Plants; Second Place: Alaska is a bellwether of Get your hands-on science... Part III: Lifting Bans on Asher Price, Austin climate change, as Nuke Power Plants? American-Statesman Milkowski shows in his Allee’s series examined Austin Beat Journalism: series that describes an the issue of nuclear Documents Detail environment that is energy, covering ground Attempt To Obtain already destabilizing not often heard in License To Bury Radio - communities and above the Arctic Circle environment reporting. active Waste; Can UT Prof undermining ancient Neutralize Nazi Sub modes of survival. Outstanding Beat/In- Threat?; Coal Plant Deal Third Place: depth Reporting, Shows Environmental John Shiffman, John MBL Logan Science Journalism Program Television Split; Austin’s Energy Sullivan, Tom Avril; First Place: Miser; A Mighty Wind; The Philadelphia Polar Hands-On Laboratory Toolik Field Station, Alaska David Novack, Richard Just Add Water; Wells Dry Inquirer June 17 – July 2, 2010 Hankin, Samuel the Farm Smoke & Mirrors: The Henriques, Scott Additional fellowship opportunities: Relying on open records, Subversion of the EPA Travel above the Arctic Circle to Shelley; Sundance number-crunching, This four-part series Alaska’s Brooks Range for a field sPalmer Station, Antarctica Channel/The Green advice from technical describes how, under Explore the effects of climate change course focusing on key questions Burning the Future: Coal experts, and meticulous former President George and ecosystem function in polar research. Then team up in America reporting, Price shed light W. Bush, the EPA’s with leading Arctic researchers to Offering wide-ranging on such topics as the leadership repeatedly sWoods Hole, MA perspective regarding investigate cutting-edge issues of Discover the fundamental techniques state’s refusal to divulge favored political and coal and our nation’s polar environmental change. and concepts behind modern day information about the economic pressures over biomedical research energy needs, this potential for windblown scientific evidence, balanced and personal radioactive particles and a producing compromised narrative is crafted APPLICATION DEADLINE: March 1, 2010 rift among environ - programs, judicial defeats through the eyes and mentalists over plans to and continued threats to www.mbl.edu/sjp voices of its subjects. build a new coal-fired the environment and power plant near Austin. human health.

30 | NewsPro | October 2009 NP40_partials.qxp 9/28/09 10:51 AM Page 9

Outstanding Online at times, lethal impact on examining how deals are Outstanding Story, Eric Teed, Joe University of Nebraska Reporting humans and pets. tilted to favor Television, Large Frandino, CBS News — Lincoln First Place: Kristen Third Place: corporations and lawyers Market What’s Killing the Bats of Ethanol: Salvation or Lombardi, Steven James Shiffer, David over residents, and how First Place: the Northeast? Damnation? Sunshine, Sarah Shaffer, Tom little government Christopher Bauer, In a concise and In this report, the Laskow, David Donald; Meersman, Brian agencies have done to Jenny Oh, Josh Rosen, thoughtful piece, students took a vital The Center for Public Peterson, Glenn curb abuses. Laurie Schmidt, Paul Sieberg trusts the issue in their community Integrity Howatt, Mark Boswell, Second Place: Rogers; KQED 9 San audience to understand, and found people The Hidden Costs of www.startribune.com Florence Williams, Francisco as scientists do, that the affected by ethanol’s Clean Coal: Undermined; Renegade Riders High Country News Quest: Tagging Pacific issue is complicated, the varied impacts, from The Big Seep; Coal Ash: Making full use of online On Cancer’s Trail Predators research is difficult, and farmers to families The Hidden Story media, this team focused Reporting as a Ted Scripps With outstanding visuals, answers aren’t always so shopping for tortillas. In her report for the on how ATV riders are fellow at the University of interviews and narration, easily found. Second Place: Center for Public destroying fragile Colorado, Williams tells the KQED -TV Quest Sonia Narang, UC Integrity, Lombardi wetlands, taking on vocal the story of a young team unveiled the story Outstanding Story, Berkeley Journalism exposes the unintended and occasionally abusive Navajo biologist studying about project TOPP, or Television, Small School, consequences of user groups who want to breast cancer to Tagging of Pacific Market Frontline/World “longwall mining,” said have their way with the understand the high Predators, clearly, First Place: India’s Uranium Town to be a superior way to landscape. incidence of the disease in thoroughly and Jim Parsons, Kendall The student journalists extract coal, exploring her family and dramatically. Cross, Michael pulled off a series that the broader implications Outstanding Small- community, revealing the Second Place: Lazorko, WTAE-TV was challenging to of coal ash befouling Market Reporting, legacy of uranium mining Betty Ann Bowser, Pittsburgh report, with a good use water and habitat around Print and waste on Navajo land. Patti Parson, Catherine Drill Baby Drill of multiple perspectives. the nation. First Place: Third Place: Wise, The NewsHour Parsons examined the Third Place: Second Place: Lowell Brown amd J. Madeleine Nash, with Jim Lehrer complicated issue of Meghan Foley, M.B. Pell, Jillian Olsen, Peggy Heinkel-Wolfe, High Country News Louisiana Landfills Report natural gas drilling and Melissa Ball, Randy Jim Morris; The Center Denton Record- Back to the Future Bowser has reported its impact on water Booth, Casie Brown, for Public Integrity Chronicle Nash has brought from a culturally and volume in rivers and Ian Lord; The Equinox Perils of the New Behind the Shale: Part 1, together strong economically “hidden” creeks. (Keene State College Pesticides Eminent Dominance; Part scholarship and community, resulting in a student newspaper) This team of reporters, 2, Perils Afoot; Part 3, storytelling to describe powerful human story to Outstanding Student Getting the Lead Out assembled by the Center Culture Clash; Part 4, the Paleocene-Eocene illuminate the problems Reporting Keene’s series on lead for Public Integrity, mined Voicing the Silence; Part Thermal Maximum, an facing New Orleans First Place: demonstrated reportorial a government database 5, Neighborhood interval of around residents hurt, not just Mimi Abebe, Melissa tenacity on a local story, to uncover statistics that Metamorphosis 150,000 years when the by the hurricane, but by Drozda, Cassie with use of a variety of “good” pesticides, In this series reporters go Big Horn Basin of the hurricane recovery. Fleming, Alex Haueter, sources, including FOIA- extracted from the behind-the-scenes to Wyoming came to Third Place: Lucas Jameson, type work. chrysanthemum plant, show how land deals resemble today’s coastal Daniel Sieberg, Paul Kosuke Koiwai, Aaron can have disturbing and, really work in Texas, Carolinas. Sedia, Jack Renaud, Price, Kate Veik,

Saturdays. Great films with something to say. WATCH AT 8. TALK AT 10.

10/10 - Grizzly Man

10/17 - Split Estate 10/3 - Who Killed the Electric Car?

