Environmental Journalism
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October 2010 Survey Results SPILL OF A LIFETIME Environmental A global crisis brings journalists express environmental journalism their main worries to the top of the news Page 20 Page 10 Filling the News Void Independent services help save specialty beats Page 28 Life After a Real Job Reinvention, resourcefulness key to survival Page 30 NBC NEWS’ BRIAN WILLIAMS FROM THE EDITOR The Year of Living Dangerously Natural and man-made environmental disasters have dominated the news in CONTENTS 2010, the most eventful year in recent memory for journalists who cover the beat — and it's not even over yet. FEEDS l 4 From the devastating earthquake in Haiti and the Icelandic volcano What the departures of longtime executives mean for ABC News and CNN. *NPR’s Elizabeth eruptions that shut down European air travel, to the Deepwater Horizon oil spill Shogren reflects on her career path to nightmare in the Gulf of Mexico and assorted mine disasters, reporters and environmental journalism. *The Obama editors have been called upon to gather, interpret and disseminate highly Administration’s EPA scores low in providing informed news at a rapid-fire pace. access to experts. *Controversial comments sink As Debra Kaufman's cover story on Page 10 details, the Gulf spill in particular placed taxing a CNN host. demands on the media that covered it, requiring contributors with working knowledge of not only COVER STORY l 10 the environmental aspects of the story, but of economics and the arcane details of petroleum industry Covering the explosion of the Deepwater Horizon technology. A tall order, and one made particularly challenging by the the trend toward generalists oil rig in the Gulf of Mexico last spring demanded at many news organizations. If ever there were a case for specialization in journalism, this was it. skill and knowledge from environmental and And while such specialization has been endangered by the vast changes economic hardship has other journalists. *How The Times-Picayune in wrought in the news business, it's far from extinct. As Dinah Eng discovers in her piece on Page 30 New Orleans rose to the occasion when a local environmetal crisis became a story of worldwide about independent news services — many of them nonprofit online or multimedia operations with importance. foundation backing — traditional journalists are finding ways to pursue their specialties and the kinds of investigations much of big media has left behind. SEJ SPECIAL REPORT l 18 So when the Society of Environmental Journalists gathers in Missoula, Mont., for its 20th annual *Members of The Society of Environmental conference Oct. 13 to 17, there will be plenty to discuss, as is highlighted in Elizabeth Jensen's story Journalists gather in Missoula, Mont. *A survey of on Page 18. Attendance is expected to run about equal to last year’s 800, a good sign in a time of SEJ members finds concerns about climate spotty freelance livelihoods and lower wages (the latter a major point of concern in this year's poll of change and wages top of mind. *Independent news services come to the rescue of recession- SEJ members on page 20). torn investigative journalism. A particular note of thanks to SEJ Executive Director Beth Parke, President Christy George and 2012 event co-chairman Jeff Burside for their assistance on this issue. SIGN OFF l 50 —Tom Gilbert, Editor Expect more than sunshine at the 2011 Society of Environmental Journalists conference in Miami. ADVERTISING SALES Ph: (212) 210-0748 Fax: (212) 210-0772 NEWSMAKERS l 9 Executive Producer: Jeff Reisman, [email protected] (212) 210-0748 ONLINE l 44 Producer: Danny Schreiber, [email protected] EDITORIAL OFFICES (503) 723-9688 MURROW AWARDS l 46 Ph: (212) 210-0706 Fax: (212) 210-0772 Production Manager: Nicole Dionne SUBSCRIPTION HOTLINE (888) 288-5900 Group Circulation Director: John LaMarca NewsPro (ISSN 2151-1764), Volume 1, Issue 10, is published VP-Publisher: Robert Felsenthal, (212) 210-0262 Circulation Manager: Nicole Chantharaj Monthly, except for combined issues in January/February and Editor: Tom Gilbert, [email protected] THE AD AGE GROUP (323) 370-2420 November/December at Crain Communications Inc, 711 Third VP-Publishing and Editorial Director Ave, New York, NY 10017. / Periodical postage pending at New Art Director: Jeanine Dunn David S. 