SEJ News

Policy experts and reporters at an SEJ forum in Seattle July 6 cautioned that environmental journalists must go into overdrive to keep up with fast and furious changes coming during the Trump Administration. Get more in our SEJ News coverage. Photo: Former EPA official Dennis McLerran, left, fields a query from moderator Jeff Burnside. Read McLerran's full remarks here.

SEJers heard from top experts in environmental law and the science of communicating to news consumers, as well as receiving training in FOIA, databases and key digital storytelling tools at a four-day workshop in Dallas, held alongside Earth Day Texas. Get the highlights in our report from the late April gathering.

When quality journalism is under attack, what better way to respond than to highlight the best work our profession can offer? That's what the co-chair of SEJ annual awards program is calling on members to do. And he's got good reasons. Find out how to enter before the April 3 extended deadline.

Environmental journalists at a day-long event urged colleagues to report on the real, local impacts of policy, more than on the buzz around the policy. On hand at the SEJ-sponsored program were representatives of administrations past and present, including Trump EPA transition team head Myron Ebell (shown). 

Videos:

Tracy Mehan lll, American Water Works Association
Myron Ebell, Competitive Enterprise Institute
Ed Maibach, George Mason University
Scott Segal, Policy Resolution Group and Bracewell LLP
Bob Perciasepe, Center for Climate & Energy Solutions
Environmental advocates
Journalists panel

Veteran journalists gathered in Washington, D.C. last Friday, Feb. 3, to share insights into how environment and energy policy may unfold in the year ahead — and to urge colleagues to prepare for possibly dramatic shifts ahead. Key takeaways, plus video, audio clips and a presentation by SEJ's president. Photo: Washington Post reporter Daryl Fears; courtesy of Schuyler Null/Wilson Center.

The Times-Picayune | NOLA.com will create a Louisiana Coastal Reporting Team in early 2017, made possible in part through a major grant from SEJ's Fund for Environmental Journalism. The new team will be co-led by longtime SEJ member and award-winning environment reporter Mark Schleifstein. A national search is under way for two additional environmental journalists to work full-time on the Team.

The Society of Environmental Journalists has hired Melisa Klem as its new executive director, effective January 3, 2017. Klem has spent more than 13 years working in development for conservation and human health nonprofits, and raising millions of dollars. The SEJ Board of Directors selected Klem to serve as the group's second leader, replacing founding executive director Beth Parke who last summer announced her plans to step aside after nearly 24 years of leadership. Klem previously served as the development director at the Seafood Nutrition Partnership, the national director of development at the Izaak Walton League of America, and senior director of development at the Potomac Conservancy.

SEJ members will find it easier to network with a new online profile system. It’s similar to social media: you can connect with other SEJ members (Connections tab — think Friends), share photos and photo albums, post your status and access a directory.

SEJ's founding executive director Beth Parke recounts memorable moments during her 24-year tenure with SEJ.

Yale and Pulitzer Center plan a new program of fellowships, conferences and content sharing that hopes to improve journalism's reporting on climate change. SEJournal Online spoke with Yale Climate Connections Editor Bud Ward about the initiative and its aims.