10/31 - The 11th Hour

©2009 Discovery Communications ©2009 Discovery 10/24 - The Last Beekeeper

planetgreen.com | treehugger.com

October 2009 | NewsPro | 31 Oct NP Veterans page323435.qxp:ContentWare 9/28/09 2:38 AM Page 1

enviro-journalism

PBSSet the Course Through the Long-running ‘Nova’ and ‘Nature’ Series, Public Television Was an Eco-Pioneer

By Elizabeth Jensen

When “Nova” made its debut on PBS in 1974, the subject of its second program was a film about over-reliance 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 the audience fascinated by the science, history and beauty of the natural world. “The conventional wisdom had been for many, many years that environmental programs had been ratings poison,” said Fred Kaufman, the executive producer of “Nature” since 1991 and a founding member of the show’s staff in 1982. Ratings still can be a tricky proposition but there’s no hesitancy in tackling the topic now, and there can be other rewards. “Nature,” for one, was honored with a Peabody Award for its 2007 program “Silence of the Bees,” which looked at the worldwide dying off of honey bees and the serious implications for the food supply. (It’s also the most- viewed “Nature” episode on the PBS.org Web site.) “Nova” teamed up with National Geographic Television last year for the well-received global warming program called “Extreme Ice” and the show has a number of other high- profile environmental programs in the works. Nonetheless, “The reality is you have to HEATED ISSUE take a deep breath before you do environmental programming,” said Paula Apsell, the “Nova” teamed with National program’s senior executive producer. Geographic to produce last year’s global warming “Nova” looked at technological advances in solar power in 2007’s “Saved by the Sun” program, “Extreme Ice.” and at the “Car of the Future” last year, and neither rated as well as she was hoping.

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enviro-journalism Climate Change Makes Strange Bedfellows

AMERICAN WIND “I’m not sure I’d go so far as to say they WILDLIFE INSTITUTE are ratings poison, but they’re not ‘Shark Week,’” Apsell said, referring to Discovery AWWI is unique. A first- Channel’s annual summer stunt, adding, “They’re not big ratings getters.” of-its-kind collaboration But ratings aren’t everything, she said. founded last year by “We would be amazingly irresponsible if we 20 of the nation’s largest didn’t do them. Finding a solution to global warming is one of the most important, if not wind energy companies the most important, science and technology and national issue of our time, so how can a series like environmental ‘Nova’ turn its back?” And with “Nature’s” cable competition organizations. “more and more really chasing ratings,” Kaufman said, “I felt more of a responsibility to be unique.” AWWI’s mission? KEEPING NATURE IN FOCUS Fred Kaufman has been with People With an Agenda PBS’ “Nature” since 1982. To provide science- “Nature” came around and embraced environmental subjects once Kaufman based research, tools realized that inattentive audiences weren’t so were destroying the environment or creating and solutions urgently much to blame as the producers themselves. a problem for nature.” needed to increase “It clicked for me what the problem was,” he It was not, he said, “compelling TV,” just said. “What seemed to be happening is that someone “who wanted to get on a soap box for America’s renewable the people who were really interested in an hour.” energy portfolio while producing environmental programming Instead, he said, the stories need to have protecting our wildlife tended to be people who had an agenda. They “depth and character, a surprise, a twist, heritage. would come to me wanting to use their film something multidimensional that makes it as a club to beat the people they thought very engaging.” All “Nature” programs have to have “a strong natural history component,” Kaufman HORSE SENSE said, with the animals, in the case of the bees, “Nature’s” “Cloud: Challenge of the Stallions” is about built up as characters in themselves, and not Montana’s wild mustangs. just serving as pretty pictures to go with the talking heads and experts. So when “Silence of the Bees” aired on Oct. 28, 2007, it looked very different from the way CBS’ “60 Minutes” tackled the same subject on the same night. The “60 Minutes” segment was “beautifully produced and well told,” Kaufman said, but “it looked like a news For more information, contact piece,” compared to the “Nature” bee close- Marsha Johnston ups shot with special cameras and lenses. Director of Operations “Nature” has a number of environmental [email protected] programs in the works, including one for next (202) 216-9700 season which will examine the decline of Pacific salmon stocks in the American West,

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DISAPPEARING GLACIERS ”Nova’s” “Extreme Ice” ended up an adventure story.

and another on the invasion of giant pythons adventure story, as National Geographic- gloom. Nobody wants to be lectured to and in the Florida Everglades. funded photojournalist James Balog “got nobody wants to watch a gloom-and-doom It is also finding ways to work the himself into the most horrendous situations” program.” Nor should the show “be wasting environmental aspects into its programs investigating disappearing glaciers and ice our time banging people over the head online, as with the upcoming “Cloud: sheets in Greenland and Iceland. “It was an convincing” skeptics that global warming is Challenge of the Stallions,” the latest environmental story but this guy put himself real, she said. installation of its ongoing look at the wild in jeopardy in order to understand more” Instead, the show is taking a “positive mustangs of Montana, what Kaufman about the topic, she said. spin,” she said, and looking at “what we can called “a pure natural history film” that will do about it.” So there’s a program in the direct viewers to the Web site for more on Fundamental Change works on whether technology can solve efforts by the Bureau of Land Management “Nova” has fundamentally changed its global warming, and “what technologies are to cull the herds. approach to environmental programs in there that are so promising that we should The “Extreme Ice” “Nova” program worked, recent years, Apsell said. “We’re not doing bet the farm on them?” It might be ready for Apsell said, because it ended up being an anymore that global warming doom and airing around Earth Day. ❑

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In 2005, Cone authored a book called “Silent Snow: The Slow Poisoning of the The Masters Arctic,” after winning a Pew Foundation grant in marine conservation — which is usually reserved for scientists — to of Environmental investigate environmental issues there, particularly how contaminants are affecting wildlife and people in the region. Journalism In 1999, she received the first teaching fellowship in environmental journalism at the University of California at Berkeley and The environment can be a tough beat. It requires taught at the Graduate School of Journalism there. extraordinary persistence and dedication to ANDREW REVKIN remain abreast of the myriad developments in an Growing up in Rhode Island, Andrew Revkin fell in love with nature and ever-evolving, often controversial field. For some enjoyed reading books about it. His undergraduate degree was in biology with reporters, it has become more than a career — it an emphasis on marine biology. Now an is a commitment. Here, NewsPro correspondent author and an environmental reporter for The New York Times since 1995, Revkin Hillary Atkin profiles some of environmental has traveled the world documenting man’s relationship to nature. journalism’s most accomplished professionals. “After heading abroad on a fellowship to study isolated island communities, I got the photography and writing bug,” said Revkin. “In journalism, the two passions — SETH BORENSTEIN tinker with our climate? There are all sorts storytelling and my interest in biology, It was in 1992, and Hurricane Andrew of ethical debates about it.” nature, and the human relationship with had left a huge swath of devastation across nature — were able to mesh.” South Florida. Seth Borenstein, then a MARLA CONE He writes about global environmental reporter for the Fort Lauderdale Sun- How do you top an 18-year career at the change and the work has taken him from Sentinel covering a severe regional Los Angeles Times? If you are Marla Cone, the Amazon to the North Pole to Alaska’s drought, reported extensively on the who was the senior environmental reporter North Slope, where a photograph of a disaster and later co-authored a book there until 2008, you become the editor-in- blizzard he shot in 2005 won a top award. about it. It was just a sample of things to chief of Environmental Health Sciences, a Revkin also runs the new Dot Earth come in his career. Virginia-based organization that acts as a blog (nytimes.com.earth). He said it Borenstein is now the national science wire service for environmental news. It revolves around a single question: How do writer for the Associated Press, and for the distributes its own content, as well as we blend humankind’s infinite aspirations past 3½ years has spent his time covering aggregating other environmental news. with life on a finite planet? international and national science-related “Our mandate is to give our readers “There’s been a huge increase in volume topics including climate change, NASA, high quality coverage of issues that are and in the range of media dealing with astronomy, Earth sciences, archaeology getting very little coverage in the rest of the environment, blogs particularly,” Revkin and science ethics. He also investigates media. Especially with what’s happening said. “There is still mainly a focus on ‘news stories coming out of the Food and Drug to mainstream media, people are not you can use’ and often I wonder if the core Administration, the Environmental Pro- getting much environmental journalism,” issues — population, poverty, avoidable tection Agency and other government Cone said. “We provide classic journalism, threats in poor countries, the lack of agencies. foundation-funded, so there are no worries investment still in energy frontiers — are “I’m pretty much doing the science, not the about advertising.” getting adequate attention.” policy, which a colleague does,” Borenstein While at the L.A. Times, which she left said. “I get to write about the latest research, voluntarily even as many of her colleagues KEN WEISS like sea-level rise, and try to bring everything lost their jobs, she covered major stories On the heels of his Pulitzer Prize- together for the biggest picture look, and what including the harm pollutants do to people’s winning series “Altered Oceans” in the Los it means closer to home.” health and the damage pollution does to Angeles Times, staff writer Ken Weiss is “The next big issue is how does ecosystems around the world. She also about to embark on world travels covering civilization adapt to what is happening looked at how most industries are highly another major environmental story, which with climate change, how do you build dependent on hazardous substances, how at press time he was not able to reveal. smarter?” Borenstein said. “Do you do geo- fireworks create potentially dangerous air With resources that may make other engineering with man-made pollution to pollution, and how lead exposure in journalists “green” with envy, Weiss spent make it cooler, or put mirrors in space to children may lead to violent crime. 18 months on the 2006 five-part series

