Backgrounders

Covering Trauma, Surviving Trauma and Gaining New Insight into How To Handle It

Miami-based radio news director Dan Grech recounts his journey covering the traumatic aftermath of Hurricane Katrina, becoming homeless thanks to Hurricane Wilma, his subsequent training on trauma reporting, and shares his lessons learned with you.

SEJ Publication Types: 
Topics on the Beat: 
Visibility: 

BP Blowout: Lessons from Gulf Oil Disaster

Everything from the social media’s importance to the need for a detailed disaster plan — Robert A. Thomas, professor and director of the Center for Environmental Communication, School of Mass Communication at Loyola University in New Orleans, outlines 17 take-away lessons for journalists.

SEJ Publication Types: 
Topics on the Beat: 
Visibility: 

For Climate Change Reporters, Here's an Essential Reading List

Reporters new to the climate change issue and those having to immerse themselves into it while also grappling with a range of other important environmental (and, given the nature of today’s newsrooms, also non-environmental) issues might try these "must see" resources and websites.

SEJ Publication Types: 
Topics on the Beat: 
Visibility: 

Gulf Oil Leak Shrouds Climate Change But Still Holds Key Issues

For journalists covering major energy- and environment-related stories and natural disasters, the visually gushing BP Gulf of Mexico oil leak easily supplanted climate change and other national stories in the steadily shrinking news hole. Yet there are striking parallels between the sudden and in-your-face Gulf BP spill and the incremental and nonlinear climate change issue.

SEJ Publication Types: 
Topics on the Beat: 
Visibility: 

How the U.S. Media Fumbled "Climategate" and Other Climate Coverage

Did the American media fall short on stories about stolen/leaked scientists' emails and IPCC report errors? To gauge expert opinion on that question, SEJournal surveyed four close observers and analysts of the way that climate issues are covered.

SEJ Publication Types: 
Topics on the Beat: 
Visibility: 

For Reporters Roving the World, Do Your Homework and Take a Deep Breath

Freelance journalist Naomi Lubick offers tips from journalists who travel internationally to do their reporting. They all suggested that before you set off on your voyage, you have to be prepared — mentally, technically and physically.

SEJ Publication Types: 
Topics on the Beat: 
Visibility: 

Media Play Key, Sometimes Misleading, Role in Public's View of Climate Research

The media may play a role in misleading the public, especially when journalists attempt a "false balance" in stories, giving equal treatment to climate science skeptics who question the validity of climate science studies.

SEJ Publication Types: 
Topics on the Beat: 
Visibility: 

E-Reporting Biz: It Can Be Dangerous Being An E-Journalist in the Digital Age

The digital age of environmental journalism has brought with it an ugly underbelly characterized by increasingly bitter personal exchanges and accusations and a sucking-up of countless hours of productive reporting time and effort. How reporters handle these distractions may shape how well the American public understands, or doesn't understand, the climate challenge they and future generations will face.

SEJ Publication Types: 
Topics on the Beat: 
Visibility: 

Pages

Subscribe to RSS - Backgrounders