SEJ 2019 Conference

Part 8 of the Climate Reporting Master Class, Presented by Climate Matters in the Newsroom Bernadette Woods Placky (Speaker) Chief Meteorologist and Climate Matters Director, Climate Central, Climate Matters in the Newsroom

Part 7 of the Climate Reporting Master Class, Presented by Climate Matters in the Newsroom Meera Subramanian (Speaker) Barron Visiting Prof of Environment & Humanities , Princeton University

Part 6 of the Climate Reporting Master Class, Presented by Climate Matters in the Newsroom Luke Runyon (Speaker) KUNC, Community Radio for Northern Colorado

Part 5 of the Climate Reporting Master Class, Presented by Climate Matters in the Newsroom Chuck Kutscher (Speaker) University of Colorado

Part 4 of the Climate Reporting Master Class, Presented by Climate Matters in the Newsroom Susan Hassol (Moderator and Speaker) Climate Communication

Part 3 of the Climate Reporting Master Class, Presented by Climate Matters in the Newsroom Brad Udall (Speaker) Senior Scientist/Scholar, Colorado State University

Part 2 of the Climate Reporting Master Class, Presented by Climate Matters in the Newsroom Scott Denning (Speaker) Climate Scientist and Professor of Atmospheric Science, Walter Scott, Jr. College of Engineering, Colorado State University

Part 1 of the Climate Reporting Master Class, Presented by Climate Matters in the Newsroom Ed Maibach (Speaker) George Mason University Center for Climate Change Communication

Part 5 of the Wednesday Workshop: Covering Indian Country, Public Lands and Environmental Justice in the West Public Lands Reporting From the Extremes: How to Cover Holistically This panel will talk with reporters and editors covering anti-government groups, anti-American Indian organizations and other extremists, which often coalesce around conflicts over public land. Who is the public, and how does that echo through extreme views? Whose land is at the center of the debate, and whose land was it? We'll hear from local reporters and regional editors on how to cover public lands holistically from Bears Ears to Bundy to the Flathead Valley. The goal is to better prepare reporters who cover these conflicts, to seek the nuance and context to tell better stories whether they're freelance, local or national reporters. Moderator: Anna Smith, Assistant Editor, High Country News Speakers: Brian Calvert, Editor-in-Chief, High Country News Kalen Goodluck, Journalist and Photographer Bill Morlin, Freelance Journalist

Part 4 of the Wednesday Workshop: Covering Indian Country, Public Lands and Environmental Justice in the West Mining Public Records for Stories on Public Lands News is about change, and there’s been a whole lotta change in the management of U.S. public lands lately. The Trump administration is moving to open millions of acres to oil and gas development and recently put an outspoken critic of public lands in power at the Bureau of Land Management. This session will offer tips on how to dig out stories about what’s happening and what’s at stake. >> Resources (PDF) Moderator: Tim Wheeler, Managing Editor, (Chesapeake) Bay Journal and Chair, Freedom of Information Task Force, Society of Environmental Journalists Speakers: Jimmy Tobias, Independent Reporter Tim Whitehouse, Executive Director, Public Employees for Environmental Responsibility Laurel Williams, US Public Lands and Rivers Conservation Program, The Pew Charitable Trusts

Part 3 of the Wednesday Workshop: Covering Indian Country, Public Lands and Environmental Justice in the West Attracting and Supporting Indigenous Staff Whether your newsroom is new to covering Indigenous communities or you have experienced reporters on staff with connections to tribal affairs, the choices your newsroom makes can lead to success or ruin. This panel will offer practical advice for attracting, supporting and retaining reporters with experience in Indian Country with the goal of building the best team to create the best work. Moderator: Nick Martin, Staff Writer, The New Republic Speakers: Brian Calvert, Editor-in-Chief, High Country News Anna Smith, Assistant Editor, High Country News

