Covering the Environment serves as a primer for future and current journalists reporting on environmental issues across all types of media and for an international audience. Observations and story excerpts from experienced journalists provide real world context, and practice story assignments, resources, and a glossary of environmental, science, regulator, and journalism terms gives journalists all the tools needed to cover the green beat.
Updated with detailed coverage of how companies and climate change have evolved over the past decade, this second edition expands upon the digital sphere and the myriad ways that deadline, multimedia and mobile reporting have changed environmental journalism. Including consideration of issues such as the water crisis in Flint, Michigan, and controversial GMO legislation, this new edition provides a fresh take on the green beat with a newly organized table of contents and a guide to freelance and entrepeneurial journalism.
1. Intro
2. Environmental History
3. Risk
4. Understanding Science
5. Interviewing
6. Regulators
7. Advocates
8. Reporting Tools
9. Deadline Stories
10. Developed Stories
11. Broadcast
12. Digital Media
13. Opinion
14. Side Beats
15. Fairness and Advocacy
16. Future of Environmental Journalism
Author Bob Wyss has worked as a journalist for over 45 years, and has covered environmental and energy issues for a variety of publications, including the Providence Journal, the Boston Globe, the New York Times, and E Magazine. He has taught environmental journalism at Michigan State University and the University of Connecticut.
In this first textbook on environmental journalism, Bob Wyss does a wonderful job of providing a history of the field, an examination of the coverage of risk and science and useful tips on the major players. He brings in so many of the field's top writers, the book has the feel of a seminar at a conference of the Society of Environmental Journalists. Covering the Environment: How Journalists Work the Green Beat is clear and accessible for students, yet deep enough to give a good grounding to professionals seeking to move to the environment beat. Bob's case studies are memorable and instructive because they are such well crafted narratives. Anyone who cares about the environment will enjoy reading this book. Peter B. Lord, Providence Journal "This is the essential backgrounder for news writing about THE story of the century. Covering the Environment is as valuable in the newsroom as it is in the classroom. It is an extraordinary contribution from an insightful writer." Bill Kovarik, Ph.D., Professor of Communication, Radford University "Covering the Environment "fills a critical gap in journalism education and training. Bob Wyss has produced a clear and comprehensive overview of environmental reporting, with ample real-world examples to illustrate the techniques needed to report and write complex but compelling stories. This text ought provides an essential primer for newcomers to the field and veterans alike." Tim Wheeler, Reporter, "The Baltimore Sun "