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chronicling the state of the world’s oceans, including the problems of overfishing, and how pollution is changing the chemistry of oceanic ecosystems — collaborating with another reporter and a photo -grapher/video grapher. THE LEADING AUTOMAKERS He’ll have a similar setup for his next Association of International Automobile Manufacturers, Inc. project. “Instead of covering the big cataclysmic events like tsunamis, earthquakes and hurricanes, what I’ve been focusing on is the slow creep of environmental decay,” ADVANCING said Weiss. “It’s hard to cover that slow process, but in the end, the collective toll on the oceans, wildlife and habitat is ENVIRONMENTAL usually more significant than acute problems resulting from an oil spill or TECHNOLOGY tsunami. The slow creep of change is usually for the worse.” Weiss has been covering the en - vironment for 30 years, and says things have shifted from an outlook of man INVESTING IN AMERICA versus nature to one of protecting the Earth and what it provides to man: clean VEHICLE MANUFACTURERS water, fresh air, fertile ground to grow food and timber to build houses. Aston Martin | Ferrari | Maserati | Honda | Hyundai | Isuzu Kia | Mitsubishi | Nissan | Peugeot | Subaru | Suzuki | Toyota BOB WOODRUFF Talk about a full plate: In addition to AFFILIATES his work as a correspondent for ABC News, Bob Woodruff is now in his second ADVICS | Bosch | Delphi | Denso | JAMA season of hosting Planet Green’s half-hour “Focus Earth.” It’s an in-depth series covering subjects MEDIA CONTACT such as climate impact, environmental Kim Custer | [email protected] | 703-247-2110 policy, political debate and world events, and it’s taken Woodruff — a veteran international anchor/reporter who recovered from a near-fatal roadside bombing in Iraq — around the country and the globe. “There’s a big wake-up call about what’s happening with climate change — and what we can do about it,” said Woodruff. “Journalistically, it’s the next major story.” He’s done reports on the battle over coal mining in West Virginia, how changes in Florida’s Everglades are affecting wildlife, a unique recycling program in Boston and new solutions for waste storage in Iceland. “This program is really interesting for me. I’ve not been a scientist; it’s like a college graduate class on things I’d never even known about,” Woodruff said. “I have hope that we as a country will need more scientists and engineers to come up with solutions. We need to compete as a country to develop new ways to deal with environmental issues. It would increase jobs in this economy. It’s not just about 2111 Wilson Boulevard, Suite 1150, Arlington, VA 22201 www.aiam.org science, politics or TV reporting — this is really huge. “ ❑

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series and specials, moving away from the do-it-yourself, how-to genre and moving it TV Designed for into provocative narrative and storytelling,” said Michalchyshyn. “There are enough shows on competing networks that cover ‘ConsciousLiving’ how-to. We want to be more about in - Planet Green Broadens ‘Eco-Lifestyle’ Scope spiring and more aspirational.” Accessible Programming the Goal By Allison J. Waldman been leading the channel’s development She also said the goal is to make Planet since she came on board five months ago. Green programming “accessible, main- At Discovery Communication’s Planet “There’s a generation now, the millennials, stream, action-oriented, measurable and Green network, it’s all about evolution. that walk, sleep and eat environmental exciting.” “We’re in the midst of a reformation,” issues. We need to stay ahead of the curve Michalchyshyn said, “Those words, I said Planet Green President and General by being proactive.” think, weren’t completely embraced when Manager Laura Michalchyshyn, who has When Planet Green launched in June we first launched. This is now conscious- 2008 with the mission of the greening of living TV, being aware of how we’re making America and the world, the goal was decisions and how our decisions have an programming that promoted an eco- impact on the planet and our future. friendly lifestyle. “The strategy is a shifting-gears strategy. “We’re broadening the scope from just We have shows that include everything saying we’re an eco-lifestyle channel,” from ‘Planet Mechanics’ to ‘Cool Fuel’ that Michalchyshyn said. “This is going beyond are oriented toward cars, ‘Gadget Geeks’ the use of the word ‘green.’ It’s really about and shows for people who are interested sustainability.” how new technologies are changing the way There’s a lot of new programming in the we think of transportation and the vehicles works at Planet Green, including 10 shows we drive,” she said. in development. Planet Green’s brand definition has “In July we announced a number of changed along with its programming. “We’ve been calling ourselves a 24/7 eco-lifestyle channel, but now we’re saying “This is going that this channel is about people and our beyond the use of impact on this planet and how we interact the word ‘green.’” with the planet,” said Michalchyshyn. “It’s about people making a positive change. -Laura Michalchyshyn, Planet Green Green is a fact, but sustainability is forever. We’re moving our definition to the sustainability camp and looking at people and characters and a great narrative in terms of the kind of programming on our air.” In reforming Planet Green, Michalchyshyn has been learning who the typical viewer is. “We’re learning that this is an engaged audience. Our audiences are interested and curious; they tend to be a little bit more sophisticated. These are avid learners,” she said. “We’re skewing slightly more female than male. Our demographic age is 42.” The Planet Green viewer is also active across multiple platforms, especially PlanetGreen.com and Treehugger.com. “We’ve seen a growth year on year that’s quite extraordinary. Our growth in our Web traffic is one of the ways that we’re [able to tell] the activity for the linear net is OUT OF THE KITCHEN Planet Green specials will increasing,” she said. “Our audience tends take chef Emeril LaGasse to to be on all platforms at all times. various locations. “Another huge focus for us is making

