Breakfast and Opening Plenaries
Concurrent Sessions
Network Lunch
SEJ Membership Meeting
Dinner and Tours at Tennessee Aquarium

 

 

 

 

Agenda

Coverage

Lodging/Travel

Exhibits/Receptions

Environmental News

About Chattanooga

 

As a journalism organization that believes in an open society, SEJ each year welcomes a diverse group of attendees to our annual conference. Attendees include representatives of business, government and environmental groups, as well as working journalists, academics and students.

Because non-journalists are here, you may see or hear presentations or responses to presentations that you might not expect from mainstream journalists. The presentations and any responses do not necessarily reflect the views of SEJ or any of its members.

As our guest, you should respect our interest in open discussions of environmental issues by thanking all participants in sessions you attend and not disrupting presentations of views you disagree with.

Finally, please respect our rule that SEJ members are given preference during question-and-answer sessions.

All sessions, as well as registration, exhibits and breaks, will be at the Chattanooga Convention Center,
1150 Carter Street, Chattanooga (423-756-0001), unless otherwise indicated.

Note: All information is subject to change. Please check back often for updates and information on event times, speakers, etc.

 

Friday, October 4, 2013

Registration

6:30 a.m. - 5:00 p.m.

Sign up for Mini-Tours at the nearby SEJ table. If you didn’t sign up ahead of time for the Friday dinner and tour, or Sunday morning breakfast, there may still be room — please check with registration.

Location: At the Information booth near the ballroom

 

SEJ Information Table

6:30 a.m. - 5:00 p.m.

Sign up here for Mini-Tours. Read up on SEJ Board candidates, and find information about SEJ Award winners, membership and services. Pick up copies of SEJournal, and other SEJ information.

Location: Outside Meeting Room 1

 

Exhibitor Displays

7:00 a.m. - 5:00 p.m.

Browse through the wealth of information offered by our independent exhibitors. Talk with experts about their hopes for new environmentally friendly innovations. Learn about educational opportunities. Add to your list of sources.

Location: Exhibit Hall D and in the main hallway

 

SEJ's Chattanooga conference will host the U.S. debut of the 261-mpg Volkswagen XL1 Plug-in Hybrid. The XL1 will be on display Thursday evening through Saturday afternoon. Photo courtesy Volkswagen.

Vehicle Technology Demo

7:00 a.m. - 6:00 p.m.

Sign up to test-drive new technology and talk with experts in the auto industry. Various automakers will be represented. Don't miss your chance to test-drive these environmentally friendly vehicles.

Location: Cars will be on exhibit in Exhibit Hall D; sign-up tables are located beside Meeting Room 1 by the exit to Carter Street, where, just outside, you'll find the test vehicles.

 

 

 

University of Tennessee Bookstore

8:30 a.m. - 5:00 p.m.

The bookstore will be open for business selling SEJ members' and speakers' books, as well as an offering of environmental books handpicked for the SEJ conference.

Location: Main hallway near the ballroom

 

Breakfast of Alternative Vehicle Champions

Electrifying Cars: The Next Five Years

7:30 - 9:00 a.m. Breakfast is served beginning at 7:00 a.m.

2013 VW Jetta Hybrid. Photo courtesy Volkswagen.

Start your morning with a hearty buffet breakfast in the midst of SEJ’s biggest and best auto show and alternative vehicle demo yet. Test-drive and kick the tires on battery electrics, hybrids and alternative-fuel cars, including some possible world premieres. Talk to industry experts, interact with high-tech demos, and stay tuned for announcements about special programs right in the middle of the action. The "Electrifying Cars: The Next Five Years" panel will feature two automakers with Tennessee plants, Volkswagen and Nissan; and electric vehicle leaders General Motors and Toyota. Coverage.

