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| 1996: SEJ's first leadership retreat. See IDs. |
A Personal Message From the Executive Director
Feb. 14, 2025
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Here at SEJ, we celebrate both Valentine’s Day and our 35th anniversary on February 14, a tribute to our love for the planet and recognition of the enduring friendships and mutual support within our tight-knit community of environmental journalists. That collegial spirit has remained strong since 1990, when a small group of newspaper reporters, led by David Stolberg and founding SEJ President Jim Detjen, came together to turn the idea of this organization into reality.
Today, as our field and membership have expanded across the world and into every form of news media, the need for environmental journalism has never been more urgent: SEJ’s role is even more vital, and the support our community offers is more relevant than ever.
On Wednesday, we marked our anniversary with a special webinar to reflect on SEJ’s history and evolution as we chart our course for the future.
As SEJ President Halle Parker highlighted in her welcome:
“We have a new administration blocking journalists and the public from critical information — removing data from websites, freezing communication and flooding the news cycle — while also attacking your rights, not only as journalists but as citizens of this country. And globally, the world is still dangerous for journalists: physical attacks, legal attacks, even death, or being barred from entering a country you’ve called home.
It can be overwhelming. It might even make you feel numb. Or it could embolden you even more, deepening your commitment to our important work. Either way, this community here at SEJ is here to help. We’re speaking out, using our voice to back you up and help you access resources when your First Amendment is under attack.”
(If you missed the conversation, you can watch the full webinar led by SEJ Board Member and First Vice President Bobby Magill featuring Christy George, Deb Krol, Tim Wheeler, Lisa Song, Luis Joel Méndez González, Peter Yeung and Caleigh Wells.)
My own takeaways from the discussion, as I approach a year as your Executive Director, are how SEJ can strengthen support for environmental journalists working against the backdrop of growing distrust in news, especially amid increased polarization and climate change disinformation. That includes expanding support for the freelancers who comprise half of our membership, enhancing safety resources for all and creating more opportunities for members to connect and share expertise through local and regional events.
Looking ahead… to April and the next 35 years
And as we consider the next 35 years of SEJ, we want to hear from you! What do you need or want to see from SEJ? Let us know via email or join the conversation on our listserv.
You can also let us know in person as we continue the conversation at our annual conference, #SEJ2025, just under 70 days away. We convene April 23-26 with our host, Arizona State University, for an agenda packed with critical conversations and resources, field tours, experts and tools, and most importantly, the opportunity to connect with each other!
In the meantime, thank you for being part of this community, bound by our shared commitment to journalism, the environment and each other as we navigate what’s ahead – together.
Warmly,
Aparna
Aparna Mukherjee
Executive Director
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