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sure our social media strategy, our Web “Ed Begley Jr. is the real deal. This is a strategy, is about delivering content that is guy who rides his bike all around L.A. He’s unique and customized for the digital age.” one of the earliest Prius owners, and he’s a One goal that Planet Green has character,” she said. “He’s been an espoused over the past few months is environmentalist and a community activist becoming an entertaining, multiplatform for over 20 years, and we’re evolving that deliverer of that kind of content. show. We’re going to see Ed and his wife, “The network has got to be entertaining Rachelle, beyond the home and the do-it- to our audience. The channel is only a yourself. We’re going to look at Ed’s success if it’s entertaining,” said involvement in the community and the Michalchyshyn. “We’re bringing in a whole kind of activities he’s doing on the road. So new slate of programming, introducing we want to broaden the scope of the show.” new series and specials and a Like Begley, chef Emeril LaGasse documentary block.” is a Planet Green star. “Emeril has The documentary block is a weekly such a way with engaging audiences, premiere of classic and high-profile films and he’s got such a personality. He’s such as “An Inconvenient Truth” and WINNING WITH ED done three different kinds of specials “Living With Ed” starring actor “Who Killed the Electric Car?” and activist Ed Begley Jr., above for us,” said Michalchyshyn. “He just “Every Saturday night we present a left, is an example of Planet finished shooting a special in Napa Green’s ideal program, according feature-length or a one-hour documentary to network president Laura Valley, which will air at the end of Michalchyshyn, right. that is exclusive to Planet Green. The October, and he’s looking at organic majority will be premieres to U.S. wines, late fall harvest, foods that are television,” she said. “We started with ‘The More than any other show on Planet sourced in Northern California. We’re all Last Beekeeper,’ which Jeremy Simmons Green, the series “Living With Ed” captures about getting Emeril out of the kitchen and directed and World of Wonder produced. It the balance of entertainment and interacting with the farmers, the makers of traveled the film festival circuit, but never information that Michalchyshyn talks cheese, the vintners. It’s about more than had a broadcast premiere.” about. It’s the network’s signature show. cooking.” ❑

When it comes to America’s Energy Future, We Mean Business

For the business community’s perspective on energy and climate issues, call us or visit our website at www.energyxxi.org

Matt Letourneau, Director of Communications and Media | 202-463-5945 | [email protected]

October 2009 | NewsPro | 39 NP40_partials.qxp 9/28/09 10:51 AM Page 14

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Continued from page 11 member of SEJ, who notes that author/farmer Wendell Berry, who became “The Great Lakes Other high-level government speakers the group’s 1,500th member at last year’s are a source of include Nancy Sutley, chair of the White Roanoke conference, will also be coming back. drinking water for House Council on Environmental Quality; and Jane Lubchenco, undersecretary of Welcome to Wisconsin 30 million people, commerce for oceans and atmosphere, and Wisconsin Gov. Jim Doyle, Tia Nelson so [water] is a administrator, National Oceanic and (daughter of late Sen. Gaylord Nelson, the natural starting Atmospheric Administration. founder of Earth Day), former Forest Service With the 15th annual conference on chief Mike Dombeck and Native American point.” climate change in Copenhagen only a few professor and journalist Patty Loew will greet -Chuck Quirmbach, SEJ months away, the SEJ Conference will also attendees at an opening “Welcome to closely examine climate change issues, with Wisconsin” reception. of Native American effigy mounds on a an opening plenary, “Countdown to Co- “Ms. Loew will talk about Native university campus, the University is home to penhagen,” kicked off by a keynote address American efforts,” said SEJ and conference the Nelson Institute for Environmental by former Vice President Al Gore. co-chair Chuck Quirmbach. “Native Am- Studies and its Center for Sustainability and The panel discussion that follows will be ericans are speaking with a loud voice about the Global Environment. moderated by New York Times the environment, and we want to make sure It also offers proximity to the Great Lakes, environmental reporter Andrew Revkin and their views are represented and that the Mississippi River and 15,000 lakes. That feature Sutley and Lubchenco; Changhua journalists interact more with tribes in their fact has prompted Quirmbach, en- Wu, greater China director of The Climate home states.” vironmental reporter at Wisconsin Public Group; and James Rogers, chairman, University of Wisconsin-Madison, where Radio, and fellow SEJ and conference co- president and CEO of Duke Energy Corp. John Muir once studied, is a sponsor and the chair Peter Annin, Institutes for Journalism “We have more big-name newsmakers locale of this year’s conference. Situated on & Natural Resources and author of “The than we have ever had,” said SEJ director of 1,000 acres and featuring its well-known Great Lakes Water Wars,” to focus the annual conferences Jay Letto, a founding Arboretum and the world’s largest assemblage conference on water.

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U.S. and Canadian Impact environmentalist who eloquently articulated Leopold’s legacy with Berry, Dombeck and “Water is a big part of our life here,” said a commitment to an American land ethic. one of Leopold’s daughters, Nina Leopold Quirmbach. “The Great Lakes are a source of This year is also the 60th anniversary of the Bradley, founder and director of the Aldo drinking water for 30 million people, so it is a publication of his seminal book, “A Sand Leopold Foundation. Attendees will also be natural starting point. We’re addressing County Almanac.” able to tour the world’s largest restored [water] topics that impact people from all over Leopold, who once worked for the prairie and the Arboretum’s 4-acre the U.S. and Canada.” Wisconsin native plant garden with its “Water: The 21st Century’s Most Valuable Field trips highlight collection of nearly 500 native Wisconsin Resource?” is the organizing principle of the plants. conference, as reflected in the eponymous the conference and “We’ll make a pilgrimage to the Shack,” plenary session, moderated by Annin, and include a ride on the said, Quirmbach. “Aldo Leopold brought featuring Maude Barlow, senior adviser on EPA research vessel innovative ideas and prairie restoration and water to the president of the United Nations wildlife management and was a very good General Assembly, national chairperson of Lake Guardian. writer as well. We hope his ideas still the Council of Canadians and founder of the -Melanie Kahn, WHAS-TV resonate today. Although he died more than Blue Planet Project; Mary Ann Dickinson, 50 years ago, his ideas about conservation, executive director of the Alliance for Water University of Wisconsin-Madison, had a preservation and the value of living things Efficiency; and Bob Hidell, chairman of nearby family get-away called the Shack. make him still a modern figure. We hope the Hidell-Eyster International, a consultant on Following a Saturday night party at the members of SEJ will be interested in what issues facing the bottled water industry. Aldo Leopold Legacy Center — the top his message was and how he structured it.” One of the conference session themes is LEED-certified building in the U.S. — a An SEJ/Institutes for Journalism & also devoted to water, with discussions on closing Sunday morning event will be held Natural Resources post-conference tour, led aquatic invasives; rehabilitation of the Great at the Shack. by IJNR President Frank Allen and IJNR Lakes; continued violations of the Clean Associate Director Annin, will take a select Water Act; and water supplies, diversion and Arboretum Tour group of SEJ members to Wisconsin’s the Great Lakes Compact. Other conference Curt Meine, director for Conservation northern forested lake country. themes look at the climate, the economy, Biology and History, Center for Humans and The 20th SEJ Annual Conference in 2010 energy, natural resources and wildlife, Nature, and senior fellow at the Aldo Leopold will take place Oct. 13-17, 2010, hosted by pollution and environmental health, Foundation, will moderate a discussion on the University of Montana in Missoula. ❑ agriculture, and the environmental jour - nalism craft.