Moderator: Jim Motavalli, Contributor, The New York Times; Blogger, Car Talk, PlugInCars.com and Mother Nature Network; and Author of seven books, including Forward Drive and High Voltage: The Fast Track to Plug in the Car Industry

Speakers:
Jackie Birdsall, Engineer, Toyota Technical Center
Erik Gottfried, Director, Electric Vehicle Sales and Marketing, Nissan
Britta Gross, Director of Advanced Vehicle Commercialization Policy, General Motors
Oliver Schmidt, General Manager, Engineering and Environmental Office, Volkswagen Group of America

Location: Exhibit Hall D

 

Opening Plenary — Just What Is a Sustainable City?

9:00 - 10:30 a.m.

Chattanooga today. © Photo: Chattanooga Times Free Press.

We’ll examine the essence of environmental, economic and societal sustainability. From Chattanooga to Chicago, Vancouver to Miami, municipalities are drastically changing their future outlooks, altering plans for growth, and bracing for a climate-changed future. Are business and industry driving the change, or being pushed by it? What tech fixes and adaptation strategies might best protect us against various climate change impacts? Coverage.

Moderator: Steve Curwood, Host, Public Radio International's "Living On Earth"

Speakers:
Jim Frierson, Vice Chair, Chattanooga Green Committee
Dodd Galbreath, Executive Director and Assistant Professor, Institute for Sustainable Practice, Lipscomb University
Denis Hayes, Developer, The Bullitt Center (and organizer of the first Earth Day)
Sharon Kneiss, Chief Executive Officer, Environmental Industry Associations

Location: Chattanooga Convention Center Ballroom

 

Beverage Break and Exhibits

10:30 - 11:00 a.m.

Grab your coffee, tea, water or soda and take this opportunity to see the exhibits. You'll meet new sources and come away with information about environmental innovations, journalism fellowships and much more. Don't forget to check the tables in the main hallway on your way back to sessions.

Location: Exhibit Hall D

 

Concurrent Sessions 1

11:00 a.m. - 12:15 p.m.

THE CRAFT 1
Freelance Pitch Slam

Freelancers! Face time is an important component to cultivating relationships with editors. Come meet editors in the flesh and pitch them en masse. You’ll have 60 seconds to read a carefully crafted pitch to the panel of editors. They will then respond, explaining whether or not the story would work for their outlets, and offer tips for improving the pitch. Editors will also reveal their pay rates and which sections are open to freelancers. Attendees will gain valuable intel on the outlets represented and general tips on pitching techniques and editor interactions. And those bold enough to pitch will raise their profiles with the editors and may just land an assignment. Editors are not only looking for articles and features, but also infographics, photo galleries and videos.

Moderator: Erica Gies, Freelance Environmental Journalist

Speakers:
Rene Ebersole, Audubon Magazine
Tasha Eichenseher, Discover Magazine
Douglas Fischer, Editor, The Daily Climate
Mary Hoff, Editor in Chief, Ensia Magazine

Location: Meeting Rooms 7-8

THE CRAFT 2
Sound Storytelling: Using Audio to Cover Science and the Environment

Maybe you're an experienced radio reporter, maybe you're just starting out with the occasional podcast in your spare time. Wherever you are in your audio career, this panel will help you improve your audio approach to storytelling and hard news reporting. Hear award-winning radio editors, reporters and producers share their tips for getting awesome tape, writing for air — both feature and spot-news length — and using sound more broadly to cover the best beat on the planet. We'll have you salivating for delicious soundbites and eager to take to the airwaves! Coverage.

Moderator: Ashley Ahearn, Environment Reporter, KUOW - NPR (Seattle)

Speakers:
Steve Curwood, Host, Public Radio International's "Living On Earth"
Molly Samuel, Producer, KQED Science
Peter Thomson, Environmental Editor, Public Radio International’s "The World"

Location: Meeting Room 9

THE LAND
Jumping Earthworms and Other Eco-Bullies

Nightcrawlers and other European immigrants can damage forest ecosystems. But Asian earthworms are more aggressive, faster moving and more damaging. They also jump! One of their hotspots: The Great Smoky Mountains National Park. Fish native to Asia — particularly snakeheads and various Asian carps (bighead, black and silver) — also pose mounting headaches in the South, Midwest and Eastern United States. And lionfish have become the single most aggressively marine invasive known. Come for an update on the impacts and spread of these and other immigrant species that are bullying the natives.

