SEJ Joins RCFP Amicus Brief — La Liberte v. Reid [1]
SEJ joined with the Reporters Committee for Freedom of the Press and 20 other media organizations in filing an amicus brief in La Liberte v. Reid.

SEJ joined with the Reporters Committee for Freedom of the Press and 20 other media organizations in filing an amicus brief in La Liberte v. Reid.
January 16, 2020 — The Society of Environmental Journalists joined with the Reporters Committee for Freedom of the Press and 56 other media organizations in a letter opposing restrictions on the press during the upcoming Senate impeachment trial of President Donald J. Trump. SEJ speaks out about right-to-know issues, such as this one, which would hinder journalists’ efforts to share timely and accurate updates and commentary with the American public.

SEJ has protested Secretary of State Mike Pompeo's retaliation [8] against, and abuse of [9], National Public Radio and its reporters. SEJ President Meera Subramanian signed the January 30 letter [10].

The Small Business Administration announced an "environmental roundtable [12]" Feb. 28, as being “open to all interested persons, with the exception of the press." The Society of Environmental Journalists, through its Freedom of Information Task Force, has protested this in a Feb 21 letter (full text [13]).

Freelance photographer Morgan Heim explores the ethical and creative considerations of non-traditional photography when reporting on wildlife issues, in a sidebar to the latest EJ InSight. See a slideshow of images with her unique approach [15]. Plus, Heim on surviving in today’s constrained news media economy [16] and the implications for storytelling, independence and integrity.

How do you survive as a freelance wildlife photojournalist in today’s constrained news media economy? In the latest EJ InSight, photographer Morgan Heim shares the approach she has successfully pursued, and shares its implications for storytelling, independence and integrity. See a slideshow of her images [15]. Plus, Heim explores the ethics of non-traditional photography [14].

Newsroom resources may be tighter than ever, but accountability journalism just got a big boost. A guest Reporter’s Toolbox outlines a massive new database of databases collected by the Investigative Reporting Workshop. See how it can be used for your environmental reporting (such as to look up contributions by actor/activist Mark Ruffalo [33], pictured). Plus, pitch your own ideas for additional datasets [34].

The annual release this month of the latest Toxics Release Inventory opens up a world of data about local hazards — but only if journalists have the tools to uncover hidden problems. The latest TipSheet walks you through the background and context needed, plus offers up a reporter’s rig and a pack of questions for possible stories.

In Part Two of our ongoing “Covering Your Climate: The Emerald Corridor [48]” special report, we take a look at the impacts of climate change on the Pacific Northwest region — and how best to cover them. Our A-to-Z Guide explores 26 neglected angles and stories, plus resource links to get you started. And check out our inaugural backgrounder [49] and watch in coming weeks for additional tipsheets and a toolbox.

