tw29p13.qxp 10/9/2008 9:39 PM Page 1 TELEVISIONWEEK October 13, 2008 13 INSIDE SPECIAL REPORT: ENVIRONMENTAL JOURNALISM Inside and Out SEJ gathering to explore beauty NewsproTHE STATE OF TV NEWS and issues of Appalachia. Page 14 On the Back Burner The economy has eclipsed energy as the big issue in politics. Page 18 PBS’ Big ‘Idea’ Ken Burns on his 12-hour series about the history of the National Parks. Page 24 The ‘Heat’ Is On “Frontline” explores global reactions to climate change. Page 26 Sierra Club Resource The venerable environmental group is out to assist journalists. Page 33 The Job Situation How hard are layoffs hitting environmental reporters? Page 36 Eco-Friendly Building A Pittsburgh station sets sights on being first cited by LEED. Page 38 Redford Q&A Sundance founder Robert Redford sees his channel’s mission as that of an educator. Energy, Politics and Climate Change Are on Page 40 the Agenda, but Economics Might Trump Everything Else at SEJ’s 2008 Conference Green Media Giants Corporate parent companies lay out By Debra Kaufman environmental agendas. Page 44 Special to TelevisionWeek The Society of Environmental Journalists convenes its 18th con- Woodruff ferenceference thisthis weekweek inin Roanoke,Roanoke, Va.,Va., thethe heartheart ofof coal-miningcoal-mining countrycountry in ‘Focus’ Bob Woodruff and an apt location for a conference focused on energy issues. talks about his Hosted by Virginia Tech, which is also the conference’s primary new weekly Planet Green sponsor, SEJ 2008 runs Oct. 15-19 and will feature more than 30 series, “Focus panel sessions on the reporter’s craft and on environmental issues Earth.” such as coal, energy, climate, water and land. Page 46 The conference will present 17 field trips and dozens of Polar Ice Melt exhibitors, with welcome addresses by Virginia Gov. Tim Kaine and MSNBC, CNN examine the impact of West Virginia Gov. Joe Manchin. Philippe and Alexandra Cousteau, warming at the North Pole. Page 48 ocean explorers and grandchildren of Jacques Cousteau, will co- SEJ Awards host the SEJ Awards for Reporting on the Environment. Jacques Cousteau’s ocean- Continued on Page 22 exploring grandkids are hosting this year’s presentation. Page 50 TW MAIN 10-13-08 A 14 TVWEEK 10/9/2008 4:04 PM Page 1 14 October 13, 2008 TELEVISIONWEEK NEWSPRO THE PLACE WHERE IDEAS HEADQUARTERS Regional issues such as strip mining are likely to loom large with the SEJ event based at the Hotel Roanoke in ARE SHARED Roanoke, Va. SEJ Gathering Helps Journalists Grapple With Covering Complex Issues By Allison J.Waldman that includes dependence on foreign ists Conference. Roanoke & Conference Center with Special to TelevisionWeek oil is a recipe for economic disaster. More than 500 reporters, broad- Virginia Tech in nearby Blacksburg The price at the pump remains In short, energy is one of the casters, new-media and freelance acting as conference host. They will near $4 a gallon. The power grid is most important issues of the day. It news professionals will convene for listen to experts, explore complex vulnerable and aging. According to is also the focus of the 18th annual the event this week in Roanoke, Va., issues, honor environmental lead- all the experts, an American future Society of Environmental Journal- headquartered at the Hotel ers and hone their skills in sessions designed specifically for the envi- ronmental beat. “It’s the best place for getting recharged and for keeping your fin- gers on the pulse of changing issues,” said Jeff Burnside, environ- mental reporter for WTVJ news in Miami and an SEJ board member. The 2007 conference in Palo Alto LOCAL STAR Kathy Mattea, whose new album focuses on THE SOAP AND DETERGENT ASSOCIATION was a record setter, drawing more than 900 media pros. coal mining, will perform. “SEJ is there for the general-assign- ment reporter who is doing that story has an environmental hook—it’s all and needs to know which source is traditional mining songs—will per- Your newsroom’s credible and which one is not,” said form for SEJ attendees. Beth Parke, SEJ’s executive director. Another highlight of the SEJ con- source for “The environment is a very broad ference will be the appearance of beat. When you talk in terms of envi- Philippe and Alexandra Cousteau, All Things ronment-related issues, that’s pretty ocean explorers and grandchildren of much everything. Jacques Cousteau. These issues can be They will co-host the highly complex, and SOCIETY OF SEJ Awards for that’s where a group Reporting on the like SEJ can help. ENVIRONMENTAL Environment cere- Our members teach JOURNALISTS mony. “The and help each other What: 18th annual SEJ Cousteaus are spe- sort through the Conference cial guests. They are Call SDA Communications: 202-662-2517 · complexities to Where: Hotel Roanoke the new generation