Lots of Field Trips Another conference highlight will be field ® trips, including a cruise aboard the EPA research vessel Lake Guardian, with a discussion by scientists of the lake’s ecological challenges and demonstration of water, aquatic life and sediment sampling techniques; and a tour the Great Lakes 87 U.S. certified facilities & counting! WATER Institute in Milwaukee, the largest academic freshwater research facility on the In just 3 years, with 174 audits Great Lakes. Other trips will take attendees under- ground to see the Deep Tunnel project, approved, and nearly 70 Performance Milwaukee’s sewage overflow project, and for a ride on the lake in an NOA (National Improvement Winners Oceanic and Atmospheric) vessel. There will be a trip to Horicon Marsh, one of Wisconsin’s top birding sites, and a canoe YOUR HARD WORK trip down the Wisconsin River, marking the 20th anniversary of a preservation effort to HAS PAID OFF protect the undeveloped and undammed reaches of the Lower Wisconsin River. “There will be plenty of opportunities to get on Lake Michigan,” said Quirmbach. Also featured is a post-SEJ Awards ceremony screening of “Waterlife,” a new film SOCMA’s ChemStewards® Program by director/writer Kevin McMahon that looks “Because Environmental Health, Safety and Security Matters” at the threats to the Great Lakes and St. Lawrence River. SOCMA • SOCIETY OF CHEMICAL MANUFACTURERS AND AFFILIATES The closing event is a tribute to Wisconsin 1850 M St NW, Ste 700, Washington, DC 20036 USA • Ph (202) 721-4100 Fx (202) 296-8120 • www.socma.com/chemstewards/ favorite son Also Leopold, a pioneering

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enviro-journalism ‘Drill’StoryaWinforWTAE Pittsburgh Station’s Local Obstacles When covering environmental issues, in Investigative Team particular, there may be obstacles facing Digs Deep to Get reporters on the local level. “We face the Truth to Viewers misperception by news managers that environmental stories may not be something viewers care about,” Parsons said. By Allison J. Waldman “Environmental issues all impact on viewers where they live. It’s our job to make those WTAE-TV, the Hearst-Argyle Television- stories interesting to them and explain to owned ABC affiliate in Pittsburgh, is no them how it affects their lives.” stranger to awards. Last year it received a There’s another kind of obstacle, too. national George Foster Peabody Award for “Sometimes when you’re doing its investigation of spending practices at environmental or investigative pieces people Pennsylvania’s state-run student loan don’t want you to be there, but that’s OK,” agency. Cross said. “We’re OK with that. On this Now it has distinguished itself as a leader particular story, there were certain people in environmental reporting. who wanted to get the truth out. That’s At the 2009 Society of Environmental important. The bottom line is that a lot of things wouldn’t come out if people didn’t dig Journalists conference in Madison, Wis., ON THE STORY WTAE reporter Jim Parsons, cameraman WTAE reporter Jim Parsons deeper. The truth wouldn’t come out. That’s was the driving force behind Kendall Cross and editor Michael Lazorko, “Drill Baby Drill” what we did in this story, we dug deeper and will be honored with the SEJ Award for let people know what was actually going on.” Outstanding Story, Television, Small Market, for their story “Drill Baby Drill.” Make Viewers Care Parsons gravitates to environmental A Newsroom Model features because of where he lives. “A city “This is the kind of outstanding Parsons’ reporting skills. “Jim examined the like Pittsburgh in western Pennsylvania environmental journalism that every complicated issue of natural gas drilling and with such a rich industrial history has newsroom should commit to report,” wrote the impact it has on water volume in rivers plenty of environmental issues,” Parsons SEJ about WTAE’s submission. and creeks and managed to tell the story in said. “We found several years ago that when Currently, there is a drilling boom in a visually compelling and impactful way. we started doing environmental stories, we western Pennsylvania. Getting through the His reporting was balanced and complete were the only local TV station doing them. Marcellus Shale requires millions of gallons with eye-opening results. In particular, the Just like anything else, if you bring the of water for each well, and drillers don’t subject home to viewers, explain to them need anyone’s permission to pump all the how it impacts on them and their lives and water they want, free of charge. “Where is all the their families’ lives, then — guess what — Interest in the story began with Parsons. water coming from? they care.” “Jim had been concerned about the That was the Like Parsons, Cross appreciates working Marcellus Shale wells,” said Cross. “There on the environmental beat. “The team — was a heck of a lot of water that’s involved. impetus for the Jim, Mike and I — works very well together. Six million gallons per well and there are story.” We like to do environmental pieces. In this hundreds of these wells being drilled. Where -Kendall Cross, WTAE cameraman story there was a really nice moment where is all the water coming from? That was the we confronted the guys who were pulling impetus for this story.” the water out of the river and I think that “It was a story that we thought people line of trucks sucking all of the water out of helped our piece win,” Cross said. hadn’t heard a lot about yet, but they were a river won’t easily be forgotten.” As for the help that SEJ provides, going to hear a lot more because of drilling “It was amazing, the magnitude of how Parsons said, “It’s a great resource. I also in the Marcellus Shale for natural gas,” much water is being taken out of the river, serve on the SEJ FOI (Freedom of Parsons said. “The drilling is relatively new and that was really shown by the trailers Information) Task Force. That’s just one in western Pennsylvania and other issues that are hooked up and loaded with water,” example of the services that SEJ provides go along with that. We thought they ought said Cross. “That really brought it home. It’s journalists, especially for small, local TV to know the pros and the cons. They’d been one thing if it’s a small truck, once a week, stations or newspapers, independent hearing the pros, but not the cons.” sucking right out of the Monongahela River. publications and free-lance journalists. It’s One of the details SEJ noted in the But it’s another thing when it’s 10 of these an invaluable resource that you can’t really award announcement was the high level of huge trailers.” find anywhere else.” ❑ 42 | NewsPro | October 2009 Oct NPpage43NBC.qxp:ContentWare 9/28/09 2:50 AM Page 1

GREENING NBC Beth Colleton is VP of Green Is Universal. participate in change,” she said. One new project NBCU is enacting is called “The Green Apprentice.” “We’ve put additional dollars aside to spur innovation and really encourage our work force to look for cutting- edge innovative ways to implement energy waste and water savings throughout our operations. The proposals are out right now and they’re starting to come in,” said Colleton. “Internally, we have just seen so much traction with green. People are looking for creative ways to implement green and are looking for more long-term solutions.”

