Society of Environmental Journalists

The Society of Environmental Journalists (SEJ) is a nonprofit professional and educational organization created by and for journalists who report on environmental subjects. Founded in 1990 by a group of award-winning reporters, editors, and producers, the organization was established to strengthen the quality and public value of environmental journalism across news media. Its founding participants came from a range of major American media institutions, including The Philadelphia Inquirer, USA Today, Turner Broadcasting, Minnesota Public Radio, and National Geographic. SEJ serves journalists working in newspapers, magazines, radio, television, digital media, documentary production, and other forms of news publishing. Its membership also includes academics and educators connected with environmental journalism. Although founded in the United States, the organization’s network extends across the United States, Canada, Mexico, and numerous other countries. The organization describes its purpose as strengthening the quality, reach, and viability of journalism across media in order to improve public understanding of environmental issues. The organization’s work is centered on professional support and journalism education rather than environmental advocacy. It provides opportunities for journalists to develop subject expertise, locate sources, understand scientific and regulatory developments, and report on complex environmental questions responsibly. Its activities include an annual national conference, regional events, training and mentoring programs, members-only discussion networks, and online reference materials. SEJ also publishes SEJournal, a quarterly publication; TipSheet, a recurring reporting resource; and EJToday, a news service intended to help journalists track developments relevant to environmental coverage. Its FOI WatchDog project focuses on access to public information and the use of freedom-of-information mechanisms in reporting. SEJ also operates the SEJ Awards for Reporting on the Environment, which recognize notable environmental journalism. Its conferences and publications provide forums for discussion of climate, public lands, pollution, energy, environmental health, conservation, environmental regulation, and related subjects. The organization welcomes wider participation in its publications and conferences, while limiting formal membership eligibility for lobbyists and public-relations professionals in order to preserve its journalistic focus. As a 501(c)(3) nonprofit educational organization, SEJ is funded through a mixture of foundation support, university sponsorships for its annual conference, contributions from media companies, membership dues, service-related earned income, individual gifts, and endowment earnings. The organization states that it does not seek or accept gifts or grants from government agencies, non-media corporations, or environmental advocacy groups. This funding policy is intended to protect editorial independence and distinguish the organization from environmental campaign groups. SEJ has emphasized a distinction between environmental journalism and environmentalism. The organization has faced criticism from conservative commentators who have argued that environmental journalism can be insufficiently skeptical of environmental claims or policy positions. SEJ representatives have responded that the organization’s role is to support fair, independent, and critical reporting rather than to promote an environmental policy agenda. The organization has also criticized policies that restrict independent scientists advising the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency from speaking with journalists without agency permission, presenting such restrictions as a threat to informed reporting and public accountability.

The Society of Environmental Journalists was formed in 1990 during a period when environmental reporting was becoming more specialized but remained unevenly resourced across news organizations. Its founders were a small group of journalists, editors, and producers who worked for prominent media organizations, including The Philadelphia Inquirer, USA Today, Turner Broadcasting, Minnesota Public Radio, and National Geographic. They sought to create a professional institution that could help journalists report accurately on environmental science, public policy, natural resources, pollution, and related subjects without functioning as an environmental advocacy organization. From its beginning, SEJ’s identity was tied to the professional needs of working journalists. Environmental stories often require specialized scientific knowledge, extensive public-record research, and the ability to explain technical or disputed subjects to a general audience. SEJ developed conferences, publications, peer networks, and educational programs to help journalists meet those demands. Its work expanded beyond traditional newspapers and broadcast outlets as journalism diversified into digital publishing, independent media, documentary work, and other formats. The organization’s service portfolio has included an annual national conference, regional gatherings, a daily EJToday news service, the quarterly SEJournal, the recurring TipSheet, reporting resources available through its website, and members-only listservs. It also established mentoring and educational programs for journalists, educators, and students. The FOI WatchDog project supports attention to freedom-of-information practices and public-record access, areas that are particularly important for investigative environmental reporting. The SEJ Awards for Reporting on the Environment provide recognition for high-quality work in the field. SEJ’s membership has grown to include more than 1,500 journalists and academics working in the United States, Canada, Mexico, and 27 other countries, according to descriptions of the organization. Its formal membership rules exclude lobbyists and public-relations professionals, reflecting the group’s emphasis on journalism rather than message advocacy. The organization nevertheless makes some publications, conferences, and other activities available to broader audiences, including people who are not formal members. Financially, SEJ operates as a 501(c)(3) nonprofit educational organization. Its operating and project budgets are supported by foundation grants, university sponsorships connected with the annual conference, contributions from media companies, membership dues, fees for services such as exhibits and advertising, and individual donations to its endowment. SEJ has stated that it does not seek or accept funding from government agencies, non-media corporations, or environmental advocacy groups. This approach is designed to reduce conflicts of interest and protect the independence of the organization and the journalists it serves. Questions about objectivity have been part of SEJ’s public profile. Conservative blogs and commentators have accused the organization of being too sympathetic to environmental causes or insufficiently critical of environmental claims. SEJ has rejected the idea that support for environmental journalism amounts to support for environmentalism. Its stated position is that journalists should investigate environmental subjects rigorously, fairly, and independently, including by examining scientific uncertainty, policy trade-offs, and competing claims. The organization has also spoken against restrictions that prevent independent scientific advisers to the Environmental Protection Agency from communicating directly with journalists without agency authorization. An academic study titled “Objectivity as Independence: Creating the Society of Environmental Journalists, 1989–1997,” presented by John Palen in 1998, examined SEJ’s creation and the professional philosophy of its founders. The study reflects the organization’s broader historical significance as an effort to define environmental journalism as a distinct reporting field while maintaining conventional journalistic principles of independence and verification.