make their report- & Conference Center, of Cousteaus in Online: www.cleaning101.com · ing better.” Roanoke, Va. many respects, and When: Oct. 15-19 yet carry on the email: [email protected] Good Ideas Details: SEJ.org vision and the mis- A reporter who sion of their father, attends the SEJ uncle and grandfa- conference gets more than just a ther,” said Mr. Burnside. “Their father chance to hear speakers, attend is Philippe Cousteau Sr., who was panels and enjoy field trips. “I killed tragically in a plane crash while always come back with a stack of on one of his documentary trips. ideas that I flop on my desk, and I Their uncle is Jean Cousteau, and he’s wade through them over the around and still doing great work.” ensuing days and weeks after the Among the nominees this year in conference,” said Mr. Burnside. the TV reporting category are “Dan “The conference not only gives Rather Reports: Toxic Trailers” about you ideas on how to cover new the FEMA trailers given to Hurricane and developing issues better, but Katrina victims that were actually it also reminds you that there are poisoning those living in them, and others out there doing great “Frontline: Hot Politics,” which looks work.” at the past 20 years of climate This year’s conference will com- change from a political point of view. SDA – Since 1926, the Home of the U.S. Cleaning Products IndustryTM mence Oct. 15 with two governors, “Quite frankly, these are the Virginia’s Tim Kaine and West Vir- most important and most thorough 1500 K Street NW, Suite 300, Washington, D.C 20005 ginia’s Joe Manchin, greeting atten- environmental reporting awards in dees at the Hotel Roanoke. Also, the country, if not the world, and Grammy Award-winning country the ceremony this year will better singer Kathy Mattea, a West Virginia reflect that importance. It’ll be fun,” native whose new album, “Coal,” said Mr. Burnside. TW MAIN 10-13-08 A 15 TVWEEK 10/9/2008 4:33 PM Page 1 TELEVISIONWEEK October 13, 2008 15 OUTDOORS Among the field trips on the agenda for this year’s SEJ conference will be a drive journalist is covering the environ- through the majestic ment for a Web site or a TV station, Blue Ridge mountains. writing for a magazine or working as a freelancer, the knowledge and their notepads with them,” said expertise gained from the confer- Mr. Burnside. “The ence can be invaluable. field trips are a key “We believe in part of SEJ, more than localizing the issues: any other journalism How would someone conferences. You’re not cover this story for only surrounded by their audience?” said wildlife, you’re sur- Ms. Parke. “We feel if rounded by experts you’re doing an accu- who can give you a rate job on the story, running narrative of that’s where you what it is you’re seeing start—what is the sto- BETH PARKE and experiencing.” ry? What are the facts? SEJ For five days, SEJ SEJ is here to help the will be the place to be. Whether a journalist do his or her job.” ■ After holding its conference in northern California last year, SEJ chose to accept Virginia Tech’s invitation, even though the uni- versity’s Blacksburg campus still bears the scars of the April 2007 shooting rampage. “Even though this is an environmental journal- ists conference, we’re still journal- ists. I think it would be wholly appropriate to honor and remem- ber the events that happened on Did you know… that campus,” said Mr. Burnside. Presidential politics will be on the agenda at the Saturday lunch session, with both candidates invited to attend or to send their top environmental advisers. In addition, House Natural Resources Committee Chairman Nick J. Rahall II (D-W.Va.) will speak about America’s future envi- ronmental policy. “We’re going to look directly at that whole issue, how the environment is playing out in the political campaign,” said Tim Wheeler, environmental reporter for the Baltimore Sun and president of the SEJ board of directors. “Offshore drilling, endangered species, drilling in [the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge], they’ll come up in a cou- ple of dozen panel discussions planned through the two-day ses- sion.” The field trips that are on tap this year have a strong regional 1 flavor, including exploring Kay- • Paper is the most recycled household material. ford Mountain coal mining, get- • Each ton of recycled paper saves 3.3 cubic yards of landfill space.2 “We’re going to • By using recovered paper to make new products, AF&PA members prevent the equivalent of more than look directly at ... 23 million tons of carbon dioxide from being released into the atmosphere each year.3 how the environ- • In 2007 Americans recycled a record-high 56 percent of all paper consumed in the U.S., surpassing a ment is playing goal set by the American Forest and Paper Association five years ahead of schedule.