When breaking news hits, freelancers often find editors at media outlets eager for related stories. But what about when breaking news like a global pandemic becomes virtually the only story being told? What do you do when those same media editors say no thanks to yet more coverage? Freelance Files editor Karen Schaefer went looking for some timely advice.
August 28, 2020 — SEJ's Fund for Environmental Journalism has awarded an additional $48,768 for 11 new story projects selected via its Rapid Response story project grants on a wide range of environmental issues and regions.
The "Lizzie" Grant is named for Elizabeth Grossman, a longtime SEJ member who devoted her career to uncovering environmental health issues while tirelessly advocating for freelancers until her untimely death in July 2017. The grant(s) will provide funding, up to $5,000 per grantee, to help cover travel and expenses related to sustained coverage of a particular topic in environmental health. It will be offered under the Fund for Environmental Journalism.
The Society of Environmental Journalists joined 28 other journalism groups intervening in a court argument over overuse of the "deliberative process" exemption to the Freedom of Information Act.
"In mid-April, hundreds of scientists from around the world were supposed to fly to Ecuador for a five-day meeting about the latest research on reducing greenhouse gas emissions and removing carbon dioxide from the atmosphere."
"The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) is immediately canceling its paid subscription to one of the largest environmental trade publications, E&E News."
"Earlier this month, when the Trump administration told hospitals to send crucial data about coronavirus cases and intensive care capacity to a new online system, it promised the change would be worth it. ... Instead, the public data hub created under the new system is updated erratically and is rife with inconsistencies and errors, data analysts say."
As Democratic New Mexico Rep. Deb Haaland prepares to possibly become the first Native American Interior secretary, it's becoming clearer than ever that environmental concerns are deeply intertwined with Native American life. But news media often ignore the connections, missing important stories as a result. Our new Backgrounder helps set that to rights by spotlighting 10 key environmental issues affecting Native American communities and offering a dozen-and-a-half reporting resources.
