Publication Items

In this issue: Tracking the fracking boom; taking the chaos out of your disaster coverage (including a comprehensive packing list); photojournalist dives into digital in 'Sea Change'; award-winner Cheryl Hogue talks about spotting trends on the science beat; committing to collaboration; mentoring match between veteran freelancer radio rookie; book reviews; publishing a DIY guide to local environmental issues; Q&A with author Linda Pannozzo on scapegoating the grey seal.

Yes, the pipeline is publicly regulated. Yes, the March 2013 rupture of Exxon's Pegasus Pipeline in Mayflower, Arkansas, quite publicly polluted people's yards and homes. Yes, it is publicly known that there were defects and poor maintenance on the pipeline. But 900,000 pages of documents that might show Exxon's neglect are being claimed as "confidential" by the company as it tries to defend against a class-action lawsuit.

The Society of Environmental Journalists wrote President Barack Obama October 23, 2014, urging him to take a strong position supporting legislation that would strengthen the Freedom of Information Act (FOIA). Bipartisan FOIA improvements may be one of the few pieces of legislation with a chance to clear the lame duck 113th Congress before control shifts to Republicans in 2015.

After Katrina, Louisiana may have hit the national spotlight for a time, but coastal communities elsewhere around the country will have to find their own answers to the question “Why does anyone still live there in harm’s way?” — even as more and more people move toward the coast and the water moves ever closer to them.