NOTE: This session was cancelled.

Moderator: Elizabeth Grossman, Freelance Journalist

Speakers:
Mac Callaham Jr., Center for Forest Disturbance Science, Southern Research Station, U.S. Forest Service
Susan Jewell, Injurious Wildlife Listing Coordinator, Fish and Aquatic Conservation, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service
Sara Kuebbing, Ecology and Evolutionary Biology Department, University of Tennessee
James Morris, Ecologist, Center for Coastal Fisheries and Habitat Research, National Centers for Coastal Ocean Science, National Ocean Service, National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration

Location: Meeting Room 2

THE CLIMATE
Climate Change and Media Coverage: Have We Blown It?

The impacts of global warming have been a concern since about 1988. How well has the media done in reporting on this issue? How can it do a better job in the future? Many critics have accused mainstream media of confusing the public by reporting this topic as if the small (and often industry-funded) "skeptics" were as credible as researchers representing the scientific consensus. This phony balance between real scientists and skeptics appears less common now. But many people say that journalism is still doing society a disservice, by underreporting and downplaying the seriousness of the threats of global warming. We'll look for lessons and advice from people who follow this issue closely. Coverage.

Moderator: Daniel Grossman, Contributing Editor, National Geographic News Watch

Speakers:
Katherine Bagley, Reporter, InsideClimate News
Peter Dykstra, Publisher, Environmental Health News and The Daily Climate
Joseph Romm, Founding Editor, ClimateProgress.org and Chief Science Editor, Showtime TV series, "Years of Living Dangerously"

Location: Meeting Room 3

THE WATER
The Many Faces of Dam Removal

Over the past decade, dozens of historic U.S. dams have been demolished for a multitude of reasons: to restore fisheries, remediate environmental damage, restore in-stream flows, alleviate the maintenance costs of inefficient power generation, and enhance public safety, among others. We'll discuss the why, how, and wherefore of past and present dam removals, and some consequences. Coverage.

Moderator: Brad Tyer, Writer and Editor, The Texas Observer, and Author, Opportunity, Montana: Big Copper, Bad Water, and the Burial of an American Landscape

Speakers:
Tripp Boltin, Fish Habitat and Fish Passage Coordinator, Southeast Region Fisheries Program, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service
Steven Hawley, Author, Recovering a Lost River: Removing Dams, Rewilding Salmon, Revitalizing Communities
Gerrit Jobsis, Senior Director, Southeast Conservation Programs, American Rivers

Location: Meeting Room 5

THE NATION
Nukes, Fossil Fuels, Alternatives: What Will Power Our Future?

America's Nuclear Renaissance failed to produce the dozens of reactors as projected. Just five new reactors, two in Georgia, two in South Carolina and one in Tennessee, are under construction. With an aging nuclear fleet, abundant natural gas and calls to reduce the nation's carbon foot print, what will help meet the growing demand for energy? One proposal calls for the use of Small Modular Reactors, a focus of the Tennessee Valley Authority. Panelists will discuss SMRs, the abundance of natural gas and renewable energy. Coverage.

Moderator: Ivan Penn, Utilities and Consumer Reporter, Tampa Bay Times

Speakers:
Mark Cooper, Senior Fellow for Economic Analysis, Institute for Energy and the Environment, Vermont Law School
Richard Meyer, Energy Analyst, American Gas Association
Stephen Smith, Executive Director, Southern Alliance for Clean Energy
Dan Stout, Senior Manager, Small Modular Reactor (SMR) Technology, Tennessee Valley Authority

Location: Meeting Room 6

THE GLOBE
Shifting From a Toxic Legacy to a Sustainable Future

Toxic chemicals are products and by-products of modern life and decades of industrial activity. We’ll dig into the factors that led to use and release of toxic compounds. We’ll hear about new paths forward, such as the development of greener chemicals and product design that anticipates the recycling of materials. And we’ll discuss what’s holding us back from the goal of sustainability. Coverage.

