In the wake of newly declared newspaper bankruptcy declarations in Minneapolis and Philadelphia…and shut-downs of print editions in Seattle and Denver — we have a challenge — the nation's media must do a responsible job in covering the coming climate change debates in Washington.

Survey results published in July 2008 show that scientist-journalist interactions "are more frequent and smooth than previously thought," according to the survey authors. Yet results also indicate that "science journalism is too tame, that is, that it is easily exploited by scientific sources."

Research suggests that the news media block or transform "beyond recognition" the aims of environmental and other activist groups. But a recent study suggests otherwise. It concludes that investigative journalists often are activists, but they stay within professional boundaries.

The key ingredient of credible daily journalism — the passion to make a difference — will lead to a bright future, no matter which medium delivers it.

SEJ President Christy George explains why she's convinced that an awareness of "sense of place" adds a deeper dimension to our reporting. What is nature writing if not an exploration of very particular places? And I mean nature writing in the broadest sense, including writing about PCBs, CFCs, or CAFOs.

In this issue: New media add to coal-ash coverage; Getting started with podcasts; Newsroom cuts impact E-beat veterans; more...