Toolbox: EPA's Pesticide Emergency Exemptions Database

Global warming, toxic chemicals and threats to biodiversity were major themes of the best environmental journalism of 2005- 2006, according to judges in the fifth annual contest sponsored by the Society of Environmental Journalists.
By CHERYL DORSCHNER
Attendees at SEJ's 16th Annual Conference in Burlington, Vt., Oct. 25-29, will have a chance to witness a basic, but littleexplored issue for most environment writers: food.
A number of other issues will be explored, of course. But in Vermont, SEJ conference attendees will be able to grapple with the environmental issues of food.
SEJers will address "Eating as an Environmental Act" in a panel discussion Friday, Oct. 27 from 11:15 a.m.-12:30 p.m.
By MIKE DUNNE
In one case, it was taking a recurring story one step further.
In two stories, a phone tip prompted the reporters. Another was a big story for a big anniversary – one that would affect every person on the planet.
Editor's note: The following is an excerpt from the interview with NPR's Howard Berkes.
Berkes points to a pile of colorful notebooks on the floor of McPhee's office at Princeton University.
By HOWARD BERKES
You might think writing comes easy to John McPhee.
He's been at it more than 40 years, after all, producing 27 books, writing for The New Yorker since 1964 and teaching writing at Princeton since 1975. And, oh yes, he has that Pulitzer Prize. All those years and words and accomplishments ought to add up to confidence – even hubris, perhaps – when turning a sea of complex detail, facts and characters into smoothly flowing narrative.