What makes for an effective science or environment essay? Freelance Files contributor Michelle Nijhuis explores universal qualities of the best work: It begins with a persistent question that sets the essayist off on a journey of discovery. Also, practical tips on how to get published beyond the essay departments of major magazines.
"The company, led by Donald Trump’s pick for secretary of state, has supposedly shifted its stance on global warming. But the receipts suggest otherwise."
"Exxon Mobil Corp. promised nine years ago to stop donating to groups that spread misinformation about climate change. Yet between 2008 and 2015, the oil giant’s charitable arm gave over $6.5 million to groups that deny that burning fossil fuels is causing global warming, a new analysis shows.
The Times-Picayune | NOLA.com will create a Louisiana Coastal Reporting Team in early 2017, made possible in part through a major grant from SEJ's Fund for Environmental Journalism. The new team will be co-led by longtime SEJ member and award-winning environment reporter Mark Schleifstein. A national search is under way for two additional environmental journalists to work full-time on the Team.
"The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, which has faced congressional hearings and secret government sanctions over its sloppy lab safety practices, is keeping secret large swaths of information about dozens of recent incidents involving some of the world’s most dangerous bacteria and viruses."
"House Republicans, overriding their top leaders, voted on Monday to significantly curtail the power of an independent ethics office set up in 2008 in the aftermath of corruption scandals that sent three members of Congress to jail."
Drought, flooding, water pollution, road conditions, shipping, climate change, even recreational activities like skiing, skating and ice-fishing — these are all potential stories around the white stuff, some with big environmental consequences. This week's TipSheet offers resources for local coverage of ice and snow.
"Climate scientist Michael Mann can proceed with defamation claims against two writers who accused him of fraud and misconduct related to his iconic 'hockey stick' graph of global warming trends, a panel of three judges on the District of Columbia Court of Appeals ruled today."
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