The Green Network Despite the recession NBCU hasn’t abandoned this effort, and the public has come to identify NBC as the green network. “We have some research that we did a few months ago that shows that. Consumers and the general public see the value of green not just in their belief system but in the way that they actually spend their dollars,” said Colleton. The Green Is Universal message will be underscored during sweeps. “It’s the same as last year. From November 15 to 22, all of the brands of NBC Universal will go green, so to speak, and be dedicated to delivering green information in entertainment and content those seven days,” said Colleton. Whether on Bravo or USA or NBC, many of A Green Peacock the performers have shown great support for NBCU Enlists All TV Units in Eco Agenda Green is Universal. “We are really lucky because our talent is so engaged in the cause of the environment that they often come to us In 2008, Lauren Zalaznick, president of film and one for TV – that is now integrated looking for ways to get involved,” she said. NBC Universal Women and Lifestyle into the business process of our Universal Entertainment Networks, undertook the Pictures, Focus Features and Universal Popular PSAs leadership role in an environmental Media Studio operations.” For the on-air, award-winning “The awareness initiative for NBC Universal called More You Know” PSA program, 23 different Green Is Universal. A year later, the Green Throughout stars volunteered to participate in last commitment to green remains an integral The green process isn’t found only in year’s campaign. “We eventually had to tell part of the NBC Universal brand and production, but also all business offices and folks beyond the 23 that we couldn’t take corporate identity. operations. “Green is sometimes very visual, anymore. They’ve also participated in “I think the Green Is Universal initiative you know you can see it right there with volunteer events and other public service has really taken off both externally in how recycling, but sometimes green is the initiatives to really drive the public to engage we’re interfacing with our consumers, and absence of activity. You might be in an office here,” said Colleton. internally as far as how we as a company are or in a TV studio and not realize that some “One of the key differences is that green really embracing green and driving it through green changes have been put in place,” said isn’t just a cause anymore, it’s really a our own operation,” said Beth Colleton, vice Colleton. lifestyle that people are recognizing locally, so president of Green Is Universal. For instance, a green message might be it’s not a distant 100 years in the future When the program began one of the goals found in a copy room. “We can what’s the state of the environment going to was the creation of a handbook about how to communicate behavioral changes to our be,” she said. “People are seeing the effects of enact green production. Today the handbook crews and employees, so there’ll be a the environment in their everyday lives, so exists and is actively in use. “Referencing the message that if they print less, what the they are very much engaged in trying to manual, what we did worked really well,” said effect will be on the environment. The change their own behavior for the betterment Colleton. “We did some pilot work on film and physical branding approach not only of themselves, their families and their TV shows to really learn how to create green communicates information about best communities, and most importantly their production and worked that information into practices that are taking place, but informs children.” ❑ a play-by-play instruction manual – one for our work force about the ways they can -Allison J. Waldman

October 2009 | NewsPro | 43 Oct NPpage44 sources.qxp:ContentWare 9/28/09 2:53 AM Page 1

enviro-journalism SEJ’s ’Tip Sheet’ Provides Valuable Keys to Doors Online Source Vets Sources, Stories for Editors, Reporters

By Hillary Atkin off and burned by all of them,” he said, getting down to the bedrock on reliable laughing. “I know the ones who have been information sources. Among its many valuable resources, reliable and know the ones who have “There are hundred of environmental the Society of Environmental Journalists blown smoke. There’s reputation, too. groups of all shapes and sizes, specialty provides a one-stop shop for editors and Usually, you can tell an expert from a subjects and modes of action, and there reporters looking for story ideas and nonexpert by applying a few simple criteria are certain ones that are predictably more sources. that most journalists use. If someone’s fruitful for journalists, at least on It’s called The Tip Sheet. Started in July published a book, they’re likely to be an national issues,” he said. “It’s important 1996, it comes out biweekly, with an expert. Most of the experts tend to be to know the landscape of groups, so you alternate week edition called The Watch dog Tip Sheet, which is completely devoted to freedom of information issues. The Tip Sheet is subject-searchable on areas such as natural resources, wildfires, Survived for Years conservation, science and health, then it gives “The members have loved it and it’s survived when a lot of other things journalists a list of experts for each topic. haven’t,” said Joe Davis, its longtime editor. “Every issue has source names and phone numbers. We come up with new associated with significant organizations or know which ones to talk to. We call stories every time, stories of national, a university.” everyone up to see if they’re legit, and if regional and local significance that In the environmental world, various they don’t return our calls, they’re journalists can adapt to their audiences. nongovernmental organizations (NGOs), dropped from the list. They have to prove Originally it was faxed, but then it became non-profits and associations are also themselves.” e-mail and Web-based.” continually working to get their viewpoints The Tip Sheet is subject-searchable on There are about 1,500 subscribers, and into the media. areas such as natural resources, wildfires, the list is limited to reporters, assignment “There are solid and flaky ones. We conservation, science and health, then it editors and editors. Public relations people tend to go with the big, solid ones mostly, gives journalists a list of experts for each are able to access it several days later on but not always,” said Davis, who called the topic. the Web, giving subscribers several days of unreliable ones “Astroturf.” “Our mission is to find stories that will exclusivity. happen in more than one place. The Tip “Lots of PR people want to get their Sorting Sources Sheet might focus on a story that could be names and phone numbers into The Tip Reporters on tight deadlines might be happening in half a dozen states or more,” Sheet. The newsletter isn’t for them,” quick to quote such organizations without Davis said. “Wildfires are a big story this Davis said. “We pick and choose our knowing their background. “Those time of year in certain parts of the country. stories and our sources. We try to be fair industries have viewpoints that should be Every year there are some new issues related to wildfires.”

“It’s important to know the landscape of Bureaucracy Help Another part of the challenge is in groups, so you know which ones to talk to. navigating the vast government bur - We call everyone up to see if they’re legit.” eaucracies that come into play in reporting -Joe Davis, editor, The Tip Sheet many environmental stories. For instance, the U.S. Forest Service oversees millions of acres across the and balanced and cover all facets of a represented, but should be represented country, and is organized into a vast story. Just because you have a client honestly, transparently and clearly,” system of local entities. The Bureau of doesn’t mean you’ll be listed as a source Davis said. “We have a lot of experience Land Management is also in charge of in The Tip Sheet.” dealing with these outlets that helps us millions of acres. With 30 years of experience, Davis sort them out.” “We give people the names and phone knows the score on how to determine Davis sees his main mission as numbers — the keys to open the door,” reliable sources. “I’ve been hoaxed, blown separating the wheat from the chaff, and Davis said .❑

44 | NewsPro | October 2009 09np0009.qxp 7/17/09 3:04 PM Page 1 NewsPro PZ[OLUL^ZPUK\Z[Y`»Z SLHKPUNYLZV\YJLMVY PUK\Z[Y`UL^Z  )RU RYHU WHQ \HDUV QHZV SURIHVVLRQDOV ZRUNLQJ LQ HYHU\ VHJPHQW RI WKH LQGXVWU\ KDYH GHSHQGHG RQ 1HZV3UR IRU WKH XSWRWKHPLQXWH GHYHORSPHQWV DQG LQIRUPDWLRQ WKH\ QHHG WR KHOSWKHPVWD\RQWRSRIWKHLUEXVLQHVV  1HZV3UR SURYLGHV FRPSUHKHQVLYH FRYHUDJH RI WKH PRVW LPSRUWDQWQHZVLQDOODVSHFWVRIWKHQHZVLQGXVWU\{WHOHYLVLRQ SULQW UDGLR DQG RQOLQH 1HZV3UR FRQWLQXHV LWV OHDGHUVKLS LQ FRYHULQJ WHOHYLVLRQ QHWZRUN ORFDO DQG FDEOH QHZV HTXLSPHQW DQGWHFKQRORJ\  ,QDGGLWLRQ1HZV3URUHPDLQVWKHQXPEHURQHVRXUFHIRUWKHVH HVVHQWLDOVSHFLDOUHSRUWV  f 0RVW3RZHUIXOLQ7HOHYLVLRQ1HZV  f +HDOWKDQG0HGLFDO5HSRUWLQJ  f (QYLURQPHQWDO-RXUQDOLVP  f %XVLQHVV1HZV f 'LYHUVLW\LQWKH1HZVURRP  f 1HZV,QGXVWU\&RQYHQWLRQ&RYHUDJH  f -RXUQDOLVP$ZDUGV  f '&7DONHUV  1RRWKHUSULQWRURQOLQHUHVRXUFHJLYHVQHZVSURIHVVLRQDOVWKH VSHFLDOL]HG LQGHSWK FRYHUDJH WKDW 1HZV3UR GRHV{DQG LW SURYLGHV DGYHUWLVHUV ZLWK D SRZHUIXOO\ WDUJHWHG HQYLURQPHQW LQZKLFKWRFRPPXQLFDWHWKHLUPHVVDJHWRQHZVSURIHVVLRQDOV HYHU\ZKHUH 5HDFKWKHSHRSOHZKRUHDFKWKHQDWLRQ