Moderator: Cheryl Hogue, Senior Correspondent, Chemical & Engineering News

Speakers:
Dan Fagin, Associate Professor and Director, Science, Health and Environmental Reporting Program, New York University, and Author, Toms River: A Story of Science and Salvation
Ronald Kendall, Professor, Department of Environmental Toxicology and the Institute of Environmental and Human Health, Texas Tech University
David Wilkerson, Corporate Director of Sustainability & Product Stewardship, Shaw Industries (Dalton, Ga.), speaking on behalf of the Green Chemistry in Commerce Council

Location: Meeting Room 11

 

Network Lunch

12:15 - 2:00 p.m.

Enjoy stimulating discussions on one of the hot topics listed below, or select a topic-less table if your brain needs a rest. Just grab your lunch in Exhibit Hall D and use this guide to locate the session or numbered discussion table that corresponds to your choice. A Network Lunch flyer is also available at the Registration Desk. Sponsored by WRCB-TV Channel 3 Chattanooga.

Location: Exhibit Hall D

Concurrent with the table discussions are the following two breakout sessions, one indoors and one outdoors.

Indoor Breakout Session
Pick up your lunch in Exhibit Hall D and head to the Ballroom for your beverage.

Busted: The Whys and Wherefores of Criminal Environmental Cases
What is an environmental crime? Who gets prosecuted and why? Hear about the political critiques of environmental prosecutors — from Rep. John Dingell’s 1990s hearings charging under-prosecution to Rand Paul’s recent book “Government Bullies.” Learn about the relationship between environmental prosecution and environmental harms, the effect of the Supreme Court’s ruling throwing out the federal sentencing guidelines, and the Attorney General's new directive to reduce incarceration for non-violent offenses.

Moderator: Robert McClure, Executive Director, InvestigateWest

Speaker: Jeremy Korzenik, Senior Trial Attorney, Environmental Crimes Section, U.S. Department of Justice

Location: Ballroom

Picnic Breakout Session
NOTE: This lunch is capped at 20 participants. Pick up your lunch and beverage in Exhibit Hall D and meet your leaders at the front of the stage. They will take the first 20 out under Chattanooga’s urban trees for a picnic.

Urban Trees and Human Health: Walk Chattanooga with the City’s Forester

Moderator: Sarah Webb, Freelance Journalist

Speaker: Gene Hyde, Urban Forester, City of Chattanooga

Small-Group Discussions

Looking for a more casual conversation? Select a topic and join a table (numbered below) in Exhibit Hall D for an informal lunch.

1. The Picture Business & Environmental Photojournalism
   Roger Archibald, Environmental Photographer
2. Environmental Health Overview
   Michael Hawthorne, Chicago Tribune; Ami Zota, Environmental and Occupational Health, George Washington University
3. Soil, Climate, and Why Farming Matters
   Judith Schwartz, Author, Cows Save the Planet: And Other Improbable Ways of Restoring Soil to Heal the Earth
4. Tellico Dam and the Snail Darter Revisited
   Louie Brogdon, Chattanooga Times Free Press; Hank Hill, lead plaintiff in original lawsuit
5. Emerging Science in Biophilia: How Our Brain Reacts to Experiencing Nature
   Lisa Palmer, Freelance Editor and Reporter; Bill Browning, Partner, Terrapin Bright Green, LLC
6. From Chattanooga to Chennai: Unsustainable Growth or a Demographic Dividend?
   Meaghan Parker, Writer/Editor, Environmental Change and Security Program, Wilson Center; International Journalists
7. Share and Share Alike: In Today’s Media Landscape, Do You Know Where That Story Came From?
   Scott Dodd, Editor, OnEarth.org
8. Teaching Environmental Journalism
   Bill Kovarik, Professor, School of Communication, Radford University
9. Climate Denial Education Law
   Natalie Pawelski, former SEJ board member
10. SEJ 2014 and Beyond: Meet the People, Places and Issues Awaiting Us in New Orleans and Oklahoma
    Bob Thomas, Loyola University, New Orleans; Renee McPherson and Jana Smith, University of Oklahoma
11. Water and Climate Change
    Lana Straub, Freelance Journalist; Jerad Bales, Acting Associate Director for Water and Chief of Research and Science for Water, U.S. Geological Survey
12. Supply Shock and Limits to Growth
    Brian Czech, Author