• 1998

  Founding philosophy examined in academic research

  [1]Society of Environmental Journalistsen.wikipedia.org

  John Palen presented research on SEJ’s creation between 1989 and 1997 and on the organization’s approach to objectivity and journalistic independence.

• 1990

  Society of Environmental Journalists founded

  [1]Society of Environmental Journalistsen.wikipedia.org

  A group of reporters, editors, and producers from major media organizations established SEJ as a nonprofit professional organization for journalists covering environmental issues.

A journalist-centered nonprofit that provides independent education, reporting resources, professional networking, and recognition for environmental journalists while maintaining a distinction between environmental journalism and environmental advocacy.

• Journalism publication

  SEJournal

  SEJournal is the Society of Environmental Journalists’ quarterly publication. It provides reporting guidance, professional discussion, source material, and coverage of issues relevant to journalists working on environmental stories across different media formats.

• News service

  EJToday

  EJToday is a recurring news service designed for environmental journalists. It helps members and other participants follow current developments, announcements, research, and policy activity that may require journalistic attention.

• Reporting resource

  TipSheet

  TipSheet is a recurring reporting aid that offers ideas, background, and practical guidance for journalists developing environmental stories. It is intended to help reporters identify news angles and approach technically complex subjects.

• Investigative journalism resource

  FOI WatchDog

  FOI WatchDog is an SEJ project focused on freedom-of-information and public-records issues. It supports journalists seeking access to government information and draws attention to barriers affecting accountability reporting.

• Journalism awards

  SEJ Awards for Reporting on the Environment

  The SEJ Awards for Reporting on the Environment recognize strong environmental journalism. The awards reinforce SEJ’s role in promoting accuracy, depth, public relevance, and professional standards in coverage of environmental subjects.

• Professional conference

  Annual national conference

  SEJ’s annual conference provides journalists, academics, educators, and other eligible participants with training, expert discussions, networking, and reporting opportunities related to environmental science, policy, regulation, and public affairs.

• Maintaining a distinction between environmental journalism and environmental advocacyStrategy

  Background

  SEJ has faced criticism from commentators who view environmental journalism organizations as aligned with environmental causes.

  Action taken

  The organization has emphasized journalistic independence, critical inquiry, and fair reporting rather than advocacy for a particular environmental policy position.

  Aftermath

  The distinction remains central to SEJ’s public identity and its explanation of its professional role.

  Source

• Adopting funding restrictions intended to protect independenceStrategy

  Background

  As a nonprofit supporting journalism on contested environmental issues, SEJ must manage potential conflicts associated with outside funding.

  Action taken

  SEJ states that it does not seek or accept gifts or grants from government agencies, non-media corporations, or environmental advocacy groups, instead relying on foundations, media contributions, university conference sponsorships, dues, service fees, and individual support.

  Aftermath

  The policy forms part of SEJ’s stated framework for preserving organizational and editorial independence.

  Source

• SEJ criticizes restrictions on independent scientists communicating with the media[1]Society of Environmental Journalistsen.wikipedia.org

  Regulation · Other

  The Society of Environmental Journalists criticized Environmental Protection Agency policies that required independent scientists advising the agency to obtain permission before speaking with media outlets. SEJ presented the restrictions as harmful to independent reporting and public access to scientific expertise.

• SEJ responds to criticism over objectivity in environmental reporting[1]Society of Environmental Journalistsen.wikipedia.org

  Other

  The organization has been criticized by conservative commentators who alleged that environmental journalism is not sufficiently critical of environmental issues. SEJ representatives have defended the separation between environmental journalism and environmentalism, emphasizing fair, impartial, and independent reporting.

1. 1Society of Environmental Journalistsen.wikipedia.org
2. 2Society of Environmental Journalists official websitesej.org