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09np0009.pdf RunDate: 08/ 03 /09 Full Page Color: 4/C Oct Page46NP_Technology.qxp:Template 9/28/09 2:54 AM Page 1 Technology

florescent ones that require much less Studios Refitting power, he said. Switching Lights Similarly, CBS Television Stations-owned With Green Gear KPIX-TV in San Francisco is replacing quartz studio lights with fluorescent and LED lights, a two-year process that will yield a total reduction of electrical usage of 70,000 watts, said station spokeswoman Akilah Monifa. Already KPIX changed out existing fluorescent fixtures with motion-detector lights. Next up, faucets will be hands free by end of October to conserve water. The station also is aiming to swap out its large live news vans that cost 63 cents for gas and maintenance per mile with fuel efficient vehicles estimated at 18-cents-a- mile operating costs, she said. Many stations in the Fox Television Stations-owned group use hybrid or flexible fuel vehicles, including WFLD-TV in NEW GREEN STUDIO Chicago, WTXF-TV in Philadelphia, KDFW- WNBC reduced its energy TV in Dallas, WTTG-TV in Washington, consumption by 80 percent. KRIV-TV in Houston, WJBK-TV in Detroit, KMSP-TV in Minneapolis and WHBQ-TV in Memphis. BY DAISY WHITNEY chlorofluorocarbon-based refrigerants. In Meanwhile, NBC-owned stations across very few years or so, local broadcasters addition, the station uses all natural the country have implemented a number of usually need to upgrade equipment, cleaners in the building and no synthetic green initiatives. E trucks and technology at their stations. fertilizers outside. Many of them have been making their most re- The next big step will be in trucks and Recycling Equipment cent updates with a greener focus in mind. news vans. As the leases on news vehicles When WNBC-TV in New York moved into Given the broader awareness of en - expire, they’ll be replaced by more fuel- a new studio it reduced energy consumption vironmental issues in recent years, efficient units, said Ray Carter, VP and 80 percent through a combination of broadcasters and station groups have been general manager of WPXI. In fact, Cox as a florescent lights, LED lights and a single- dedicating more dollars to greener equipment group is in the process of building out an story studio with less equipment. and facilities. Groups like Cox Enterprises, eco-friendly fleet of news vehicles. Also, recycling doesn’t just apply to soda Fox, CBS and NBC Local have dedicated Migrating to digital equipment can also cans — it can work for equipment too. The green initiatives or are outfitting certain benefit the environment. Carter said WPXI station was able to reuse two audio consoles stations to be eco-friendly. relies solely on tapeless cameras from that were no longer in service with MSNBC The benefit, they say, is both in the cleaner Panasonic for all its news and production and San Francisco’s Telemundo station output and more efficient tools. Eco-friendly cameras, eliminating the need for physical KSTS-TV. In turn, WNBC recycled more editing systems, tapeless cameras and trucks tape. than 800 DVCPro tapes to sister station that run on battery power both use less But just because green is good doesn’t WVIT-TV in Hartford, which itself recently power and emit less waste. That, in turn, mean it’s always doable. Many stations want built a new facility using green building translates into cost savings. to upgrade to cleaner equipment but don’t practices throughout. have the budget to do so. Switching over to Then there’s NBC-owned KNTV in the WPXI’s Green Station hybrid news vehicles is at the top of the Bay Area. It became the first station to be Through the Cox Conserves program, KUSA-TV wish list, said Ken Highberger, powered by wind in March 2008. The station Pittsburgh NBC station, WPXI-TV, built a director of technology and operations for the also invests in renewable energy certificates green-friendly, hi-def building two years ago Gannett-owned NBC affiliate in Denver. “If it to fund wind energy providers. using 20 percent recycled materials. Also, was a perfect world we would be buying The Fox-owned stations WOFL-TV and about 75 percent of the station has a raised hybrid vehicles,” he said. “But we’re not WRBW-TV in Orlando recently redesigned floor, which in turn yields a 25 percent cost turning over the fleet like we used to because many elements of the stations to reduce saving on heating and cooling, a Cox of the economy.” energy use. That includes the installation of spokeswoman said. However, he’s been replacing generators motion-sensor light switches in tape rooms WPXI also installed eco-friendly heating with cleaner, more efficient models, and and storage areas to ensure that lights don’t and air conditioning that doesn’t rely on swapping out older, incandescent lights with stay on when the space isn’t in use. ❑

46 | NewsPro | October 2009 09np0005.qxp 7/17/09 12:48 PM Page 1

“

” -- Aldo Leopold, A Sand County Almanac This year’s tours: 1. Ultralight Delivery: Crane Conservation on Our Fractured Landscape Wake up with the birds to see one of North America’s SOCIETY OF ENVIRONMENTAL JOURNALISTS most endangered species. TH 2. Future Energy Choices 19 ANNUAL Join us as we head to Southeastern Wisconsin to talk carbon capture, big coal, solar, Great Lakes wind, and lithium ion batteries. CONFERENCE 3. Cruising Lake Michigan Hop aboard an EPA research vessel as we talk invasive species, bad ballast water, contaminated Hosted by the University of Wisconsin–Madison sediment and Great Lakes fi sh populations. 4. Roiling the Waters Some deep thinking in a Deep Tunnel about sewage October 7-11, 2009 overfl ows, and then we surface to look at Great Lakes Water Diversion. 5. Wetlands, Wildlife, and Wind A visit to one of the largest wetlands to talk about Among confi rmed speakers this year are water quality, birds and nearby wind turbines. Al Gore... Maude Barlow and Andy Revkin. 6. Feeding Cities: Sustainable Agriculture and Environmental Justice For more see our website at www.sej.org. A visit with a noted urban farmer in Milwaukee to talk of local food, better health and reducing our carbon footprint. 7. Canoe the Wisconsin River October 7-11, 2009 Paddle along as we hear about the 20th anniversary of a unique effort that protects the Lower Wisconsin River. REGISTER NOW! 8. A Different Kind of CAFO A large rural farm that tries to be green. www.sej.org 9. CSI Madison: Wildlife Forensics Who ya gonna call?

09np0005.pdf RunDate: 08/ 03 /09 Full Page Color: 4/C Page48 49 Oct NPOnline.qxp:Template 9/28/09 2:56 AM Page 1 Online MSNBC Gives Green Light to Keeping Eco News Online

experience, and we can use caption space to tell a story. We are also experimenting with maps, and using video in responding to questions,” said Llanos. For this past April’s Earth Day, the grassroots organization promoting the event asked MSNBC.com to be the exclusive host for an interactive project that used a world map (Microsoft Live Map, of course, given the corporate ownership) and photos of places around the globe that have been impacted environmentally, such as sandstorms eroding the Great Wall of China, with a discussion of what was happening in those locations.