 

Concurrent Sessions 2

2:00 - 3:15 p.m.

THE CRAFT 1
Environmental Reporting With Drones: What's the Future?

Small, battery-powered drones offer great potential for adding value to environmental reporting at low cost. The Federal Aviation Administration recently ordered two university-based drone journalism programs and several photojournalists to stop flying. But Congress has told the agency to write new regulations by September 2015 that would open drones to commercial use. What drone-based stories have been done, and what are the possibilities for environmental coverage when the new rules arrive? Coverage.

Moderator: Bill Allen, Assistant Professor of Science Journalism, University of Missouri

Speakers:
Mario Mairena, Government Relations Manager, Association for Unmanned Vehicle Systems International
Matthew Schroyer, Drones for Schools Program Developer, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign and Founder, Professional Society of Drone Journalists
Matt Waite, Professor of Journalism, University of Nebraska-Lincoln

Location: Meeting Rooms 7-8

THE CRAFT 2
Social, Mobile & Local — A Workshop on New Tools for Environmental Reporting

This hands-on training workshop will help environmental journalists put to work the emerging technologies of social media, mobile and geolocation. You’ll learn how these new tools can help you more effectively find, tell and share your stories. You’ll see examples of great work, explore best practices and then roll up your shirtsleeves to try out tools yourself (bring your smart phones or tablets, if available, but even without them you’ll be ready for the next steps). We’ll have working practitioners share their experiences and guide you on how to incorporate social, mobile and local techniques in your daily news practice. Coverage.

Moderator: Adam Glenn, Digital Media Consultant and Interactive Professor, Graduate School of Journalism, City University of New York

Speakers:
Sara Peach, Senior Producer, Reese News Lab, School of Journalism and Mass Communication, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill
Molly Samuel, Producer, KQED Science

Location: Meeting Room 9

THE CRAFT 3
Who's the Expert?

Environmental issues are often contentious and almost always involve multiple points of view, along with a mix of science, policy, business and advocacy. The beat may mean covering marine debris on Monday, wind energy on Wednesday, phthalates on Thursday and fracking on Friday. One of the toughest parts of the job is weaving together different, often contradictory perspectives. One hurdle is finding qualified sources. Another is separating spin and opinion from fact. How many voices should be heard? Which experts are best for print, radio or TV? This session’s speakers will offer tips on finding sources and getting interviews, and share their expertise in finding the right experts when reporting on complex and specialized – and controversial – topics.

Moderator: Elizabeth Grossman, Freelance Journalist

Speakers:
Ashley Ahearn, Environment Reporter, KUOW - NPR (Seattle)
Jane Braxton Little, Independent Writer and Photographer
Dan Fagin, Associate Professor and Director, Science, Health and Environmental Reporting Program, New York University, and Author, Toms River: A Story of Science and Salvation
Douglas Fischer, Editor, The Daily Climate

Location: Meeting Room 10

THE LAND
Endangered Species Success Stories: Reintroduction, Restoration and Protection

The IUCN Red List of Threatened Species currently lists more than 10,000 species around the world as "endangered" or "critically endangered." Another 10,000 are listed as "vulnerable to extinction." Conservationists, scientists, governments and other organizations are working valiantly to save these species, but success isn't easy, nor does everyone involved agree on the very definition of success. We'll look at some cases where species have been brought back from the brink of extinction and why those efforts have worked. We'll also discuss the smaller successes and milestones that occur along the way (and which can become good stories for journalists), as well as some potential success stories that could occur in the near future and the possible limits to what we as a society can afford in order to protect the thousands of species that are still in decline. Coverage.

