Public

By JEFF BURNSIDE

 The intensifying drive to maximize newspaper websites means print reporters may get pulled in several new directions.

What's more, they'll be expected to do more in the same amount of time for no additional pay, and face the looming possibility of doing something akin to television news reporting – with little or no training.

So why are some leading environmental journalists embracing all this?

Today's environmental journalists are exploring a range of pressing issues including some serious contenders for "story of the century" even before the century is into its teens.

A visit to a boot camp before the last Society of Environmental Journalists conference in Vermont opened the door for a special report on air pollution in San Diego by a webonly publication, voiceofsandiego.org

Reporter Rob Davis, who covers environmental issues for the Internet-based nonprofit news outlet, gives lots of credit to the special training and insights of the boot camp followed up by the annual conference. And, he also got help from fellow SEJ members.

 Jan Daniels has a new job as the founder/director of Eco Expressions, an environmental writing program based in San Diego, CA and Hailey, ID, that helps solidify the outdoor experience for students with scientific and creative writing. www.EcoExpressions.org

In January, Scribner released Mark Harris' book on green burial, "Grave Matters: A Journey Through the Modern Funeral Industry to a Natural Way of Burial." See review on page 22.

 By TOM HENRY

America has 103 nuclear plants.

Chances are, especially if you work east of the Mississippi River, there's one in your circulation area or one close enough to pose a risk.

 By BILL DAWSON

"All news, all the time" was the slogan of a once all-news radio station of my acquaintance. A quick Google search reveals that the phrase and several variations are still around.

Given the recent rise to prominence of the climate issue, even veteran reporters familiar with the often-surprising meanders of the environment beat's path may have wondered if "all climate news, all the time" could be the beat's future.

THE WORST HARD TIME: THE UNTOLD STORY OF THOSE WHO SURVIVED THE GREAT AMERICAN DUST BOWL
By Timothy Egan
 Houghton Mifflin, $28

Reviewed by EMMA BROWN

When I bought Timothy Egan's "Lasso the Wind" last summer in Ashland, Ore., the bookstore owner chuckled and said, "Tim Egan, lucky guy, you know he covers the West for The New York Times?" I said yeah, that's a job I'd like to have. She shook her head and said, "He can write whatever he wants and no one back East knows whether he's telling the truth."