{"id":12454,"date":"2017-10-12t12:00:00","date_gmt":"2017-10-12t12:00:00","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/dpetrov.2create.studio\/planet\/wordpress\/10-things-i-learned-from-sej2017\/"},"modified":"2017-10-12t12:00:00","modified_gmt":"2017-10-12t12:00:00","slug":"successful-environmental-journalism","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"\/\/www.getitdoneaz.com\/story\/successful-environmental-journalism\/","title":{"rendered":"10 things i learned from #sej2017"},"content":{"rendered":"
environmental journalists, scientists, policy-makers and advocates met in pittsburgh this weekend to network and learn how to report and write on issues from climate change to environmental justice.<\/p>\n
here are 10 things i learned at the society of environmental journalists 2017 <\/a>conference.<\/p>\n not everything is up for debate. when 97 percent of scientists <\/a>have reached a consensus that supports the existence of climate change, less credence should be given to those who, without factual evidence, continue to disagree.<\/p>\n most environmental issues are not as partisan as it may seem; air, water, health, and land access are basics that many people care about. avoid making assumptions about the audience, and be careful about sticking the blanket \u201cenvironmental\u201d label on every story.<\/p>\n the best way to build trust is to physically be on the ground in communities and report from there. <\/strong>look for community organizations that can get you in the door. when reporting on environmental justice issues, be compassionate and human, but avoid showing pity or giving false hope.<\/p>\n showing up in a community for an environmental justice story and then disappearing is exploitive and will not help you build trust with sources. track the aftermath that continues after other reporters leave, and check up every few months with sources to see how their situations are progressing.<\/p>\n it occurs in different forms such as illegal trade of natural resources and wildlife trafficking and can be hard to track because of its international nature. the convention on international trade of endangered species (cites)<\/a> makes it easier to prosecute some crimes.<\/p>\n from the federal land freedom act to interior secretary ryan zinke\u2019s land review, there are myriad threats to american public lands<\/a> right now. the federal government is attempting to pass some lands over to the states, and from there to privatization and industrial development.<\/p>\n a basic tenet of journalism is including both sides of a story, but sometimes there is limited valid evidence to back one group\u2019s views. in these instances, use stock lines like, \u201cthese views do not reflect scientific consensus.\u201d<\/p>\n environmentalism is sometimes perceived as a hobby of the rich, but activists in poorly regulated and policed areas and industries risk their lives because they often have no other choice. for example, over the last 10 years, 1,000 wildlife rangers have been killed on the job<\/a>.<\/p>\n many environmental issues, like climate change or natural disasters, get plenty of coverage. others, like conservation<\/a>, can get passed over because they have less perceived shock value or readership potential. journalists can solve this through collaboration and combining beats.<\/p>\n in a personalized video message to the conference, goodall reminded attendees that stories of hope and progress can still inspire action, even when the future appears dim. and who can ignore words of wisdom from a legend like jane goodall?<\/p>\n1. some issues don\u2019t have sides. <\/strong><\/h2>\n
2. avoid equating environmentalism with liberalism when communicating outside of the echo chamber.<\/strong><\/h2>\n
3. know when to put away your notebook or camera and just listen. <\/strong><\/h2>\n
4. don\u2019t let a story drop.<\/strong><\/h2>\n
5. environmental crime is the fourth largest crime sector, according to unep, yet it lacks coverage in the united states.<\/strong><\/h2>\n
6. the threats we\u2019re currently seeing to public lands are unprecedented.<\/strong><\/h2>\n
7. eliminate false balance when one side is not backed by facts.<\/strong><\/h2>\n
8. environmental activism is viewed as a luxury activity in developed countries, but it\u2019s a matter of life and death in many other places.<\/strong><\/h2>\n
9. collaboration is key when there aren\u2019t enough reporters on an issue.<\/strong><\/h2>\n
10. there is still great power in good news stories, according to jane goodall<\/a>.<\/strong><\/h2>\n