Moderator: John Platt, Freelance Journalist

Speakers:
Cynthia Dohner, Regional Director, Southeast Region, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service
Tim Male, Vice President of Conservation Policy, Defenders of Wildlife
Andrew Wetzler, Director, Land and Wildlife Program, Natural Resources Defense Council

Location: Meeting Room 2

THE CLIMATE
All Impacts Are Local: Bringing Climate Change Close to Home

How do you turn a global issue like climate change into a compelling local story? Surveys indicate that most Americans perceive climate change as a risk that will affect faraway places, other species, or future generations, rather than people here and now. Incorporating local angles on this global phenomenon is a crucial challenge and opportunity for journalists reporting on climate change. For this panel we will be joined by journalists, authors and experts using science, data, text messaging networks, interactive maps and their honed reporting skills to bring the seemingly abstract concept of climate change to life for local audiences both domestically and internationally. Coverage.

Moderator: James Fahn, Executive Director, Internews’ Earth Journalism Network and Lecturer, Graduate School of Journalism, University of California-Berkeley

Speakers:
Imelda Abano, President, Philippine Network of Environmental Journalists
Dave Cleaves, Climate Change Advisor to the Chief, U.S. Forest Service
Linda Marsa, Contributing Editor, Discover Magazine and Author, Fevered: Why a Hotter Planet Will Hurt Our Health — And How We Can Save Ourselves
Willie Shubert, Senior Program Coordinator, Internews' Earth Journalism Network and Data Journalism Platform Designer, Climate Commons

Location: Meeting Room 3

THE CITY
Biomimicry and Biophilic Cities: What Can Nature Teach Us About Sustainability?

Cities and nature don't need to collide. When a city includes the natural world, its residents are happier and the city is more productive. What are the best ways for creating biophilic cities? What are the unique obstacles? And how can nature inspire innovations in the urban landscape? We'll discuss biomimicry and bio-inspired solutions to creating sustainable cities. Coverage.

Moderator: Lisa Palmer, Freelance Reporter and Editor

Speakers:
Bill Browning, Partner, Terrapin Bright Green, LLC
Giles Hutchins, Management Consultant; Author, Nature of Business: Redesign for Resilience; and Co-founder, Biomimicry for Creative Innovation
Simon Nicholson, Assistant Professor, International Relations and Co-Director, Global Scholars Program, School of International Service, American University

Location: Meeting Room 4

THE WATER
Flooding, Drought and Water Wars

The Southeast with its growing population and a changing climate is increasingly in a water bind. Record flooding and drought have slammed communities in recent times. In 2010, flood waters swamped the downtown and suburbs of Nashville, Tennessee's capitol city, among other towns. Alternating with flooding, drought has obliterated crops, helped trigger wildfires, threatened drinking water and aquatic life and forced cutbacks in coal and nuclear-plant energy production. States, including Florida, Alabama and Georgia, are locked in legal fights over rivers they share. Water-hungry Atlanta is wrangling to put a straw in the Tennessee River. What's ahead for this country when it comes to protecting, sharing and managing water? Some of the nation's top experts will talk and take questions. Coverage.

Moderator: Ben Hall, Investigative Reporter, NewsChannel 5 Nashville

Speakers:
Jerad Bales, Acting Associate Director for Water and Chief of Research and Science for Water, U.S. Geological Survey
Steve Fleischli, Director, National Water Program, Natural Resources Defense Council
Rena Stricker, Board Chair, Southeast Watershed Forum, Watershed Sustainability LLC

Location: Meeting Room 5

THE NATION
Who's Your Energy Daddy? From Rural Cooperatives to Energy Giants

This panel explores who makes decisions about the generation and transmission of electricity in the U.S. and what strides they are making to adapt to a rapidly changing energy market. What will it take to keep the lights on while simultaneously protecting the environment and consumer rates? How should energy providers be held accountable, and what programs and incentives inhibit or promote sustainable energy production? Panel includes representatives from investor-owned, member-owned and distributed generation. Coverage.