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October 2010 | NewsPro | 3 “With CNN, the choice of * replacement coming from Headline News seems to signal even more of a leaning toward Feeds giving CNN more of an edge,” said Andrew Billings, director NATIONAL NEWS of the Pearce Center for Professional Communication Execs End Long Runs at ABC, CNN at Clemson University. “CNN has attempted to be the ‘middle of the road,’ which many By Hillary Atkin NewsCertified Exchange. “But viewers unpacked as ‘bland.’ The landscape of network and he was intent on making a Now, it appears CNN will cable news has shifted handful of stars and getting rid embrace bipartisan coverage of dramatically in recent weeks of many CNN reporters the news with shows such as with the departures of two key regardless of the fact that many “Parker Spitzer” — going from executives who have set the of them were top-notch jour - a perceived lack of point-of- tone and policy for their nalists. In the last couple of view to two debated points of respective networks for years. years he turned up the ‘tab - view.” Controversy still stirs around loidization’ of the network. I Over at ABC News, David Westin’s departure from don't think CNN will ever be Westin’s tenure was marked by the helm of ABC News after able to return to its traditional severe cost-cutting in recent nearly 14 years and that of journalistic roots and the overall years. In February, ABC Jonathan Klein in a similar quality of reporting for which it announced it would reduce its position as president of was once known.” staff by up to 400 employees, CNN/U.S. for nearly six years. DAVID WESTIN about 25 percent of its work The timing of Klein’s exit ‘What Took So Long?’ force. Although the news on Sept. 24 was particularly “The departure of Jon Klein is a division is profitable, sources at intriguing to news industry surprise only in how long CNN ABC said that network observers, coming as it did just stuck with him in the face of leadership wanted to increase before ratings-challenged steadily declining ratings. I’m the profit and that management CNN’s launch of a new prime- sympathetic to CNN’s search was unhappy with Westin’s time lineup he helped design, for a middle ground between efforts to accomplish that. which included the shift of the partisan antics of Fox and Piers Morgan into Larry King’s MSNBC,” said Bob Papper, A ‘Personal’ Decision chair and the launch of “Parker associate chair of journalism, In announcing his resignation Spitzer.” media studies and public in early September, Westin said “Jon has made important relations at Hofstra University. it was a personal decision to contributions to the CNN “But survival also requires that a “move on” and that he would story, and he leaves with our network find a suitably large stay on board until the end of respect and friendship and with audience for its premier news the year to allow the network to my sincere thanks,” said Jim channel. That hasn't been find a replacement. Walton, CNN Worldwide happening. Now we’ll see JONATHAN KLEIN In the wake of his decision, president. whether CNN seeks the easy there were unconfirmed audience in search of political people back under the tent.” Controversial Moves rumblings that the real reason validation or tries a more Ken Jautz moved over from was that Westin had a long- As the competition among cable creative — but also more HLN to replace Klein as running conflict with Disney news outlets escalated in recent difficult — approach to bring executive VP of CNN/U.S. chief Robert Iger. years, and CNN’s ratings de- ABC News’ programs clined, some of Klein’s moves typically rank second to first- were considered controversial. place NBC’s, but lag in terms of “Initially, Jon Klein really earnings, which the Peacock pushed reporters and producers network is able to maximize to be better storytellers, and I because of its ownership of think many of us benefited cable properties — of which from that,” said Rusty Dornin, ABC has none to help support former CNN correspondent the rising costs of operating a and vice president at -Andrew Billings, Clemson University network news division. ❑ NeewssPrro October 2010 NEWSPRO Q&A NPR’s Shogren fall of the Berlin wall and the big breaking story. I’ve enjoyed didn’t want to miss the historic peaceful revolution in Prague. being able to dig in to the story changes under way in the late Made the Trip She started full-time for the more than I usually do. 1980s, I found a way to go as a Los Angeles Times in 1990, freelance reporter.