Part 2 of the Wednesday Workshop: Covering Indian Country, Public Lands and Environmental Justice in the West Hispanic Culture and Environmental Justice in the West From early Spanish explorers, Mestizos and recent Latin American immigrants, the West has a long storied history of Hispanic and Latino culture. But, increasingly, racism and environmental injustices plague many communities. Panelists will discuss the intersection of social, cultural, economic and environmental justice issues in Hispanic communities and everything from farmworkers' environmental health concerns to Latino conservation efforts. Moderator: Yvette Cabrera, Independent Environmental Justice Reporter and 2019 McGraw Fellow Speakers: Armando Elenes, Secretary Treasurer, United Farm Workers Chela Garcia, Director of Conservation Programs, Hispanic Access Foundation Beatriz Soto, Latino Outreach Coordinator, Defiende Nuestra Tierra - Wilderness Workshop

Part 1 of the Wednesday Workshop: Covering Indian Country, Public Lands and Environmental Justice in the West #1 Covering Indian Country and Tribal Affairs Experienced reporters share practical tips on how to cover Indigenous communities and produce culturally competent, high-impact work. From picking stories to maintaining relationships with communities, this panel will be ideal for newsrooms looking to cover tribal affairs effectively. Moderator: Nick Martin, Staff Writer, The New Republic Speakers: Alastair Bitsóí, Communications Director, Utah Diné Bikéyah Kalen Goodluck, Journalist and Photographer Anna Smith, Assistant Editor, High Country News

Speakers Juliet Eilperin (Moderator) Senior National Affairs Correspondent, The Washington Post Whit Fosburgh (Speaker) TRCP John Freemuth (Speaker) Distinguished Professor of Public Policy and Cecil Andrus Endowed Chair of Environment and Public Lands, Boise State University Dina Gilio-Whitaker (Speaker) Lecturer, American Indian Studies, California State University San Marcos Shea Loper (Speaker) Director, U.S. Government Relations, Encana Corporation William Perry Pendley (Speaker) Deputy Director, Policy and Programs, Bureau of Land Management, exercising authority of BLM director Description The U.S. has a long and storied history of land conservation, which has created a network of public lands now managed in different ways. Since Europeans arrived, these lands have been fought over between those looking to preserve them and those hoping to open them up to development. These public lands now face threats from climate change, including drought and wildfire, along with budget and staff cuts. Recreational impacts, along with drilling and mining, are on the rise. Tribal officials are demanding a greater voice in federal decision-making, and Trump administration officials are scaling back regulations. What does the future hold for America's public lands?

Speakers Lisa Friedman (Moderator) Reporter, Climate Desk, The New York Times Guido Girgenti (Speaker) Founding Board Member and Communications Advisor, Sunrise Movement Mandy Gunasekara (Speaker) Founder, Energy 45 Fund, and former Principle Deputy Assistant Administrator, Office of Air and Radiation, U.S. Environmental Protection Agency Heather McTeer Toney (Speaker) National Field Director, Moms Clean Air Force, and former Regional Administrator, Southeast Region, U.S. Environmental Protection Agency; Former Mayor of Greenville, Mississippi Joseph Pinion (Speaker) Founder & Chair, Conservative Color Coalition The 2020 election will offer a stark choice and contrast on U.S. environmental and energy policy. Through his first term, President Trump has withdrawn our country from the Paris Climate Agreement, accelerated oil and gas drilling offshore and on public lands, tried to revive coal mining and power production, and slammed wind and solar energy as unreliable. Meanwhile, Democratic Party presidential candidates are competing to be the environmental contender in 2020. That includes more than a half-dozen who have already expressed support for the Green New Deal, the massive reform initiative that calls for a “10-year national mobilization” to transition the country to a 100-percent renewable-energy, zero-emissions economy. This plenary will bring together politicians and campaign advisors to discuss the Green New Deal and what national environmental policy will look like beyond 2020, under either a Republican or Democratic president.