Weather reports are not just about donning galoshes. They can mean literal life or death for people and businesses, such as during a natural disaster. So, as the latest Issue Backgrounder details, the ongoing effort to privatize publicly funded weather data is a matter of real controversy. Find out what’s in the weather privatization forecast.
Links
[1] https://www.sej.org/publications/watchdog-tipsheet/sej-joins-rcfp-amicus-brief-la-liberte-v-reid
[2] https://www.sej.org/category/sej-publication/watchdog-tipsheet
[3] https://www.sej.org/category/topics-beat/journalism/media
[4] https://www.sej.org/category/region/national
[5] https://www.sej.org/taxonomy/term/81
[6] https://www.sej.org/publications/watchdog-tipsheet/sej-opposes-press-restrictions-trump-impeachment-trial
[7] https://www.sej.org/publications/watchdog-tipsheet/sej-joins-protest-sec-pompeo-treatment-npr-media
[8] https://www.npr.org/2020/01/28/800623629/npr-protests-state-department-decision-to-bar-reporter-from-pompeo-trip-to-ukrai
[9] https://www.npr.org/sections/publiceditor/2020/01/28/800381609/aftermath-of-an-interview
[10] https://www.sej.org/sites/default/files/Pompeo_SEJ_FINAL2_0.pdf
[11] https://www.sej.org/publications/watchdog-tipsheet/sej-protests-sba-no-journalists-environmental-roundtable
[12] https://advocacy.sba.gov/2020/02/10/sba-office-of-advoacy-environmental-roundtable-february-28-2020/
[13] https://www.sej.org/sites/default/files/SBA%20Letter%20signed%202.pdf
[14] https://www.sej.org/publications/ej-insight/illustrating-environment-new-light
[15] https://www.sej.org/publications/ej-insight/freelance-photographer-charts-new-journalistic-path#slideshow
[16] https://www.sej.org/publications/ej-insight/freelance-photographer-charts-new-journalistic-path
[17] https://www.sej.org/category/sej-publication-types/ej-insight
[18] https://www.sej.org/category/topics-beat/biodiversity-1
[19] https://www.sej.org/category/topics-beat/environmental-health
[20] https://www.sej.org/category/topics-beat/environmentalists
[21] https://www.sej.org/category/topics-beat/land
[22] https://www.sej.org/category/topics-beat/science
[23] https://www.sej.org/category/topics-beat/wildlife
[24] https://www.sej.org/category/region/national/california
[25] https://www.sej.org/category/region/international
[26] https://www.sej.org/category/region/international/south-america
[27] https://www.sej.org/category/topics-beat/activism
[28] https://www.sej.org/category/topics-beat/fisheries
[29] https://www.sej.org/category/topics-beat/water
[30] https://www.sej.org/category/region/national/mountain-west
[31] https://www.sej.org/category/region/international/asia
[32] https://www.sej.org/publications/reporters-toolbox/tap-one-stop-shop-public-data
[33] https://www.publicaccountability.org/search/#q=mark%20ruffalo&amount=undefined&state=NY&state_name=New%20York%C2%A0%C2%A0%C2%A052%20hits&collection=0&collection_name=Any%20Collection&data=0&page=1
[34] https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSf7cPfsaY4Fi8MFIGo81ztuEJvhVhz-zL8y0nUFtzEavIHYFw/viewform
[35] https://www.sej.org/category/sej-publication-types/reporter%E2%80%99s-toolbox
[36] https://www.sej.org/category/topics-beat/business
[37] https://www.sej.org/category/topics-beat/environmental-politics
[38] https://www.sej.org/category/topics-beat/government
[39] https://www.sej.org/publications/tipsheet/toxic-chemicals-data-can-inform-your-community-risks
[40] https://www.sej.org/category/sej-publication/tipsheet
[41] https://www.sej.org/category/topics-beat/chemicals/toxics
[42] https://www.sej.org/category/topics-beat/disaster
[43] https://www.sej.org/category/topics-beat/health
[44] https://www.sej.org/category/topics-beat/laws
[45] https://www.sej.org/category/topics-beat/people-population
[46] https://www.sej.org/category/topics-beat/pollution
[47] https://www.sej.org/publications/special-reports/covering-your-climate/emerald-corridor/a-to-z-guide-emerald-corridor-climate-impacts
[48] https://www.sej.org/publications/covering-your-climate/emerald-corridor
[49] https://www.sej.org/publications/special-reports/covering-your-climate/emerald-corridor/impacts-fixes-and-rethinking-everything
[50] https://www.sej.org/category/sej-publication-types/special-reports
[51] https://www.sej.org/category/topics-beat/agriculture
[52] https://www.sej.org/category/topics-beat/air
[53] https://www.sej.org/category/topics-beat/climate-change
[54] https://www.sej.org/category/topics-beat/consumer
[55] https://www.sej.org/category/topics-beat/energy
[56] https://www.sej.org/category/topics-beat/food
[57] https://www.sej.org/category/topics-beat/forests
[58] https://www.sej.org/category/topics-beat/military
[59] https://www.sej.org/category/topics-beat/cities-towns
[60] https://www.sej.org/category/topics-beat/policy
[61] https://www.sej.org/category/topics-beat/technology
[62] https://www.sej.org/category/topics-beat/transportation
[63] https://www.sej.org/category/region/national/northwest
[64] https://www.sej.org/category/region/international/canada
[65] https://www.sej.org/publications/backgrounders/weather-data-privatization-poses-conflicts-changing-meteorology-landscape
[66] https://www.sej.org/category/sej-publication-types/backgrounders
[67] https://www.sej.org/publications/list
[68] https://www.sej.org/publications/list?page=77
[69] https://www.sej.org/publications/list?page=74
[70] https://www.sej.org/publications/list?page=75
[71] https://www.sej.org/publications/list?page=76
[72] https://www.sej.org/publications/list?page=79
[73] https://www.sej.org/publications/list?page=80
[74] https://www.sej.org/publications/list?page=81
[75] https://www.sej.org/publications/list?page=82
[76] https://www.sej.org/publications/list?page=349
[77] https://www.sej.org/publications/list/Watchdog+TipSheet