Interactive Features “We might use a map again to illustrate global pollution flow, like marine debris, or HOME PAGE NEWS pollutants from China making it over to The visual aspect of environmental stories the U.S.,” Llanos said. aids their popularity The section boasts up to 50 stories on on MSNBC.com the environment, with 3-5 new elements added daily. Along with a selection of videos, such as President Obama’s recent BY HILLARY ATKIN stories that makes for absorbing speech at the United Nations climate hen MSNBC.com first launched multimedia coverage. “In 1997, two-thirds change summit, there are many interactive in 1996, the big environmental of what we were doing was climate-related. features designed to engage readers, like a W news was the upcoming Kyoto We did a big special project on climate carbon calculator to determine how much Protocol, aimed at combating global warm- change,” Llanos said. “It evolved to include carbon dioxide someone emits on their ing through regulating greenhouse gas solutions, species conservation efforts and average commute, a paper versus plastic emissions. a list of endangered species. We’ve worked interactive feature on the greenest way to As vice president during the Clinton with the IUCN [International Union for cart away groceries and a map of how 200 administration, Al Gore was credited with Conservation of Nature], the main of the nation’s beaches did in a survey forging a breakthrough in negotiations that authority on the status of species, to do a about water quality. led to the treaty’s signing the following year large package with a slide show. Those get An interactive library features — and then fighting an uphill battle to get a lot of viewer response.” information on topics including support for it in the United States. automobile engines, whale watching, Thirteen years later, the Web site Dramatic Slide Shows population control, invasive species and remains dedicated to covering and Slide shows, although not new wildlife in danger. disseminating environmental news online, technology, are actually more popular on There is an entire section of videos from and what began as a climate section has the site than videos. If a reader clicks NBC News environmental correspondent evolved into the current environment through to all of them — and typically Anne Thompson, on such topics as wind section under U.S. News that is overseen there are more than 20 — each counts as power, plastic water bottles, drought by editor Miguel Llanos. a page view, as if they were reading a new conditions and cleaner coal. “Over the years it’s been a pretty story on each page. A recent 23-photo At the beginning of September Llanos popular section for advertisers, and that’s package was used to illustrate the news launched a social media feature called helped it keep going, giving it a better that the ice sheets in Antarctica and “Eco-issue of the week” with questions chance of getting visibility and support,” Greenland are shrinking faster than like: “Should the United States be more he said. scientists had previously thought. aggressive in curbing greenhouse gas And so has the visual aspect of many “We love slide shows. It’s a great user emissions?” Readers can vote and

48 | NewsPro | October 2009 NP40_partials.qxp 9/28/09 10:51 AM Page 16

comment on the issues through PHOTO APPEAL Slide shows are even newsvine.com. “It’s for news junkies,” he more popular on the said — a label he gives to himself. site than videos. “I spend the first part of my day doing breaking news in politics, crime, education “In 1997, two-thirds of what we were doing was climate-related. It evolved to include solutions.”- -Miguel Llanos, MBNBC.com

— and the second half in the environment and the weather,” he said. He looks for bigger stories that he can make into a cover piece like the recent faster ice sheet melt in Antarctica, which led the news one recent subsections such as “The Business of Going editors from E/The Environmental Magazine. afternoon on the site’s main home page. Green,” “Green Day With Marisa Belger,” They also provide Web sites that have more “Science” and “Earth Talk Q&A,” where information on the topics at hand, such as Environmental Q&A readers submit questions about en ironmental upgrading to more energy-efficient appliances The environmental page also features and energy issues that are answered by at home and making use of rainwater. ❑

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Sign Off By Tom Petner Investigating the Investigators hat will $3,000 get you in today’s depressed broadcast economy? According to Jon Stewart on “The Daily Show,” “It probably costs CNN that much to W turn on their hologram machine.” But $3,000 and some cheesy costumes did get SmithGeiger consultants, says it’s about “the price of two young political gadflies some impressive admission.” undercover video. In a hidden camera sting, the pair “You have to look to the basics that have to get captured video of low-level staffers at the Association covered. You’ve got to spend a lot of resources on of Community Organizations for Reform Now giving breaking news and you’ve got to do it on weather. In advice on everything from tax evasion, human the mornings, you’ve got to do traffic. All those things smuggling to child prostitution. are all sort of the price of admission to get the viewers The fuss and flourish, countercharges and to watch, to get them into the newscasts before they political fallout over the ACORN hidden-camera even get a chance to see the investigative piece.” videos made me curious: Where’s mainstream media in all this? Then there’s the big “L-word” that looms large for stations: What’s up with investigative units at the local television stations? lawsuit. Are there less, or are the investigative efforts simply lying dormant As a matter of fact, ACORN says it’s suing the two political during these tough times? activists and others involved in the undercover video, charging that staff members at ACORN’s Baltimore office were recorded without Calling All Investigative Reporters consent. The premise: Maryland is a two-party recording state. As Jon Stewart put it (more like ranted), “Where were the real “You just can’t simply ignore that your investigative unit is reporters on this story? Investigative media, where the hell were going to get you sued. That’s all there is to it. That’s money. And do you?” you have that kind of money in this environment,” said Toney. ”The The answer is, it’s a mixed bag for investigative units at local reality is, if you do your job right, or wrong, you’re going to have stations. legal problems. You’re going to have more if you do it wrong.” You do see a lot of sweeps and “special report” stories on food There are indeed television stations still willing to make the big quality, and “gotcha” pieces about consumer scams. But judging “C-word” — commitment — to investigations. One of them is from my viewing perch in the New York market, you don’t see a lot McGraw-Hill’s station in Denver, KMGH-TV. of true investigative stories — few investigations that truth-squad Talk to reporter John Ferrugia — one member of the station’s “breaking stories,” and even fewer that doggedly pursue long range five-person investigative team — and be prepared to hear the stories. passion of an investigative zealot. With a slew of awards, including “Local news has forsaken such work, largely due to the time it two Peabodys under its belt, Ferrugia said the investigative unit’s takes to get it right, and the low percentage of wins for time spent,” ROI is high. “The investigative team here isn’t ‘we’ll see you next said Steve Cohen, news director at San Diego’s KUSI-TV. month.’ We’re in a situation where we permeate the news product. “The undercover work of the conservative I-team of two [the We’re part of the newsroom and news product,” he said. ACORN pair] is a throwback to the early days of local news investigations. While the work of John Stossel, Steve Wilson and ‘We Can’t Be Everything’ Pam Zekman did not have a political hypothesis, they were driven “When Byron Grandy came here as news director — he’s now by a hunch that something was wrong that needed to be turned the GM — we put together a model and said we’re going to do three right. This type of Don Quixote work often targeted groups failing things. We can’t be everything. So what we’re going to be is to serve the people.” breaking news, weather and investigations. “ To Cohen’s ROI point, today’s economy has taken its toll on What’s the viewers’ take on what they are doing? local units and personnel. Over the past year, a number of high- “What we see is that we’re content providers, and content profile investigative types have lost their jobs at local stations. The spread across platforms,” said Ferrugia. “It’s content people want most notable recent example is Roberta Baskin at WJLA-TV, to know about. When they watch our broadcast, they’re not Washington. Her position was simply eliminated. disappointed. We didn’t build them up for something and tell them Mark Horvit, executive director of the Investigative Reporters the chewing gum was expired. If you can continue to produce & Editors organization told me, “It is certainly true that many local quality through the downturn, then on the upturn, people are affiliates are reducing or cutting their investigative teams, and that going to come to understand that your brand is quality. It’s what at many stations there is even more pressure to produce more with you do in the worst of times that makes you shine.” ❑ quicker turnaround, as staff sizes shrink. “ So what’s happening? Tom Petner is an award-winning journalist and media executive. He Mark Toney, senior VP of television and digital strategies at can be reached at [email protected].

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