Moderator: Jamie Goodman, Editor, The Appalachian Voice

Speakers:
John Farrell, Director of Democratic Energy, Institute for Local Self-Reliance
Jeff Holmstead, Attorney, Environmental Strategies Group, Bracewell & Giuliani
Rory McIlmoil, Director of Energy Policy, Appalachian Voices

Location: Meeting Room 6

THE GLOBE
More Than Numbers: Population, Environment and Human Rights

What do public health, women's rights, and family planning have to do with environmental journalism? The majority of stories on the environment tend to be narrowly cast, neatly tucked in a well-prescribed silo. But as the planet grows more crowded, can environmental stories remain isolated or should environmental reporters expand into coverage of health, population, and human rights? We'll hear from some U.S. and African journalists and scientists who have made this jump, expanding the boundaries of what we think are environmental issues. Coverage.

Moderator: Ken Weiss, Freelance Journalist and Author, Los Angeles Times Multimedia Series, "Beyond 7 Billion"

Speakers:
Gladys Kalema-Zikusoka, Veterinarian; and Founder and Chief Executive Officer, Conservation Through Public Health, Uganda’s Bwindi Forest
Dingaan Mithi, Programme Manager, Journalists Association Against AIDS (JournAIDS), Malawi
Kate Sheppard, Senior Reporter and Environment and Energy Editor, The Huffington Post

Location: Meeting Room 11

Beverage Break and Exhibits

3:15 - 5:00 p.m.

Grab your coffee, tea, water or soda and take this opportunity to see the exhibits. You'll meet new sources and come away with information about environmental innovations, journalism fellowships and much more. Don't forget to check the tables in the main hallway on your way back to sessions. SEJ members will have to dash off to another meeting, but others are encouraged to stay and browse through the exhibits until 5:00 p.m.

Location: Exhibit Hall D

SEJ Membership Meeting

3:30 - 5:00 p.m.

All SEJ members should plan to attend the annual membership meeting. Our agenda includes board elections to fill six seats (five Active and one Academic) and brief reports on SEJ programs, finances and membership. This is your opportunity to share ideas and talk about SEJ issues that are important to you.

Location: Chattanooga Convention Center Ballroom

 

Fine Food and Really Fresh Fish: Dinner and Tours at Tennessee Aquarium

7:00 - 11:00 p.m.

The Tennessee Aquarium Conservation Institute works to re-populate the Tennessee River with ancient-looking, once-common lake sturgeon. The Aquarium's "Saving the Sturgeon" program has successfully reintroduced more than 115,000 these freshwater titans to Tennessee. Read about the Aquarium's new River Giant exhibit. Pictured: Anna George, TNACI's Director and Chief Research Scientist.

Experience an unforgettable after-hours adventure from the mountains to the sea at the Tennessee Aquarium, the single project credited with igniting the “Renaissance on the River,” and the revitalization of downtown Chattanooga. Enjoy cocktails, heavy hors d’oeuvres and live local music as you leisurely tour the River and Ocean Journey’s three living forests and see 10-foot sharks, giant spider crabs, river otters, penguins, beautiful coral reefs and much, much more. Pre-registration and $15 fee required.

Sponsored by the Chattanooga Times Free Press. 

Moderator: TBA

Location: View Map
Just a mile from the Marriott and an easy walk, or catch the free electric shuttle right outside the Marriott. Shuttles run about every five minutes and go to within a block of the aquarium.

Chattanooga Shuttle Map

   

 

 

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Wednesday, October 2
Thursday, October 3
Saturday, October 5
Sunday, October 6