The Path to Better Investigative Science Reporting [1]

In the latest Reporter's Toolbox, Climate Central senior science writer John Upton defines investigative science reporting’s major role, and shares his personal nine ways to do the job better.


In the latest Reporter's Toolbox, Climate Central senior science writer John Upton defines investigative science reporting’s major role, and shares his personal nine ways to do the job better.

For this edition of EJ Academy, MU journalism master's grad Caleb O'Brien surveyed SEJ academics and current and former students to get tips on finding the best internships — and making the most of the experience. Excerpted from the Spring 2016 SEJournal.

SEJ’s WatchDog Project director Joseph A. Davis analyzes local and regional media's role in reporting — or not — the Flint water debacle.

This special issue of SEJ's WatchDog celebrated "Sunshine Week," the national reminder that freedom of information and open government are essential for a working democracy. Lots of info is available for environmental reporters about pollutants and hazards that can harm people. Our Sunshine toolbox is ... well ... full of flashlights — environmental databases that can help you see things. Categories include chemicals, disasters, energy, health and pollution. Shine on!

The availability of government data has soared over the last decade — offering a huge opportunity for watchdog journalists to find stories that advance the public interest. The environmental beat is the Saudi Arabia of data (yes, that means vast, rich, accessible, and untapped reserves).

Republican presidential candidate Donald Trump is promising to toughen libel laws to get back at news media who "write purposely negative and horrible and false articles." Especially those that criticize him. Photo: By Marc Nozell [23] (Flickr) [CC BY 2.0 [24]].

The Senate Energy Committee last November approved a different version of the bill which seems to include an exemption from fees and permits for "news gathering." But whether it will pass on the floor or get reconciled with the House bill in an election year is unknown.

Scientist Jonathan Lundgren (left), who has been researching the effects of neonicotinoid pesticides on Monarch butterflies, filed a whistleblower complaint and lost. And, Lundgren claimed his supervisors at the USDA's Agricultural Research Service told him not to talk to news media and punished him when he did.

Fellow Journalists, we have a lot in common. We’ve read many of your stories on issues surrounding energy, business, science and health. We couldn’t help noticing a common link in so many of your stories: The environment. Those of us at the Society of Environmental Journalists think we are a very good fit for you. Read all the reasons why, by board president Jeff Burnside in the new issue of SEJournal.

In this issue: Memo to energy, business, science and health reporters; how Paris summit changes the climate story; analysis of Flint water crisis and lessons for journalists; nine ways to do better investigative science reporting; captivating kids with science news; interview with award-winning photojournalist Robb Kendrick; book reviews; finding the right fit for journalism fellowships; the motivation behind filmmaker Josh Fox's new climate documentary; publisher ponders future of environment books.
Links
[1] https://www.sej.org/publications/sejournal-sp-2016/path-better-investigative-science-reporting
[2] https://www.sej.org/category/sej-publication-types/reporter%E2%80%99s-toolbox
[3] https://www.sej.org/category/topics-beat/climate-change
[4] https://www.sej.org/category/topics-beat/forests
[5] https://www.sej.org/category/topics-beat/journalism/media
[6] https://www.sej.org/category/region/national
[7] https://www.sej.org/category/region/international/europe
[8] https://www.sej.org/taxonomy/term/81
[9] https://www.sej.org/publications/sejournal-sp-2016/finding-right-fit-journalism-fellowships
[10] https://www.sej.org/category/sej-publication-types/ej-academy
[11] https://www.sej.org/publications/sejournal-sp-2016/will-journalists-heed-lessons-flint
[12] https://www.sej.org/category/sej-publication-types/inside-story
[13] https://www.sej.org/category/topics-beat/chemicals/toxics
[14] https://www.sej.org/category/topics-beat/environmental-politics
[15] https://www.sej.org/category/topics-beat/health
[16] https://www.sej.org/category/topics-beat/water
[17] https://www.sej.org/category/region/national/great-lakes
[18] https://www.sej.org/publications/watchdog-tipsheet/environmental-sleuthing-toolbox
[19] https://www.sej.org/category/sej-publication/watchdog-tipsheet
[20] https://www.sej.org/publications/watchdog-tipsheet/data-journalism-tools-and-tips-mit
[21] https://www.sej.org/category/topics-beat/technology
[22] https://www.sej.org/publications/watchdog-tipsheet/trump-hopes-use-libel-laws-get-journalists
[23] https://www.flickr.com/photos/marcn/24622281220/
[24] http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/2.0
[25] https://www.sej.org/category/topics-beat/laws
[26] https://www.sej.org/publications/watchdog-tipsheet/house-oks-lands-bill-photo-fees-permits-now-its-senate
[27] https://www.sej.org/category/topics-beat/land
[28] https://www.sej.org/publications/watchdog-tipsheet/scientist-says-usda-used-press-office-silence-him
[29] https://www.sej.org/category/topics-beat/agriculture
[30] https://www.sej.org/category/topics-beat/biodiversity-1
[31] https://www.sej.org/category/topics-beat/science
[32] https://www.sej.org/category/topics-beat/wildlife
[33] https://www.sej.org/sejournal-sp-2016/memo-energy-business-science-health-reporters
[34] https://www.sej.org/category/sej-publication-types/sej-president%E2%80%99s-report
[35] https://www.sej.org/category/topics-beat/business
[36] https://www.sej.org/category/topics-beat/energy
[37] https://www.sej.org/publications/sejournal/spring-2016-vol-26-no-1
[38] https://www.sej.org/category/sej-publication/sejournal
[39] https://www.sej.org/publications/list
[40] https://www.sej.org/publications/list?page=128
[41] https://www.sej.org/publications/list?page=125
[42] https://www.sej.org/publications/list?page=126
[43] https://www.sej.org/publications/list?page=127
[44] https://www.sej.org/publications/list?page=130
[45] https://www.sej.org/publications/list?page=131
[46] https://www.sej.org/publications/list?page=132
[47] https://www.sej.org/publications/list?page=133
[48] https://www.sej.org/publications/list?page=351
[49] https://www.sej.org/publications/list/Watchdog+TipSheet