Speakers Thomas Hayden (Moderator) Professor of the Practice, Environmental Communication Program, Stanford University Adina Abeles (Speaker ) Stanford University Emily Atkin (Speaker) Author and Founder, HEATED Patrick Chandler (Speaker) Environmental Communication Researcher, University of Colorado, Boulder Perla Trevizo (Speaker) Environmental Affairs Reporter, Houston Chronicle Description The environmental beat is inherently complex, often uncertain and it can manipulated. We have tools to address these challenges: for example, social science can help predict how audiences respond to information and stories, and journalism itself can expose disinformation campaigns. And we’ve already worked hard to remove false balance from our reporting. This session brings journalists and social scientists together to ask: what more can journalists do to understand these forces and protect both the integrity and impact of their work?

Speakers Mitch Tobin (Moderator) The Water Desk Heather Hansman (Speaker ) Freelance Journalist Jim Lochhead (Speaker ) Chief Executive Officer/Manager, Denver Water Brad Udall (Speaker ) Senior Scientist/Scholar, Colorado State University Daryl Vigil (Speaker) Interim Executive Director, Ten Tribes Partnership and Water Administrator, Jicarilla Apache Nation Description The Colorado River and its tributaries are the lifeblood for 40 million people and a $1.4 trillion economy, but the region's water supply faces unprecedented threats from climate change and population growth. Around the globe, other river basins confront similar challenges. How can we better manage our precious water resources to meet the needs of people and the environment? How can journalists help inform the public and policymakers about water issues?

Speakers James Bruggers (Moderator) News Reporter, InsideClimate News Steve Alexander (Speaker ) The Association of Plastic Recyclers Eugene Chen (Speaker ) John K. Stille Endowed Chair and Millennial Professor of Polymer Science & Sustainability, Department of Chemistry, Colorado State University Judith Enck (Speaker ) Visiting Professor, Bennington College, Founder of Beyond Plastics and former EPA Regional Administrator Description With oceans choking in plastic waste and new research finding that humans are ingesting tens of thousands of pieces of micro plastics over their lifetimes, there are new concerns mounting about the role of plastics in climate change. We look at what the latest studies are finding and discuss potential solutions to a problem that industry experts say will get worse before it gets any better.

Speakers Theresa Braine (Moderator) Breaking News, National Desk, New York Daily News Matt Brown (Speaker) The Associated Press Ron Cohen (Speaker) Emeritus Associate Professor, Civil and Environmental Engineering, Colorado School of Mines Dan Elliott (Speaker) Associated Press Dina Gilio-Whitaker (Speaker) Lecturer, American Indian Studies, California State University San Marcos Description In August 2015, three million gallons of contaminated mining wastewater broke through a plug of rock and debris at the mouth of an entrance to the defunct Gold King Mine outside Silverton, Colorado, while EPA subcontractors were examining it for remediation purposes. The heavy-metals-laden water cascaded into a creek feeding the Animus River, turning it lurid orange, and from there gushed into the San Juan, which flows through several states and Native American nations, including the Navajo Nation. This is just one of thousands of abandoned mines in the Western United States leaking contaminated water, many of them Superfund sites. This panel will use the Gold King Mine spill to illustrate the scope of the problem and give tips on how to mine Superfund documents and archives for crucial environmental stories.

Speakers Gloria Dickie (Moderator) Freelance Journalist Roger-Mark DeSouza (Speaker) President and Chief Executive Officer, Sister Cities International Richard Grossman (Speaker ) Population Matters! Wudan Yan (Speaker) Independent Journalist Description Why do so many journalists struggle to write about the "population problem"? The data shows that having one fewer children in developed countries is the best way to reduce carbon emissions via personal choice, and yet many stories fail to mention reproduction as an issue to be tackled at all, choosing instead to focus on vegan diets and flying less. In this panel, we'll discuss the challenges facing reporters in writing about this controversial issue, digging into the origins of Malthusian theory, the childfree movement, and reproductive rights and family planning.